In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach {2} until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. {3} After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. {4} On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. {5} For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." {6} So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" {7} He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. {8} 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." {9} After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. {10} They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. {11} "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Do you remember memorizing Luther’s Catechism in confirmation class? If you do, you will remember a question that Luther loved to ask in each part of the catechism. You know the question. “What does this mean?” Over and over again, he asked the question, “What does this mean?” I hope you learned to ask that question every time you read a portion of the Bible, or meditate on some important truth in the Scriptures. Let’s ask that question of Jesus’ ascension, which we are celebrating tonight.
What Does Jesus’ Ascension Mean?
1. It means that Jesus finished his work on earth
Forty days after Easter, Jesus led his disciples out to the Mt. of Olives. For the forty days from Easter to Ascension, Jesus gave his disciples their last bits of instruction. He helped them put all the pieces together, which could not happen until they had experienced his resurrection. Then he blessed them and ascended into the heavens until a cloud hid him from their eyes. Instead of being sad, Luke tells us in his gospel that the disciples were filled with joy.
What does this mean? Perhaps we are stating the obvious, but sometimes the obvious needs to be stated. God sent his Son into the world on a mission. He sent him here to save the world from sin. He sent Jesus here to rescue us for heaven. The fact that Jesus ascended back into heaven to be with his father at his right hand means that Jesus completed his mission.
What does that mean for you and me? This, dear friends, gives us the greatest joy and comfort. Deep down inside our sinful natures lurks the dark question the rich young ruler had for Jesus. (Mat 19:16 NIV) "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?" Our conscience bothers us because of our many sins. We want desperately to be sure of heaven. Isn’t there something we can do to be sure? If only I had a stronger faith. If only I could do better at living a Christian life. Maybe if I read the Bible from cover to cover, I could feel more at peace. Now reading the Bible from cover to cover is a good thing to do, but not if you are doing it because you think that will earn you peace of mind and assurance of heaven. Isn’t there anything I can do to be more sure of heaven?
The answer is, “No.” Just relax and believe that Jesus has done it all. If there had been something left undone, if there was something that had to happen to complete God’s plan to save us, Jesus wouldn’t have ascended into heaven. He could not have left his disciples, looking up into the sky, if there was something that they had to do to come to heaven with him. Everything was done. Every sin was paid for. Every righteous act was done and had been transferred into their account. No wonder Jesus’ ascension gave them such joy, and why it gives us such joy still today. Relax and rejoice. Jesus has done it all.
There is more comfort to be had in the story of Jesus ascension. We must ask the question again, “What does this mean?”
2. It means that you have a friend in high places
In the Apostle’s Creed, we confess that Jesus “ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.” What does this mean? It means that we have a friend in the right place. John wrote these words: (1 John 2:1-2 NIV) My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense--Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. Today, we would call someone who speaks in our defense a lawyer, or defense attorney. In Old Testament terms, he would have been called our High Priest.
Can you picture in your mind’s eye how Jesus is pleading your case before the throne? In your evening prayers, you have come before God’s throne to make a confession of your sins. There are so many sins you must confess. Many of these sins you also confessed last night, and the night before that. Won’t God in heaven run out of mercy? Haven’t you had your last chance a thousand times already? Only there is Jesus, at God’s right hand. “Father,” he says, “This sinner who has come before you is pleading for mercy. He makes no excuses. He pleads no merit or worthiness. And he has asked in my name, for my sake. I bore this man’s sins on the cross and paid for them. Therefore, Father, I will add my plea to his. Have mercy on him. Forgive his sins.” Do you think our Father can turn down the pleas of his one and only Son? Because Jesus has ascended to the right hand of God, you have someone who speaks to the Father in your defense.
At the end of our last president’s term of office, he wrote out a number of presidential pardons. This is not usual for presidents to do. They have that right according to the constitution. At least one of those pardons brought great criticism, because he pardoned a man who had defrauded the government in taxes, and had evaded arrest by fleeing the country. People have questioned the wisdom and even the ethics of this pardon. But no one has questioned the right of the president to grant that pardon. He has that right by constitutional law. In the same way, God has given Jesus the right to pardon us before his throne. No matter how awful your sin may be, no matter how little you deserve to be pardoned, trust in Jesus to save you and you will be pardoned before God’s throne.
There are other things we could speak of today in regard to Jesus sitting at God’s right hand. He rules all things for our good. He gives pastors and teachers to his church so that the gospel can be proclaimed. Time does not permit us to explore these tonight. Only, permit me time to ask one more time, “What does Jesus’ ascension mean?”
3. It means that Jesus will come again
Sometimes I think that our New Testaments should have been arranged so that the Gospel of Luke and Acts, which was also written by Luke, should have been put right next to each other. For then the account of the ascension in the gospel and this one before us would be back to back. Let me put these few verses next to each other, and you will understand what I mean.
(Luke 24:49-51 NIV) 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." {50} When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. {51} While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Here we have these words. “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Did you catch the connection? Do you see why Jesus’ ascension into heaven gives us comfort for the day when he returns? Luke tells us that as he ascended, he lifted up his hands and blessed his disciples. The angels said that Jesus would return in the same way that they saw him go into heaven. When he comes again on the last day, in power and glory as the king of kings, the whole world will tremble before him. Those who denied him will look for rocks to crawl under and caves to hide in. They will know him then, but only in terror. Will it be so for us? NO! The last thing the disciples saw were the nail marks in his hands as he lifted them up to bless them. The first thing we will see when he comes is the nail marks in his hands, the symbol that our sins were atoned for on the cross. For those who believe in Jesus, who have beheld his death, witnessed his resurrection, and gazed upon his ascension, there will be no fear when he comes again.
Didn’t Jesus speak just this way to us, too? (John 14:1-3 NIV) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me. {2} In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” How tenderly our Savior spoke before he ascended into heaven. If I were moving my family to another country, first I would go and set up and home, find schools, and make sure everything was safe for them. Before I left, I would tell them, “Don’t be afraid. I’ll go and make sure everything is all right. When I have a home for us, then I will come back for you and we can all be together again.” So tenderly Jesus spoke to his disciples before he ascended into heaven!
So our ascended Savior speaks tenderly to you, tonight, as well. “Don’t be afraid. I know the world is a hard place. There are many sorrows and dangers. I will always be with you. I will never leave you alone. I am getting a place in heaven ready, just for you. When I come again, I will take you home and we will be together forever.”
That’s what Jesus’ ascension means. Amen.
