Where should a coach stand while his team is engaged in an athletic contest? The rules for various sports often dictate where a coach can stand during a game, meet, or match. But it makes sense that the coach should stand where he or she can see what’s going on and also be able to offer advice and encouragement to his or her team. Where should a general stand when his army is battling the enemy? Well, he needs to be close to the combat but not too close. He needs to be able to get “the big picture” of the whole battlefield. Where should the leader of a nation live and keep his office? Ideally I suppose a president or prime minister should be where he can have the most contact with the most people. A leader’s office should be accessible to as many people as possible and shouldn’t be isolated from the issues and problems facing the people he or she serves. Where should the CEO of a major company with offices around the world spend his working hours? The employees of the company might have all kinds of ideas for where their boss needs to be. But obviously he needs to be in the place where he can be most effective and can give the best leadership.
Today as we remember the ascension of Jesus forty days after his resurrection let’s answer a similar question about him. As the leader of all who receive salvation through faith in him where is the best place for Jesus to be. It seems that the disciples thought the best place for Jesus to be was with them as he had been for over three years. We might think that Jesus should live out here near us in the suburbs of Cincinnati. Comparing Jesus to a coach where should he stand to help us who are running the race of faith? Picturing Jesus as a commander where is the best place for him to lead his soldiers as they fight the good fight of faith? And as the ruler of the Kingdom of God where should he keep his office? And because Jesus is the president and CEO of the company of the saints where is the best place for him to do his work?
According to these verses from Ephesians 4:7-16 Jesus ascended into heaven to be better able to provide for his followers. At the right hand of God the father in the glory he had before the creation of the world Jesus can take care of all the needs of all his followers. May the Holy Spirit work through our time in this portion of Scripture so that we take to heart the Apostle Paul’s message for us to:
“RECEIVE GIFTS FROM YOUR ASCENDED LORD”
I. Jesus gives grace to all his followers
II. Jesus gives leaders for all his followers
III. Jesus gives growth and strength to all his followers
From a human perspective the Apostle Paul could have been wondering about the wisdom behind Jesus’ ascension into heaven. After all Paul wrote this letter to the Ephesians while he was a prisoner in Rome. It might have seemed as though Jesus had forgotten him and the whole Christian church on earth. But through the Holy Spirit Paul didn’t look at things that way. He was convinced that Jesus had ascended to the highest throne in the whole universe. From there at the right hand of the Father Jesus ruled all things for the good of his church. He sends exactly what his followers need, when they need it.
I.
Listen again to how Paul revealed his understanding that Jesus was exactly where he needed to be to rule all things for the good of those who love him. “7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8 This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” Through the eyes of faith that the Holy Spirit gave to Paul he saw Jesus’ ascension as a great source of blessing for his followers on earth. The ascension restated loudly and clearly that Jesus had won complete victories over the curse of sin, Satan’s accusations, and the grave’s power. Then from his high throne in heaven he is able to dispense his grace.
The most obvious gift of grace that Jesus gives from his place of power is the forgiveness of our sins and eternal salvation. Paul stated that truth back in Ephesians 2:8-9 of his letter, “8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” And how did that grace reach the Ephesians? It came to them through the ascended Lord Jesus who was working through the Word of God and the Sacraments he instituted for his church on earth to use. None of Jesus’ followers had to make a trip to the “home office” in Jerusalem in order to receive forgiveness. Since he rules all things and fills all things he can bring grace to people everywhere as the gather in his Name.
But Paul is also speaking of specific gifts of grace that Jesus gives to every one of his followers. Unlike a coach, or a general, a government leader or a business executive Jesus works in the heart and soul of his followers to give them what they need for service. But like a coach Jesus offers the gift of encouragement to all his followers as he comes to them through his Word. And like a general Jesus also leads all his followers into battle against the enemies of God’s Kingdom. And also like a government leader Jesus directs the affairs of all aspects of the church’s life. And like a CEO Jesus provides leadership for the ministry of saving souls. Listen again to how the Apostle Paul went on to describe Jesus’ ruling of all things for the good of his followers. He made this statement in verses 9-10. 9 (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) The place for Jesus to do the most for his church was everywhere! And the way to extend his presence everywhere and his power over all things was to ascend to his Father’s presence. There he resumed the full and constant use of his divine power.
I am sure that the disciples could have come up with some pretty convincing arguments as to why Jesus should have stayed with them indefinitely instead of ascending into heaven. And if we put our heads together we could probably come up with some legitimate reasons as well. But ultimately we are called upon to accept the logic presented in God’s Word. The reasons for Jesus’ ascension have been stated in this way, “At the Ascension Jesus left the Here for the Everywhere; He left the Time for the Eternal; He left the First Century to fill All the Centuries.” By faith may we accept that line of thinking and give thanks for what the ascension now enables Jesus to do. He gives gifts of grace to all his followers.
