By Nicole McLeod
Today we will take a closer look at the Ascension of Jesus, which we only briefly covered in our series. The ascension marks the transition from Jesus’ earthly ministry to His eternal ministry and role in heaven. It’s one of the most important events recorded in the New Testament. I hope what we read will inspire us to truly rejoice in it. “Ascension Day” is always 40 days after Jesus’ resurrection, May 14th, and we will be on our break that week, so this will be our celebration with worship, food and fellowship. May the Lord bless our time together, bless our worship and the lovely brunch you’ve all prepared!
Prayer: As we open your Word, Lord, please bless it to our hearts, and help us appreciate what Your ascension is all about. In Jesus name.
Please open in your Bibles to Luke 24:50-53, (and have John 17 ready) I have a hand-out, to help us remember what we study today (Handout).
We are joining Jesus and His disciples, as they’re leaving Jerusalem 40 days after the Resurrection. His post-resurrection ministry was done. This was the appointed time for not only Jesus’ departure from earth, but for His victorious arrival in Heaven. Luke, grasping the importance of this, gives two accounts of the ascension of Jesus; a brief one here, and in Acts 1:9 -11 (which we will look at next) he adds some important details.
Luke 24:50-53 “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising and blessing God. Amen.”
This account is a brief overview, but I want us to notice in particular what Jesus was doing while He was ascending vs. 51, as He was carried up into heaven? He was blessing them, and they were indeed blessed!
We’ve talked about how difficult things had been for his disciples, when Jesus was arrested, unjustly tried, mocked, humiliated, beaten, and crucified, and how they had forsaken Him. Jesus knew that their faith would be shaken before it would be secured and come to rest upon Him. He had assured them that the victory would be His, and it was indeed. He rose from the grave, just as He said He would, and had spent 40 days preparing His followers for what was coming next: His departure (ascension to heaven) and the baptism of the Holy Spirit, to empower them to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth.
All of this would be transformational to His disciples, so he ends with a picture of them continual praising and blessing God. May the Lord transform our own hearts today as we look at the ascension and see what it means to us.
Turn to Acts 1:9-11. Jesus reminds them to wait in Jerusalem for the power of the Holy Spirit to be His witnesses. Acts 1:9 “And when He (Jesus) had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.”
Here Luke mentions the cloud. This visible cloud is of great significance because it is generally interpreted as the presence God, the Shekinah glory of God. This had appeared as a protective pillar of cloud/fire during the Exodus, it had filled the Tabernacle and Solomon’s Temple, and Luke 9:35 tells us at Jesus’ Transfiguration, this cloud had “overshadowed them”, and a voice from it declared, “This is My Son, My chosen One, listen to Him.”
Seeing the cloud helped His disciples understand that Jesus was returning to glory. No wonder they were staring up, fixed in amazement! His ascension was a glorious and glory filled moment.
Acts 1:10-11 “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, 11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”
Two angels sent from God interrupt them with an important announcement, saying, “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw Him go. In other words, Jesus will return again to earth, and His return will be visible, bodily, and with clouds.
*Out of curiosity, I did a search on how many times the second coming of Christ is referenced in scripture, and it is over 1500 times in the Old Testament and more than 300 times in the NT, appearing in 23 of the 27 NT books. It’s referred to in the Bible eight times more frequently than the first coming and is the second most mentioned topic after faith.
The point I am making is that while living in a broken world, we can live with confident hope that Jesus will return to make all things new in God’s perfect time.
The ascension was awesome, but what is even more awesome, is that the Bible gives us glimpses of what Jesus ascended to, what He ascended for, and what He is doing in His ascended role in Heaven. I want us to take a brief look at these next. I call this 5 reasons to rejoice in the Ascension.
1. Gift: Turn to John 16: 5-8. On the night before his crucifixion, Jesus said, “But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless, I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:”
We rejoice in Jesus’ Ascension because it is directly linked to the gift of and pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon the church, at Pentecost. Joel prophesied about it, Jesus promised it and Pentecost provided it for all the believers. The Spirit’s coming personally meant the kingdom coming powerfully.
But the disciples hearts were filled with sorrow at the thought of Jesus leaving them. “Nevertheless” He says, “It is to your advantage that I go away.” Nevertheless, is one of the great words of the Bible. (Strongs G235) used over 150 times in the Bible. It is frequently used as a "divine pivot" to mark a turning point where God moves in spite of negative circumstances.
So, Jesus explains that His absence from earth would be more advantageous than his presence on earth. And He explains why. ‘For unless I go away’, Jesus tells them, the "Helper" (the Holy Spirit) will not come to you. “But if I depart, I will send Him to you.” And that’s exactly what happened, on the Day of Pentecost, ten days after His ascension.
Jesus ascended so that the Spirit could descend. Peter confirms this in his first sermon, in, Acts 2:33 declaring, “Therefore (Jesus) being exalted to the right hand of God, (speaking of the ascension) and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” The Baptism of the Holy Spirit was a great advantage to Jesus’ disciples.
It was also to the world’s advantage that Jesus ascend and send the Holy Spirit. (vs 8) He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” The conviction of the Holy Spirit prepares the way for the gospel message to be received and for people to be saved and enter the Kingdom.
Think about this; Jesus ministry “to seek and save the lost” is worldwide and 24/7 because He ascended and sent the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ earthly ministry disciples was limited by time and space, while the Holy Spirit is with believers at all times and everywhere. It’s mind blowing!
John 16:12-14 Jesus continues, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”
The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Truth. I think we all sense how important truth is today in this age of rampant deception. In His High priestly prayer, Jesus prayed, John 17:19 (NLT) “And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.”
His Word is truth, and it transforms our lives, thanks to the Holy Spirit who inspired the writers to write it down.
