"Acts 1: Where Did Jesus Go?” Series

In Jesus Holy Name May 22, 2022

Text: Acts 1:9-11 Redeemer Lutheran

“Acts 1: Where Did Jesus Go?”

Why did Jesus return to heaven? Why did He leave earth? These are the questions to be answered today as we continue our study of Acts 1.

• Jesus remained with the disciples for 40 days, appearing both in Galilee and Jerusalem? In those 40 days Jesus proved Himself to be a resurrected human being. Not a ghost. Not a delusion. Not a figment of their imagination, but a real, living person who had pierced the veil of death and come out of the grave victorious. (Leonard Sweet, Jesus A Theography p. 267)

• As Jesus ascends into the clouds, out of sight, the disciples might be asking: Is this the new normal? “Where was Jesus going? Why did He leave?” When will he appear again?

• Just outside the walls of Jerusalem the disciples see Jesus ascend to heaven. They are caught staring into the heavens

• They are told by two angels, this “same Jesus will return”.

• But when? There is no answer…. Just a promise. He will return.

1) The work and ministry of Jesus on earth was completed at the cross. God accepted His sacrificial death as a substitute for humanity’s sins. After He fulfilled all the promises of God in the Old Testament it was time to prepare the disciples to continue proclaiming the good news of salvation. They were to wait in Jerusalem for the arrival of the Holy Spirit, who would replace His physical presence. His disciples will be prepared and equipped to continue His ministry.

God’s eternal plan from the beginning of creation, when Adam and Eve chose to follow the advice of Satan, and disobey God, was to retore peace and harmony with Himself. Jesus became the “sacrificial Lamb of God” to take upon Himself all our broken commandments. His death on the cross removed God’s wrath against our sin. The resurrection of Jesus from the grave defeated Satan’s grip of death on the human race, and by faith in Jesus guarantees eternal life to all who place their

trust in Him. (Hebrews 2:14)

Paul writes; “God was pleased to have all of His fulness dwell in (Jesus) and through (Jesus) reconcile to Himself all things on earth or in heaven by making peace through the blood of Jesus shed on the cross. He did this to present you holy in His sight without blemish and free from accusation…” (Colossians 1:19-21)

Where did Jesus go? Jesus returns to heaven to accept His rightful place at the “right hand” of the Father, the Creator of the Universe. Upon His arrival he will be crowned “King of kings and Lord of lords.” It will be His coronation.

Jesus, by His death on the cross, and His resurrection from death and the grave is the victorious Lamb. He will now rule God’s heavenly hosts, next to God the Father and by the Father’s authority. Jesus will exercise His supreme authority and power through the Holy Spirit for God’s people on earth, until the end of human history. (Commentary, Revelation Louis Brighton p. 136-138)

Jesus knew this. On the night of the Passover, the disciples heard Jesus pray these words: (read John 17:1-5)

We Americans do not crown kings and queens but we love to watch the English Royal family celebrate weddings and coronations. The Queen of England’s Coronation first happened in 1953, in grand style.

On February 6th this year Her Majesty The Queen, became the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom, and the Commonwealth. The Queen’s Birthday Parade will be held on Thursday June 2, 2022 starting at 11am. The world will watch the grand parade and celebration. It will be led by the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, and more than 1200 officers and soldiers. It will be a magnificent display of military pageantry, The Gold State Carriage, fromwhich the Queen will wave. There will be hundreds of Army musicians and around 240 horses. The queen will be there waiving to her subjects.

The Platinum Jubilee will include the latest digital technology to evoke the excitement and majesty of her journey when she was crowned Queen 70 years ago. The glory of her coronation will be revisited. The crowds will watch the celebration and share Jubilee lunches through out England.

This coming Thursday, on the Church Calendar is “Ascension Day”. In years past every church had an extra service on Ascension Thursday. Today, Ascension goes unnoticed by most church members. It is the celebration of the arrival of Jesus in heaven at the throne of His Father. When Jesus enters heaven, the kingship of God became real as Jesus reclaims His rightful power and glory He had at the beginning of creation.