II.
The Apostle Paul continued his explanation of the ascension as a source of great gifts for Christians. Talking about Jesus he wrote, “11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Jesus isn’t like a coach who left his team behind, or a general who walked away from his army, or a government official who walked off the job, or a CEO that left his office to go golfing. Jesus ascended into heaven and from there has given an endless supply of workers to his church on earth. Paul says that he first gave the church the apostles. And now he still gives prophets, evangelists, and pastors and teachers. He speaks through them and works through their ministries of service to others. Instead of appearing directly to each person Jesus sends Christian leaders to build up believers in the faith and to prepare them for works of service.
Showing true leadership Jesus doesn’t do all the work himself. He leads. He involves all of his people in the work of the kingdom. Some he calls to do special work on behalf of all the others. We call that “public ministry” not because it is done in public but because it is done at the request of a group in their name. Evangelists may serve part time on an Outreach Committee or full time as called workers. Teachers may be full time in a parochial school or part time volunteers in Sunday school or VBS. The call to serve on behalf of a group of Christians is the same. Pastors may be full time or part time workers. They may receive their living from a congregation or do what is called “tent ministry.”
These verses remind me of how the Lord led me into the ministry. My mom tells me that when I was about three I stood up on the ledge in front of our fireplace and said, “I be pastor when I big.” But to get from that fireplace to this pulpit took the encouragement of my mom and dad and many pastors and teachers. Through high school, college, and seminary the Lord of the Church supplied his grace and gifts so that I now have the privilege of being your pastor.
Perhaps we don’t fully appreciate the significance of this part of Jesus’ ascension Instead of leading the church himself he distributes leaders in every generation to care for the souls that belong to him.
III.
In the first Scripture lesson for this Sunday we heard the account of Jesus’ ascension from the books of Acts. Do you remember what the disciples asked Jesus just before he ascended? “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” The disciples didn’t yet understand what kind of king Jesus was and what his kingdom was like. They were expecting Jesus to sit on a throne in Jerusalem. They wanted an earthly kingdom with all the glory and majesty of King David or King Solomon. Jesus simply reminded them of their mission to be his witnesses. Soon they would learn what kind of kingdom Jesus was destined to rule. When the Holy Spirit was poured out upon them the church began to grow.
In the last three verses of our sermon text the Apostle Paul saw how the ascended Lord Jesus would bring all his followers together. “14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.” Far from being distant and ineffective Jesus continues to strengthen and build up his followers.
But now we have to ask ourselves a question. Are we standing around staring into heaven wishing Jesus hadn’t ascended or are we receiving the gifts of grace he offers? Do we appreciate the gifts of grace he gives to each of us through the forgiveness of our sins? Are we honoring the Word of God shared by the pastors and teachers Jesus sends us? And are we growing up in faith and strengthening our attachment to Christ? Obviously we have reasons to repent and room to grow in our life of sanctification.
“He ascended into heaven.” We pass over those four words fairly quickly as we confess our faith using the Apostles’ Creed or the Nicene Creed. But there are some very significant and comforting truths embedded in that short phrase.
Do you remember some of the reasons and explanations that Jesus gave for his ascension? He told his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them in heaven. That is certainly one awesome aspect of Jesus’ ascension. It still brings us comfort today. He has prepared a place for each of us. Our Savior also told his disciples that when he ascended he would send the Holy Spirit to them. Jesus is still making good on that promise through the preaching and teaching of his Holy Word. Jesus’ ascension also reinforces the news that echoed from his empty tomb. Everything that he did for our salvation has been completed and completely accepted by God the Father. He was victorious over the curse of sin, and Satan’s finger pointing, and the grip of death. His ascending into heaven and being accepted there by his Father assures us of those facts.
In our sermon this morning we have had the opportunity to consider another beautiful truth that is connected to Jesus’ ascension. He ascended to the right hand of his Father (that is the position of honor and power) to be able to more fully bless his church. Now we might argue against this thought by saying, “But if Jesus had set up the headquarters for his church on earth in Jerusalem we would be much stronger than we are today.” The fear and misunderstanding that the disciples had over Jesus’ ascension seems to indicate that they felt that way. “Stay with us Jesus! Then we can share the good news of what you have done more effectively. Don’t leave us!” Their standing and staring on Ascension Day seems like strong evidence that they felt that way. But such thinking overlooks the big picture. When Jesus returned to the glory that belonged to him in eternity and when he resumed the use of all his power as God the Son he could bless his church in many more ways. Now he isn’t restricted to a particular time and place. Since he is present everywhere at the same time he can bless all his followers wherever they are. In light of that true may we receive the gifts of grace our ascended Lord gives. Amen.
