The Ascension of our Lord May 11-12, 2024
“After The Ascension” Luke 24:44-53
Rev. John R. Larson Ascension Lutheran Church Littleton, Colorado
The Ascension of our Lord was celebrated this past Thursday, May 9. Luke tells us this is what happened, “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.” (Luke 24:50-51)
There are many people in this world that will tell you that this never happened. It was just made up. A lie. A fabrication. They are words to try to make you believe that Jesus was much greater and bigger than He really was. They will tell you He never ascended into heaven. In fact, they will say He never rose from the dead. And, when He died it didn’t bring any kind of reconciliation with God. He just died on a cross.
Everyday Jesus Christ is put on trial. He wasn’t just tried in front of the Jewish leaders, Caiaphas and Annas, and the Roman rulers like Herod and Pontius Pilate. No, He is tried today by those who write books against Him claiming that the things in the Bible like miracles and His teachings were simply made up. They never happened. No atoning and saving death. No glorious resurrection. And no ascension.
On that day of the Ascension Jesus knew that He would be put on trial from that day forward. He knew what some people would say about Him. On that day, 40 days following His bodily resurrection from death, Jesus said to the believers, ‘This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.’ Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’” (Luke 24:44-48)
“You are witnesses of these things.” Those early apostles, those first disciples did a poor job of defending Jesus. When Jesus was put on trial in Jerusalem those who accused Him of all types of evil were relentless in their hatred. They humiliated him and abused Him. They spit on Him. Ridiculed Him. After they blindfolded Him and hit Him, they questioned Him, “Who hit you?” They said that He had lied when He said that He was the Christ, the very Son of God.
And where were those who would stand with Him? Gone. They wouldn’t stand with Him. They didn’t speak for Him. But you know that some others, the most unlikely, bore witness to Him. The thief on the cross wants Jesus to remember him when He enters His kingdom. The centurion, a Roman soldier, said, “Truly, this man was the Son of God.” Two others, Jewish members of the Sanhedrin, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, some of the most powerful men in Israel, risked everything when they asked to have the body of Jesus so they could bury Him. One of the Apostle’s – John – was at the cross, along with His mother, Mary and some other women who were brave followers of Jesus. But everyone else ran.
But Jesus didn’t run from the work of salvation that He had come to bring to this world. He loved every person in this world too much to run away from His mission as Redeemer. And He loved those who witnessed His miracles, His teaching, His compassion, His death, His resurrection and now His ascension, to send them away. He wanted them to tell the truth to everyone.
“You are witnesses of these things.” You saw these great miracles. You heard these powerful words. Now, go tell everyone about Me and what I have come to do.
Do you ever wonder why Jesus ever left? Why wouldn’t He stay with us so we could see Him in His glory? He had defeated death. He could show people the scars of His love. He could have set up some huge temple or church somewhere and have everyone come to see Him. But He didn’t. He left. He ascended to heaven.
I know that He went to heaven to prepare a place for us. “In my Father’s house are many mansions, I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2 KJV) He went to heaven to rule in splendor and glory – His rightful place at His Father’s right hand. He went to heaven to make intersession – prayer for us.
I believe He ascends that we might be His presence in this world. You are witnesses of who He is, and what He wants to do in this world. You. Me. In Corinthians Paul says of the believers, “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.” (I Corinthians 12:27)
There is a prayer attributed to Teresa of Avila (1515-1582):
Christ has no body but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world,
Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good,
Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.
Yours are the hands, yours are the feet,
Yours are the eyes, you are his body.
Christ has no body now but yours,
No hands, no feet on earth but yours,
Yours are the eyes with which he looks
Compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.
We are His presence in this world. That is a little much for us, isn’t it? That was a little much for those first disciples, as well. They had been told before that day of the Ascension, “Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (Matthew 28:19-20) There weren’t that many of them, just a handful or so, and Jesus gave them a great purpose.
And He has done the same for us. “You are witnesses of these things.” We’ve heard His words of new life. We have listened to those who were eyewitnesses of His death and resurrection. Like Peter says, “We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” (II Peter 1:16)
Up to this calling of being a faithful witness of Jesus? In your life can you show that Jesus has filled you with a new spirit, a new way of living? In your words can you be a vessel to testify about Him? I’m scaring you, aren’t I? I think Jesus made His disciples feel overwhelmed, as well.
Do you know what He did? He told them – It is not you, but Him – God – who will do this great work. He tells them, “I am going to send you what my Father promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) As you probably know Luke wrote the Book of Acts. He ends His Gospel with the Ascension. He begins the Book of Acts with the Ascension. And he speaks both times about the power of the Holy Spirit in their witness. “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5) In the same chapter Jesus says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) When Paul wrote to the Corinthians He spoke about where the ultimate power of our witness comes from, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” (I Corinthians 3:6-7)
Jesus leaves this earth with great glory and with a great picture of grace. He raises His hands and blesses them. He conveys to them much grace for all that was to lay ahead of them. We end our service, every week, in the same way. The pastor doesn’t just say, “Good bye. Thanks for coming. Have a good week.” No. Hands are raised and a blessing is given. “The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
So how do the disciples leave the Ascension? Sorry? Dejected? Overwhelmed? No. “Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” (Luke 24:52-53)
We live after the Ascension. We are witnesses every day. We are filled with God’s divine power. And He gives us lasting joy. Amen!!
