“His Coronation in Glory”
Luke 24:50-53
Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Introduction: Jesus stayed on earth for 40 days after His resurrection instead of ascending immediately into heaven to demonstrate to His followers that He truly was alive. The disciples knew the Roman authorities had put Jesus to death and that His body had been taken down from the cross and sealed in a tomb. And when that happened, they were filled with despair and fear; many even went into hiding. They had believed Jesus was the promised Messiah – and now their hopes were shattered. They had forgotten His promise that He would return from the grave, and they felt they had no future. But when Jesus appeared among them after the resurrection, their lives were changed. The greatest miracle in all history had just taken place: Jesus Christ was alive! During those 40 days, He appeared to various groups of disciples, proving beyond doubt to them that he had been raised from the dead by the power of God. Over two decades later, the Apostle Paul wrote the following in, 1 Corinthians 15:3
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”
Another reason, however, why Jesus stayed on earth then was to teach His disciples, and prepare them for the task of telling the world about Christ. BillyGraham.org
I. The Ascent into Heaven
50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them. 51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
a. The place of His ascent
Our text indicates that Jesus led His followers to Mt. Olivet which would have allowed Him to see His beloved Bethany and Jerusalem. Olivet was the place where Jesus had delivered His sermon on the mount. I hope you will allow me a little latitude to speculate on who might have been among the 500 plus witnesses who saw Jesus “carried” into heaven. Most certainly his mother Mary and his brethren who now believed on him; I can see the little family from Bethany, Mary, Martha and their beloved Lazarus whom Jesus called forth from the grave after his body had been decomposing 4 days; the disciples and many who had believed on him like Joseph and Nicodemus who buried his body; Mary of Magdala who he had cast out seven devils and many others the good Master had helped during his time on earth. There would the blind who could now see, the lame who could now walk, the deaf who could now hear, the lepers who could now walk among their fellows again and worship at the Temple and maybe, just maybe there would a Roman centurion who had declared that “truly, this man was the Son of God,” or maybe even Malchus the servant of the high priest who’s ear Jesus had healed. We don’t know for sure be what a wonderful privipedge to be at Olivet with him when he went back to glory.
b. The purpose of His ascent
Why would Jesus leave in the hour of His greatest triumph? Why would He say that it was “expedient” for Him to return to heaven? Thankfully we have the answer in His own words…
John 14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 28 Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
c. The parting at His ascent
Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
The phrase received up means to “carry up” to be borne up,” and indicates that Jesus was carried up on a cloud and disappeared into the clouds. The clouds in this case were not ordinary clouds by the shekinah glory of God!
The ascent of our Lord did not provoke fear in the hearts and minds of His disciples, it moved them to obedience. They made their way into Jerusalem and waited for the “...promise of the Father…” that Jesus had told them to expect.
II. The Angelic Heralds
Acts 1:10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
a. His position in heaven
There can be no doubt that Jesus returned to heaven for this is what the Scripture says. We also know that He assumed a very important position in heaven for He is “…at the right hand of the Father…”
“The term at the right hand of God points to his exalted position he now is active on. There are numerous things that need to be considered to understand this phrase. The phrase right hand is a metaphor, God exercises his authority by his right hand. The one at the right hand of the king had the authority of the king, deserved the same honor as the king and reigned with the same power as the king.
Right after Peter writes of the resurrection he says Jesus has, 1 Peter 3:22 “…Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having made subject to him".
John 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
b. His prayers in heaven
Notice that Paul declares that Jesus is positioned at the “right hand” of the Father. He is interceding in two ways. First, for the saints He is our mediator, our advocate. He also pleads for sinners who turn to God in faith and true repentance and when they “call on the name of the Lord” Jesus turns to the Father and says, “Father, forgive them for my sake.”
Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
c. His promise to return from heaven
11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Jesus is coming again and this time He is coming as judge and not savior.
III. The Adoring Host
52 And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: 53 And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
a. They Worshiped Him
The fear filled group is now a faith filled group and soon would be a fire filled group! They worshipped Him openly and without reservation because of His resurrection. It served to confirm everything that He had said and was confirmation that He was “God, very God,” and deserved to worshipped.
b. They Witnessed for Him
The truth of the resurrection energized this small community of believers and as soon as they were filled with the Spirit the disciples set to work. First, they…Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us. In…Acts 8:4 Therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word. Then they…Acts 17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; They spent the remainder of their lives obeying Jesus final command to “…go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature…” and they died, most violently with the name of Jesus on their lips!
