The Accession Of Jesus

SERMON OUTLINE:

FIRST: The Narrative of the Ascension.

(1). A Blessing (vs 50).

(2). A Departure (vs 51).

(3). A Feeling (vs 52).

(4). A Gathering (vs 52-53)

SECOND: The Theology of the Ascension.

(1). It marked the end of his earthly ministry.

(2). It showed success in his earthly work.

(3). It marked the return of his heavenly glory.

(4). It disclosed his new work as High Priest.

(5). It enabled the Holy Spirit to come.

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

We live in a world in which up is better than down.

• e.g. Singers want to be top of the charts,

• e.g. Footballers want to be top of their leagues.

• e.g. Athletes want the top prize, that gold medal.

• e.g. Workers want to be at the top end of the pay scale.

• e.g. Students want to be at the top of the class.

• e.g. Homeowners want to be on top of the housework!

• e.g. And we all want to be top of somebody’s friends list.

• e.g. We all want to feel on top of the world,

• Everyone would rather have an up day than a down day!

• TRANSITION: You could say we all want to live ascended lives.

• We want to go up rather than down!

• This is our last study in the Gospel of Luke,

• The ascension (going up) of Jesus Christ is our theme.

• Question: When did you last hear a sermon on the ascension of Jesus?

• Answer: I am struggling to remember as well!

• Surprisingly, this important truth,

• Is probably one of the most neglected doctrines among Christians.

Ill:

• Now the Church calendar has always included Ascension Day,

• If like me you are a non-conformist,

• We do not pay much attention to the Church calendar,

• We tend to just jump onboard at Christmas and Easter and ignore it the rest of the year.

• Ascension Day is traditionally celebrated on a Thursday,

• The fortieth day of Easter,

• (Following the accounts given in Mark 16:19, Luke 24:51 and Acts 1:2)

• Now because it happened on a Thursday,

• And our type of Church meets on a Sunday,

• That maybe one reason this special day and special doctrine is often over-looked.

Ill:

• In our type of Churches, we do not often recite Christian creeds,

• Such as The Apostles Creed & The Nicene Creed in our services.

• We did each week in January sing the creed in song form,

• Every creed includes the line; “He ascended into heaven”

• TRANSITION: The ascension of Jesus was a historical event,

• But it is more than just a conclusion to the life of Jesus on earth.

• As we will see it is also an important doctrine.

Now the ascension of Jesus was both an end and a beginning!

FIRST: It was an end.

• For three years the disciples had placed their faith in a man of flesh & blood.

• That man of flesh & blood was with them day and night.

• But now due the ascension of Jesus,

• Those days were over, they were finished, they were forever gone!

• They would no longer know Jesus physically (the man of flesh & blood.) on earth.

• Never again on earth will they pat him on the back,

• Never again on earth will they pass him some fish or bread to eat,

• Never again on earth will they push him away in jest or outpace him on a walk.

• The old way of knowing Jesus is now over, it is finished, it is no more,

• From now on they would experience the living Christ differently.

SECOND: It was a beginning.

• Notice these disciples did not leave this place full of sadness and despair.

• This was not a faith shattering experience, in fact the very opposite.

• They left with ‘joy’,

• Well read what verse 52 says, they left with ‘great joy’!

• This new beginning was going to be positive and unique.

• From this moment on,

• They had a Lord and Master from whom no-one and no set of circumstances,

• Could ever separate them him.

Ill:

• The physical resurrected glorified body of Jesus,

• Which was different but the same and the same but different.

• It was different because this body could appear and disappear,

• It behaved in a supernatural way.

• It was no longer normal!

• It was the same because it could be touched,

• Jesus was able to eat food with the disciples.

• They recognised him and knew who he was.

• The physical resurrected glorified body of Jesus,

• Which was different but the same and the same but different.