The Ascension

Ascension Do you know which significant day in the Christian calendar we had on Thursday this week? 

May 13th was Ascension Day. In many countries such as France, Thursday is a public holiday and it is celebrated with a feast. A lot of people take the Friday as a holiday as well. 

We don’t give much thought to the Christian Calendar in New Zealand. We have public holidays for the Birth of Jesus and his Death and Resurrection but most of the dates pass us by. Ascension Day is 85 days after the start of Lent on Ash Wednesday and the Calendar is completed next Sunday which is Pentecost. 

We don’t talk much about the Ascension of Jesus, why is that ? Is it because flying up into the atmosphere without a rocket seems a bit too much like Science Fiction ? Gravity pulls us down because of the great mass of the Earth. But what if the Mass was above us ? Like a magnet picks up metal and not wood, so the Return of Jesus will pick up those with the Spirit of God within and not those without. It’s not so hard to believe the Science !

Last year we started a series on the Apostle’s Creed. We need to ensure our faith is built on the Rock - Jesus, the Word of God, otherwise we will be tossed by every wind of doctrine that sweeps across the Earth especially in these dangerous times we live in. The Ascension is the 6th statement of belief in the Apostle’s Creed. By the time we’ve finished , you will know the Apostle’s Creed by heart. Feel free to join in... 

1. I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.  
2. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.  
3. who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary.  
4. Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.  
5. He descended into Hell. On the third day he rose again from the dead.  
6. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.  
7. From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.  
8. I believe in the Holy Spirit,  
9. the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints,  
10. the forgiveness of sins,  
11. the resurrection of the body,  
12. and life everlasting.  

 Amen  

The account given by Luke in the first chapter of Acts tells us that it was 40 days from the day that Jesus was resurrected until the day he was taken up into Heaven. 

I wrote the former account, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after he had given orders by the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. To the same apostles also, after his suffering, he presented himself alive with many convincing proofs. He was seen by them over a forty-day period and spoke about matters concerning the kingdom of God. While he was with them, he declared, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait there for what my Father promised, which you heard about from me. For John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” So when they had gathered together, they began to ask him, “Lord, is this the time when you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He told them, “You are not permitted to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the farthest parts of the earth.” After he had said this, while they were watching, he was lifted up and a cloud hid him from their sight. As they were still staring into the sky while he was going, suddenly two men in white clothing stood near them and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking up into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will come back in the same way you saw him go into heaven.” 

Acts 1:1-11 

The Ascension is essential to the faith, that’s why it’s in the Creed and why in the future we will physically see him return in the same way. I believe in that moment, our faith will be completed, it will be our scientific proof of all we have ever believed so to speak ! The Angel tied the Ascension to the Return of Jesus and Jesus himself said; 

Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man arriving on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet blast, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. 

Matthew 24:30-31 

What a great and joyous moment that will be when all believers ever will be gathered together from wherever they are on Earth or in Heaven. Much better than the full time whistle for the winning side at the end of the Cup Final ! 

But what horror it will be be for those who never took the Gospel seriously. All the tribes will mourn, just like when the flood came in the Days of Noah but it will be too late. 

Today though is about the Ascension. If we believe the Resurrection we should surely believe in the Ascension of Jesus. The tomb is empty and the body is missing. 

It was not the first time that someone ascended alive into Heaven. 

1. In Genesis, it says of Enoch who was Noah’s great grandfather 

Enoch walked with God, and then he disappeared because God took him away. 

Genesis 5:24 

2. Elijah was taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire 

As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a fiery chariot pulled by fiery horses appeared. They went between Elijah and Elisha, and Elijah went up to heaven in a windstorm. 

2 Kings 2:11 

All 3 events are a sign of the coming rapture of the Church where we will be taken alive up to meet Jesus; 

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a shout of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be suddenly caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 

This is our great hope to encourage us whenever we face our hardest times... Swing low sweet chariot, coming forth to carry me home ! 

Perhaps we have not considered the full meaning of the Ascension. Let’s take in this good news today ! Significance 