Someone wrote that, “Men don’t die for things they doubt…”
Andrew was also crucified but he was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece.[
Matthew, like most of the apostles late in their lives, became a missionary and was arrested in Ethiopia. It was there that he was staked or impaled to the earth by spears and then beheaded.
Bartholomew is also known as Nathaniel was martyred in Armenia. Apparently, he became a missionary to Asia Minor. Sadly, most agree that he was basically flayed to death by whip, where he was literally torn to shreds.
Thomas was a missionary in India and was establishing a church there when he was stabbed with a spear and died from the wound.
Philip was impaled by iron hooks in his ankles and hung upside down to die in Syria.
James was beheaded by King Herod near Palestine.
Jude, who wrote the next to the last book in the New Testament by the same name, went all the way to Persia and it was there that he was crucified.
Matthias, the apostle that was selected to replace Judas who hung himself, was stoned and then beheaded late in the 1st century.
James the Less was martyred in a fashion similar to James, the half-brother of Jesus, who was thrown from the pinnacle of the temple and then beaten to death.
Simon Peter (Andrew’s brother) was also was crucified upside down according to historical records.
James, the brother of Jesus was not an apostle but he was one of the early church leaders and the account of his death is horrific. He was believed to have been thrown some 100 feet off a wall. After the fall, he was somehow still alive and when they discovered this, his enemies circled him and beat him to death with clubs.
Paul is included among the apostles since he was perhaps the greatest apostle and evangelist the world has ever known. Head was beheaded at Rome by Nero.
John was boiled in oil but survived, exiled to Patmos and later died of natural causes in Ephesus.
c. They Waited for Him
They remembered his word; “…If I go, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also…” They waited and all those that love wait also.
John 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
THE SECOND COMING IN THE BIBLE
Biblical prophecy provides some of the greatest encouragement and hope available to us today. Just as the Old Testament is saturated with prophecies concerning Christ’s first advent, so both testaments are filled with references to the second coming of Christ. One scholar has estimated that there are 1,845 references to Christ’s second coming in the Old Testament, where 17 books give it prominence. In the 260 chapters of the New Testament, there are 318 references to the second advent of Christ--an amazing 1 out of every 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. For every prophecy in the Bible concerning Christ’s first advent, there are 8 which look forward to His second!
Today in the Word, April, 1989, p. 27
Conclusion: What does the second coming mean to you? For the Christian it what Vernon Grounds wrote, “A friend told me of an incident that happened while he was in seminary. Since the school had no gymnasium, he and his friends played basketball in a nearby public school.
Nearby, an elderly janitor waited patiently until they finished playing. Invariably he sat there reading his Bible. One day my friend asked him what he was reading. The man answered, ‘The book of Revelation.’ Surprised, my friend asked if he understood it. ‘Oh, yes,’ the man assured him. ‘I understand it!’ ‘What does it mean?’ Quietly the janitor answered, ‘It means that Jesus is gonna win.’” It means that if you know Jesus you win, period! The opposite is also true.
TOO LATE IN A TERRIBLE WAY
You can’t read the article that appeared in the Atlanta Journal, June 5, 1997 without some remorse and sympathy for Clarence Jackson.
"The clock struck midnight, and Clarence Jackson didn’t turn into a millionaire." Jackson, who is 24, works in a small cleaning business in Hartford, Connecticut to help support his elderly parents. He won the Connecticut Lotto jackpot in October 1995. It was worth 5.8 million dollars. He submitted the ticket three days after the one year deadline.
He had given the ticket to his ailing father and didn’t realize it was a winner until fifteen minutes before the deadline. He didn’t know he could verify the ticket at his local lotto dealer. Instead, he waited until Monday to redeem the ticket at lotto headquarters. It was too late. The Connecticut House of Representatives voted 82-63 to award Jackson the money. Senator Alvin Penn refused to allow the bill to come to the floor of the Senate, and thus the bill died. Representative Michael Lawlor said, "Give the guy the money . . . You say we can’t change the rules. That’s all we do here is change the rules! We’re the Legislature." Jackson left the Connecticut State Capitol a dejected man.
What’s it like to be too late and lose 5.8 million dollars? I don’t know - but it would be devastating. But it wouldn’t be nearly as devastating as being too late for the return of Jesus.
SOURCE: Scott Weber. Citation: Atlanta Journal, June 5, 1997.
When Jesus returns for many millions, for the majority of people who are alive it will be too late; too late for forgiveness, too late for repentance, too late for salvation, and too late for heaven! If Jesus were to come today would you be ready or too late?
