Jesus Ascension / What Does This Mean?

Every time ... Martin Luther would read the Scriptures he would ask the age-old question: ...... "What does this mean?"

I pray ... that you too .... Will ask that same question .... every time you read a portion of God's word, ......or meditate on the truth ... of the Scriptures.

"What does this mean?"

What does this mean for me?

Let us today ... ask that same question ... in light of Jesus' ascension ... to heaven.

So .... What Does the ascension of Jesus .... Mean for us ... this day?

Well ... first and foremost .... It means that Jesus finished the work on earth ...... that the father gave him .... to do.

Remember the words our Lord he cried out from the Cross ...(Slow) "It is finished". (John 19:30)

Very few of us ... have ever enjoyed the luxury ... of coming to the end of ... even our most productive day being able to proclaim, ... "It is finished.

I have accomplished ... everything.

Instead, ... most of us have an unending list ... or our spouse does ... of things that need to be done.

Very seldom ... if ever ... can we just sit back, ... fold our arms, ... and say, "It is Finished"!

I have finished everything ... everything on both lists ... mine and my wife's. Never happened!

Yet Jesus could proclaim that.

Jesus could say, ... It is finished ...everything is done. (Pause)

Well ... Forty days after that first Easter Day, ... Jesus led his disciples ... to the Mt. of Olives.

For forty days ...... from Easter to Ascension, ... Jesus prepared the disciples ...... for the work ...that was being laid out ... before them.

On the Mount .... Jesus blessed them ...... then ascended into the heavens .... until a cloud ... hid him ... from their eyes.

Yet ... Instead of being sad, ....... The Scriptures tell us ...... that the disciples were ...... filled with joy.

What does this mean?

Perhaps we are stating the obvious, ....... yet sometimes ... the obvious needs ... to be stated.

God the Father ... sent his Son into the world.

He sent his only begotten Son ....... to save the world ...from eternal death .... To save humanity from the wages ... of sin.

He sent Jesus to rescue us ...... For heaven.

The fact that Jesus ascended ... that he returned to heaven .... Means ...... that Jesus clearly...... completed the work... laid before him.

It is Finished! (Pause)

Yet if we are honest with ourselves ... Deep down inside our sinful natures ...... lurks the same age-old dark question ... that the rich young ruler had for Jesus.

"Teacher, what good deed must I do ... to have eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16)

We desperately need .... We desperately want ... to have assurance ... of heaven.

So, ... We seek something ... some good work ... to assure us ... of this salvation.

If only ... I had a stronger faith.

If only ... I would care more.

If only ... I would study more.

If only ... I would pray more.

Now all these things ... are attributes of a Christian maturing in the faith.

They are all good things ... but not if you are doing them ... In a hope ... that you will earn peace of mind ... that you will earn ... assurance of heaven.

Beloved .... There is no work ... that can bring you .... assurance.

Jesus has completed the work... Jesus has paid the price ...... Beloved ... It is finished!

If there had been something left undone, ... if there was something else that was still required ... then Jesus ... would not have ... ascended ... into heaven.

Everything was done.

Everything was completed.

It is finished.

And since it is finished ... not only is your debt of sin ...been transferred to the account of ... Jesus.

In turn, ... the righteousness of Christ Jesus ... has been transferred ... to your ledger ... to your account.

No wonder ... Jesus' ascension gave the disciples such joy.

And our gathering here today ... in worship ... should be overflowing ... with that same ... joy.

If you know Jesus as your Savior and your Lord ... You can have confidence in the Lord's work.

Beloved ... Experience his peace ... experience his joy.

It is finished.

In the Nicene Creed, we confess:

"On the third day, he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father." (Pause)

What does this mean?

The Scriptures share with us ... this truth: BIBLE My little children, ... I am writing these things to you ... so that you may not sin. ...... But if anyone does sin, ... we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, ... and not for ours only ... but also for the sins ... of the whole world. END (1 John 2:1-2)