2. Glory: Please turn to John 17. When Jesus came to earth, it was His descension from glory, it was His humiliation. So, a second reason to rejoice in the ascension is because it was Jesus’ triumphant return to glory and return to His Father.
In John 14:28, He told His disciples, 28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.
Jesus was not just going away He was going to His heavenly throne to rule and reign. In His prayer, we see that He looked forward to this day.
John 17:1-5 “Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”
Jesus’ prayer was answered in His ascension. His perfect offering for sin received God’s seal of approval, and the ascension was His glorious and victorious homecoming. He rises to His exaltation, and His coronation as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Phil 2:9-11 “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Hebrews 10:14 “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”
Our faith and hope in God is made secure by the ascended Jesus, whom God has glorified.
3: Grace: A third reason to rejoice in the ascension is that today, Jesus is actively ruling and reigning in heaven at the right hand of God. Jesus’ heavenly throne is homebase for this ongoing ministry. We get to experience the free gift of God's grace and eternal love because of all He has done, is doing and will do for us.
We get to experience the free gift of God's grace and eternal love because of Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross paid it all. Having ascended to glory. Jesus’ heavenly throne is homebase for His ongoing gracious ministry to us.
- In heaven today, the Savior is our interceding High Priest, giving us the grace we need for our Christian life. He is seated in the presence of God continuously, making heaven’s throne a mercy seat of atonement.
Heb. 4:14-16 “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
In whatever challenging circumstances we find ourselves, we may “come boldly to His throne of grace, and He will help us. He lives forever so His great priesthood is permanent, unchanging, and perfect.
2. In heaven today, the Savior is our Advocate before the Father.
Hebrews 7:25 “Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”
Having come down to earth to redeem us, Jesus returned to heaven to intercede for us. His presence displays His perfect and completed sacrifice which defends us against any and all condemnation.
CH Spurgeon “He is not pleading for mercy as one who is uncertain of the outcome. Rather, as the crucified and risen Savior, He presents His perfect sin-atoning sacrifice before the Father. His nail-scarred hands are the eternal evidence that . . .the price has been paid in full, the wrath of God has been satisfied, justice has been upheld, and His mercy flows freely.”
3. In heaven today, the Savior is our Head of and sustainer of the church.
Mark 16:19-20 “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them (His disciples), He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs.
Colossians 1:18: "Christ is also the head of the church, which is his body. He is the beginning, supreme over all who rise from the dead. So, he is first in everything.” (NLT)
John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”
From Heaven Jesus So much to rejoice in!
4. Future and a Hope: The fourth reason to rejoice in Christ’s ascension, is that this gives a future and a hope for what lies beyond this life. He has gone to prepare a place for us, He said in John 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” Our future is not unknown or undecided. We will spend eternity with the ascended glorified Christ in heaven.
John 17:24 Jesus prayed, “Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began.” (NLT)
How awesome will that be! That is when we will truly be unified in Christ.
5. Our fifth reason to rejoice in the ascension. Please turn to Ephesians 2:4-7 where Paul tells us that Jesus ascension secures an ongoing, living union with Him. We are united with Christ in His death, and His suffering and His resurrection; we’re also united with Him in His ascension. The apostle Paul explains this ongoing union.
Ephesians 2:4-7 “But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
God sees us in Christ, regardless of our daily ups and downs here on earth. And as Paul wrote, (vs 7) this displays the riches of God's grace in His kindness towards us. Seated in Christ, we rest secure in the finished work of Jesus.
Col 3:1-4 “Since then, you have been raised with Christ, (here it is again) set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Or as Hebrews 3:1 says, “fix your thoughts on Jesus!”
This is so important! I want to share this from AW Tozer; from a devotion I read last week.
“What we think about when we are free to think about whatever we desire--that is what we are or will soon become. Anyone who wishes to check on his true spiritual condition, may do so by noting what his voluntary thoughts have been over the last hours or days. What has he thought about, when free to think about whatever he pleased? Toward what has his inner heart turned, when it was free to turn wherever it desired?
When the bird of thought was let go, did it fly out like the raven to settle upon floating carcasses? Or did it like the dove circle and return again to the ark of God? Such a test is easy to run; and if we are honest with ourselves, then we can discover not only what we are; but what we are going to become. We will soon be the sum of our voluntary thoughts!
Long practice in the art of frequent, heartfelt prayers (that is, talking to God inwardly as we work or travel) will help to form the habit of holy thoughts. “For as a man thinks in his heart, so he is.”
“Oh, Lord, You know the constant struggle which we have with our thought life. You know how often our thoughts settle on rotten carcasses. Take control of my thoughts today and give me grace to develop the habit of spiritual mindedness. Amen.” And amen!
May our thoughts turn daily from our problems and struggles and disappointments, to the risen and ascended victorious Jesus.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”
Do you see this? Our life is hidden with Christ in God, and when He comes again, we will appear with Him in glory! Are you rejoicing?
Our position in Christ is not something we earn but is given to us by grace through faith. As Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast."
God has a wonderful plan at work, and with 2,000+ years of hindsight, and His Word to instruct us, can we agree that Jesus’ ascension is awesome. Let’s fix our eyes upon His wonderful love and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit, who will help us, lead us and guide us all the way home.
*“Raise us from the Earth to Heaven, give us wings of faith and love,
Gales of holy aspirations wafting us to realms above;
That with hearts and minds uplifted, we with Christ our Lord may dwell,
Where He sits enthroned in glory, in His heavenly citadel.”
Father, we thank you for this time of celebration that we are having today and the opportunity to look at what your ascension means to us. In Jesus’ name, Amen
* Christopher Wordsworth “See, the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph!” 1862