A MIGHTY MIRACLE ON MOUNT OLIVET
ACTS 1:9-12
When I was a boy I used to read Superman comic books. I remember when superman would fly up into the sky, he would say up , up and away. Of course that was not reality. But in our text, we see reality, actual history, when Jesus went back to Heaven.
I believe one the greatest miracles in the life of Christ is the miracle of his ascension. The Bible says while in the presence of his disciples , he deified gravity and ascended form planet earth to Heaven. He didn’t have rocket power, but He had God power.
Some say such a thing is not possible. But may I remind you that planes that weighs more than five tons can lift off a runway and fly. Well if man can engineer such a thing, cannot God lift the Body of His Son into Glory. I believe so. ***
I-NOTICE THE ASCENSION THAT IS SHOWN: 9
And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
There have been some moving departures in history. I think about Lou Gerig’s
final speech and departure from the New York Yankees. As I have watched it on the old movie- tone news, I saw that it was an emotional departure. It was a moving experience, as I watched on TV and saw President Nixon and his wife leave the White house for the final time after his resignation in a helicopter.
But oh what a moving departure when Jesus left this earth. When he came into this world, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, but when He left, He was wrapped in Glory Clouds.
A-We See The Prophecy Of His Ascension:
John 6:62-What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?
7:33-Then said Jesus unto them, Yet a little while am I with you, and then I go unto him that sent me.
There are two miracles in the OT that foreshows His ascension. The miracle of Enoch and Elijah leavening this earth.
Jesus didn’t need a guide or helper, for He knew where He was going. He was going Home.
B-We See The Purpose Of His Ascension:
John 16:7-Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Jesus went back to Heaven to give the Church a gift, the gift of The Holy Spirit.
I heard the parable of a King who told his royal band to go into his treasure room and fill up their instruments with the gold. The tuba player filled his instrument up with gold. The trumpet player filled his instrument with gold also. The flute player watched as they filled their instruments and said, “all this gold and here I stand with my flute.”
There are many Christians like that, they have no room in their life for fullness of the Spirit. They have room for pleasure , for business, sports, for night clubs but no room for God’s Spirit.
I remember one time during a cold winter, I ran out of gas at my home. The fan kept on blowing but it was blowing cold air. (Many Churches are like that too, blowing cold air because they have quenched the Spirit.)
C-Notice The Personality of the Ascension:
When Jesus want back to Heaven, He went back with many hats, many titles.
HIGH PREIST
Hebrews 4:14-Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.
Hebrews 1:3-Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
He has sat down in Heaven. You can go back to the OT, and you will never find a chair in the tabernacle, for the work of the priest was never done.
But now our High Priest , Jesus sits. Why? Because His work is done.
D. L. Moody was riding a train once to a revival when he became engaged in a conversion with a Mormon. After much discussion, Moody said, there are two letters that separate our religious belief. Yours is do, while mine is done.
INTERCESSOR:
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.
What a thought he is praying at this very moment in Heaven for You and I.
I read a true story about a young man who was called into the Civil war between the States. He made it back from the war without even a scratch. But when he got home, he learned that his father had died. He went out to the barn where his father used to milk the cows and saw a strange thing. He saw grooves in the board by the window. He asked his mother, what caused them. She said, son, every day, three time a day, you father went out there and prayed for your protection, and prayed that you would be saved. After hearing this, the boy fell on the boards and wept his way to God. Why? His father had prayed for him.
REMEMBER AS THAT FATHER PRAYED FOR HIS SON, JESUS IS PRAYING FOR YOU AND I.
LORD:
Romans 14:9-For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
He is not just sweet Jesus in Heaven, but He is our Lord, Our Master, Our King.
I heard Dr. Jerry Vines tell the story about an African Chief which was being threaten by another to be Chief. The man got up and told them how he would help them if he were their chief. Then the African Chief got up and told them, remember when the Lion was threatening our village, and I went out killed the lion and was wounded in doing so. Then in a dramatic scene, He raised his hands, and said by these scarred hands I claim the right to be your chief, and all the crowds cried out, your are our Chief, your are our Chief.
JESUS BY HIS SCARS ON CALVARY HAS THE RIGHT TO OUR LORD
II-NOTICE THE ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT IS SHOWN: 10-11
When I left to go overseas while I was in the Air Force, my parents carried me to the airport. They put me on the plane as we said our good byes. I noticed as we lifting off from the runway, my parents were still there watching me as I left.
I believe the disciples did the same things as Jesus left planet earth, they just kept standing their, straining their eyeball out.
