The Benefits Of The Ascension Of Jesus

Sermon -The Benefits of the Ascension of Jesus

Scripture - Acts 1:6-11 “Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 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.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “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.”

Introduction: When Jesus ascended into Heaven, it marks a new beginning of His ministry on earth. Jesus would once again be seated in His position of Authority, enthroned with all his former glory. The Holy Spirit would empower the Apostles to be Jesus' witnesses to the world. While talking to the Apostles, Jesus was bodily lifted up into the air and taken to Heaven. Two men appeared next to the Apostles and told them Jesus would one day return. Their Covenantal God was fulfilling His promise to Israel that he would pour out his Spirit over the earth. In Jesus' death burial, resurrection, and ascension, God paved the way to send his Spirit back into Humanity.

Forty days after Jesus’s resurrection, the biblical storyline takes a remarkable turn: Jesus disappears. “He was taken up before their very eyes,” Luke tells us, “and a cloud hid him from their sight” (Acts 1:9). Two angels then tell the disciples that Jesus was “taken into heaven” (Acts 1:11)

Until now some had doubted the stories they heard. But now in the presence of more than 500 hundred witnesses, the crucified and risen Lord ascended into heaven. The ascension was a vital part of the redemption story. Here are five ways the ascension of Jesus benefits us.

1. In Heaven Jesus reigns as king over all powers in all ages.

Ephesians 1:20–21 speaks of the power God exerted when he “raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Further, we have been “seated with him in the heavenly realms in Jesus Christ”

Ephesians 2:6–7 “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” Believers can experience the power of Christ’s resurrection life by the Holy Spirit and enjoy his exaltation and victory over the powers of darkness. We need this power since the problems we face appear to be human conflicts, but are ultimately struggles with the forces of darkness (Eph. 6:12).

2. In Heaven Jesus gives Believers Access to God’s throne for mercy and grace. Hebrew 4:14-16 “Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

In Jesus “we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens” (Heb. 4:14). “Passed through the heavens” is the ascension language; Jesus passed through the heavens to be seated at the Father’s right hand (Heb. 1:3).

What’s the result? We can now “draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16). Whether we are battling cancer, bitterness, betrayal, pride, or discouragement, we can pray with confidence because of our ascended Lord who intercedes for us.

3. In Heaven Through the Power of the Holy Spirit Believers have an Advocate on earth Whose Presence is limitless.

The night before he was crucified, Jesus promised his disciples that he would “ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16–17). Later, he returns to this theme: “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).