"Ascension To Coronation”

In Jesus Holy Name May 21, 2023

Text: John 17:5, ACTS 1:9-10; Revelation 5 Ascension Redeemer

“Ascension to Coronation”

On May 6, 2023 the world was captivated with the coronation of King Charles III. The Coronation of The King and The Queen took place at Westminster Abbey. It was a spectacular display of British pride, a military parade with all the King’s men and horse’s at their best. The King and Queen traveled from Buckingham Palace in The King’s Procession to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee Gold State Coach. Created for Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Her late Majesty’s reign in 2012.

The music at the coronation concert was fabulous. The concert had a world-class orchestra play a host of musical favorites along with the Royal Opera House, The Royal House of Music all taking part.

The concert was attended by the cheering of people numbering in the hundreds of thousands, fireworks were on display. There were street parties and coronation lunches throughout England.

The King’s Ring is composed of a sapphire with a ruby cross set in diamonds. The ring was made for the Coronation of King William IV in 1831, and all British kings from King Edward VII on have used it at their Coronations. The crown is a 1661 replica of the Crown for Charles II. Made of solid gold and weighing five pounds, it contains 444 gemstones, including rubies, sapphires, garnets and diamonds.

It was a glorious event watched by millions, but the pageantry can not compare to the coronation of Jesus in heaven.

It is possible that upon arriving at church this morning you did not know that on the Church Calendar that today is Ascension Sunday, the day Jesus ascended into heaven, which is why the Epistle lesson is from Acts 1. It is impossible to overstate the importance of Good Friday, when Jesus died for our sins, and Easter Sunday, when He was raised from the dead — but His earthly ministry did not stop on Easter Sunday. His earthly ministry continued through the apostles, the Church. Jesus promised every apostle and every Christian the same Holy Spirit that dwelt in Jesus so that through us, through the church His ministry, His message of forgiveness and salvation might continue to be told.

After the resurrection, Jesus taught his disciples about God’s kingdom for forty days ( Acts 1:3) and then He was “taken up” to heaven (Acts 1:11) . The cross and empty tomb are at the very heart of the gospel message proclaimed by Jesus’s followers throughout history. (I Corinthians 15:1-4). However, for many evangelical Christians and churches, Jesus’s ascension is simply an afterthought to Easter and Good Friday. Yet His ascension is critical. Without His coronation His death and resurrection and the Holy Spirit would not be validated by God.

According to the Apostles’ Creed, Jesus “ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.” That is our confession…and we dare not overlook it’s importance. Jesus is taken up to heaven in a cloud. When Stephen was being stoned to death he declares that he sees the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55)

The ascension of Jesus, His return to heaven, is the answer to the prayer of Jesus in John 17. “Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” That sentence alone is astounding if we stop to think about it. He was at creation, He existed before creation.

The Old Testament prophet Daniel was given a vision of the future coronation of Jesus. Daniel 7 records the coronation. “As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. “

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

God the Father exalted Jesus above all and enthroned him as Lord over all. He is now eternally seated at the right hand of his Father in heaven, and from his throne he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. This we confess in the Apostle’s Creed.