A-There Was An Announcement Of Prohibitions: 11a
Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?
Someone said, Christians are so Heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.
The angels were telling them to quit staring, look at the world around them and go to work for Jesus.
D.L. Moody was talking to a man after a revival service. The man told Moody, that he was saved in earlier revival he was preaching. He told him that he had been on the mountain top every since that night. Moody asked him how many souls had he won since them. The man replied none. Moody said, I don’t like that kind of mountain top experience. When a man gets so high, he can’t reach down, something wrong.
B-There was An Announcement of Promise: 11b
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.
What a promise. Jesus is coming again. Oh we ought to be happy for great promise.
I read the story of a Louisiana farmer who tied a mallard duck to a stake by a pond with tame ducks. But later on, when the mallard duck heard the call of the wild ducks flying over, he tore up the stake and flew off.
Many are like the tame ducks, there interest, their love is here below. But you and I who are faithful Christians are like that wild duck, we will hear the call of God from Heaven and we will pull of these temporary stakes and go to be with Jesus.
III-NOTICE THE AFTERMATH THAT IS SHOWN: 12-14
Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey
A-This Promise Caused Them To Worship: 13-14
And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.
It caused them to worship and it should cause us to worship Jesus and give Him glory in His Church. (Heb. 10:25)
Dear Pastor:
You often stress attendance at worship as being very important
for a Christian, but I think a person has a right to miss now and then.
I think every person ought to be excused for the following reasons
and the number of times indicated:
Christmas (Sunday before or after)
New Year (Party lasted too long)
Easter (Get away for holidays)
July 4 (National holiday)
Labor Day (Need to get away)
Memorial Day (Visit hometown)
School Closing (Kids need break)
School Opens (One last fling)
Family Reunions (Mine & wife’s)
Sleep late (Saturday night activities)
Deaths in Family
Anniversary (Second honeymoon)
Sickness (One per family member)
Business Trips (A must)
Vacation (Three weeks)
Bad Weather (Ice, snow, rain, clouds)
Ball games
Unexpected Company (Can’t walk out)
Time changes (Spring ahead; fall back)
Special on TV (Super Bowl, etc.)
Pastor, that leaves only two Sundays per year.
So, you can count on us to be in church
on the fourth Sunday in February
and the third Sunday in August
unless providentially hindered.
Sincerely,
A Faithful Member
WE DON’T NEED MEMBERS WHO MAKE EXCUSES ABOUT WORSHIP BUT NEED THOSE WHO WANT TO EXALT JESUS IN WORSHIP
B-This Promise Caused Them To Work: 5:28A
Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine,
We are to Worship but we are also to be working in the Lord’s vineyard.
The great violinist, Nicolo Paganini, willed his marvelous violin to Genoa—the city of his birth—but only on condition that the instrument never be played upon. It was an unfortunate condition, for it is a peculiarity of wood that as long as it is used and handled, it shows little wear. As soon as it is discarded, it begins to decay. The exquisite, mellow-toned violin has become worm-eaten in its beautiful case, valueless except as a relic. The moldering instrument is a reminder that a life withdrawn from all service to others loses its meaning.
IV-NOTICE THE ARRIVAL THAT IS SHOWN:
A-We See His Reception: I Tim. 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Many a soldier came back from WWII to be honored in parades, whether in small or large towns.
But what a parade, a reception Jesus must have received. Oh how the angels must have rejoiced to see the chief delight of Heaven back home.
Now Jesus is back home, no more cross, no more shed blood, no more spit, nor more whipping, no more nails. He now has gone from the bruises of earth to the blessing of Heaven.
B-We see His Reward: I Peter 3:22
Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
This world didn’t honor Him, but hated Him. But the Father honored Him. “This is my Son in whom I well pleased.”
The Father is pleased with the work of the Son, is He pleased with your work?
CONCLUSION:
Vernon Grounds tells of an incident that happened while he was in seminary. Since the school had no gymnasium, he and his friends played basket ball in a nearby public school.
Nearby, an elderly janitor waited patiently until the seminarians 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.’”
LISTEN, JESUS IS BACK IN HEAVEN AND HE IS THE VICTOR, AND ONE DAY WE WILL BE WITH HIM AND WE WILL CELBERATE WITH HIM.
One day I am going to ascend in this body or out of the graveyard. But one these days, I am going up; are you? There is a Jesus in Heaven who died for you, His wounds plead with you to receive His forgiveness.
***Note-Sermon Idea-Dr. Jerry Vines