1. It signalled the end of His earthly ministry. God the Father had lovingly sent His Son into the world to be born in the humblest of fashions in Bethlehem, and now the Son was returning to the Father in great honour. His period of human limitation was at an end. 
2. It signified success in His earthly mission. All that He had come to do, He had finished. For the thing the Lord has asked us to do, wouldn’t we all also like to hear one day “Well done good and faithful servant”. 
3. It marked the return of His heavenly glory. Jesus’ glory had been veiled during His time on earth, with one brief exception at the Transfiguration on the Mountain with Peter, James and John and of course Moses and Elijah. (Matthew 17:1-9). Just like in the Grimm Brothers fairy tale “The Boots of Buffalo Leather”, the King was in disguise all along. 
4. It allowed the Carpenter to start preparing a place for us. Think of your favourite place to go and stay. We can be sure that Jesus is building a wonderful place for us to live in. Jesus told the disciples « There are many dwelling places in my Father’s house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. » John 14:2 
5. It was the beginning of His new work as High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15). Hebrews tells in Jesus “we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens” (Hebrews 4:14),” Mathewson says. “Passed through the heavens” is the ascension language; Jesus passed through the heavens to be seated at the Father’s right hand (Hebrews 1:3). What’s the result? We can now “draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews. 4:16). 
6. It made way for the coming of the Holy Spirit which we shall talk about next week. It provided an Advocate on earth whose presence is limitless. We can’t imagine the confusion and grief of the disciples when they learned that their teacher and friend would be killed. In John 14:16-17. Jesus has to comfort them with the promise that the Father will send another advocate, the Spirit of Truth. “How is Jesus’s leaving an advantage for his disciples?” The answer is simple, yet profound,” Mathewson says. “The incarnate Jesus was limited by space and time. He couldn’t be with each one of his followers at once. If he had stayed on earth, he couldn’t have been there simultaneously for Peter in Rome and John on the island of Patmos. But the Holy Spirit can. His empowering presence is available to all of us everywhere at the same time.” 
7. It gives us the spoils of Christ’s victory - gifted leaders and spiritual gifts. “Paul told us in Ephesians 4:8-12 "Now what is the meaning of “ he ascended,” except that he also descended to the lower regions, namely, the earth? He, the very one who descended, is also the one who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things. And he himself gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, that is, to build up the body of Christ" without the Ascension, we would not have these gifts and the Church would not have grown. 
8. It set the pattern for His return. When Jesus comes to set up the Kingdom, He will return just as He left-literally, bodily, and visibly in the clouds (Acts 1:11; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 24:30; Revelation 1:7). 
9. It gave us a sure and certain hope for the future which the world does not have. Once you’ve gotten close to someone and spent significant time in their presence, their absence feels like a massive void. It is the same with Jesus for us as believers, and especially for his first disciples. He isn’t here in the flesh with us now, but He one day will be, and our hearts yearn for that day. We know he will set all things right and bring us close to Him for all eternity. “The ascension creates a longing for Jesus’s return,” says Mathewson. “It reminds us his reign is “already” but “not yet.” When Jesus descends in the way he ascended, the bad times will be over for good, the darkness will lift, and everything sad will at last come untrue.” 
10. The Father crowned him King of Kings and Lord of Lords and Head of the Church. Ephesians 1:20-23 tells us This power he exercised in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above every rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And God put all things under Christ’s feet, and gave him to the church as head over all things. Now the church is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. The One with whom the Father is well pleased (Matthew 17:5) was received up in honor and given a name above all names (Philippians 2:9). It establishes Jesus as the reigning King over all powers in all ages. We can call Ascension Day, Coronation Day. Jesus was crowned King of Kings and Lord of Lords on Ascension Day. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1:19-20 

You may look at the world today and think that it doesn’t look like Jesus is on the throne. The world is a mess of betrayal, cold and darkness, full of hatred and sorrow. Which Nation is a shining light ? Not one ! 

But the question is, is Jesus the King of the Nations of the world and ultimately of you and me ? 

Not too many of us here today were alive for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. So I thought it would be good to watch a few minutes just to get a glimpse of the occasion. Listen to the words spoken over the young Queen, as she took them to heart.

   

Do the people of France care about the coronation of the Queen. No ! She is not their Queen. They were not born in the UK. They are just across the Channel but they are not her people and she is not their Queen. 

In the same way, you may be a good person, a Muslim, a Hindu, a Buddhist. But if you are not part of the Church then Jesus is not your King. What must you do ? You must become a citizen of the Kingdom of God ! 

You may be surprised to know that there are 54 nations in the Commonwealth. If you are a citizen of those countries then Elizabeth is your Queen. 

Of course we know that Australia and New Zealand are part of the Commonwealth as well as countries like Canada and India. But did you know that Elizabeth is the Queen of Pakistan, Bangladesh, Rwanda and Mozambique as well ? 

There are forces within a country that want to have the power in the Nation. They want to usurp the Queen. Elizabeth is not truly ruling over Pakistan, Muhammad is. Here in this nation, there are people who want New Zealand to become a republic and have a new flag. 

Dare I say it, Queen Elizabeth’s time is nearly over. She has been faithful to the words spoken over her at her Coronation and she will go to her eternal reward. There will be a new King of the Commonwealth and the 54 nations have a choice to make once more. Who will they bow to. I say “Long live the King !”. 

I'm using the Queen as an illustration only. 

Choose your King wisely. Make your declaration today and get your passport before it’s too late. Jesus is the King who coming soon. Jesus said; 

When the Son of Man comes in his glory and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be assembled before him, and he will separate people one from another like a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 

Matthew 25:31-32 

Please note that you won’t be able to protest about inclusivity for all then. 

George Frideric Handel composed Messiah in an astounding three to four weeks during August and September 1741, writing morning to night almost non-stop. We will finish with his most famous piece the Hallelujah Chorus !

 

Footnotes: 

1. https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/4-reasons-ascension-matters/
2. https://www.crosswalk.com/blogs/christian-trends/why-is-the-ascension-of-jesus-so-important-to-christians.html 
3. https://www.gotquestions.org/ascension-Jesus-Christ.html