Every time ... Martin Luther would read the Scriptures he would ask the age-old question: ...... "What does this mean?"
I pray ... that you too .... Will ask that same question .... every time you read a portion of God's word, ......or meditate on the truth ... of the Scriptures.
"What does this mean?"
What does this mean for me?
Let us today ... ask that same question ... in light of Jesus' ascension ... to heaven.
So .... What Does the ascension of Jesus .... Mean for us ... this day?
Well ... first and foremost .... It means that Jesus finished the work on earth ...... that the father gave him .... to do.
Remember the words our Lord he cried out from the Cross ...(Slow) "It is finished". (John 19:30)
Very few of us ... have ever enjoyed the luxury ... of coming to the end of ... even our most productive day being able to proclaim, ... "It is finished.
I have accomplished ... everything.
Instead, ... most of us have an unending list ... or our spouse does ... of things that need to be done.
Very seldom ... if ever ... can we just sit back, ... fold our arms, ... and say, "It is Finished"!
I have finished everything ... everything on both lists ... mine and my wife's. Never happened!
Yet Jesus could proclaim that.
Jesus could say, ... It is finished ...everything is done. (Pause)
Well ... Forty days after that first Easter Day, ... Jesus led his disciples ... to the Mt. of Olives.
For forty days ...... from Easter to Ascension, ... Jesus prepared the disciples ...... for the work ...that was being laid out ... before them.
On the Mount .... Jesus blessed them ...... then ascended into the heavens .... until a cloud ... hid him ... from their eyes.
Yet ... Instead of being sad, ....... The Scriptures tell us ...... that the disciples were ...... filled with joy.
What does this mean?
Perhaps we are stating the obvious, ....... yet sometimes ... the obvious needs ... to be stated.
God the Father ... sent his Son into the world.
He sent his only begotten Son ....... to save the world ...from eternal death .... To save humanity from the wages ... of sin.
He sent Jesus to rescue us ...... For heaven.
The fact that Jesus ascended ... that he returned to heaven .... Means ...... that Jesus clearly...... completed the work... laid before him.
It is Finished! (Pause)
Yet if we are honest with ourselves ... Deep down inside our sinful natures ...... lurks the same age-old dark question ... that the rich young ruler had for Jesus.
"Teacher, what good deed must I do ... to have eternal life?" (Matthew 19:16)
We desperately need .... We desperately want ... to have assurance ... of heaven.
So, ... We seek something ... some good work ... to assure us ... of this salvation.
If only ... I had a stronger faith.
If only ... I would care more.
If only ... I would study more.
If only ... I would pray more.
Now all these things ... are attributes of a Christian maturing in the faith.
They are all good things ... but not if you are doing them ... In a hope ... that you will earn peace of mind ... that you will earn ... assurance of heaven.
Beloved .... There is no work ... that can bring you .... assurance.
Jesus has completed the work... Jesus has paid the price ...... Beloved ... It is finished!
If there had been something left undone, ... if there was something else that was still required ... then Jesus ... would not have ... ascended ... into heaven.
Everything was done.
Everything was completed.
It is finished.
And since it is finished ... not only is your debt of sin ...been transferred to the account of ... Jesus.
In turn, ... the righteousness of Christ Jesus ... has been transferred ... to your ledger ... to your account.
No wonder ... Jesus' ascension gave the disciples such joy.
And our gathering here today ... in worship ... should be overflowing ... with that same ... joy.
If you know Jesus as your Savior and your Lord ... You can have confidence in the Lord's work.
Beloved ... Experience his peace ... experience his joy.
It is finished.
In the Nicene Creed, we confess:
"On the third day, he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father." (Pause)
What does this mean?
The Scriptures share with us ... this truth: BIBLE My little children, ... I am writing these things to you ... so that you may not sin. ...... But if anyone does sin, ... we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, ... and not for ours only ... but also for the sins ... of the whole world. END (1 John 2:1-2)
Beloved ... We have an advocate ... Jesus Christ the righteous ... sitting with power ... at the right hand of the Father.
In our culture.... we would call someone who speaks in our defense .... a lawyer, or a defense attorney. (Pause)
Can you picture in your heart ... Jesus as he is pleading for you ... before the throne?
I am sure .... in your daily prayers, ... you make a confession .... of where you have falling short of the glory of God ... where you have allowed ... sin into your life.
And they may be ... some of the same sins .... that you confessed the night before, .... and the night before that.
You may at times .... feel that the God of heaven may run out of mercy?
How many times ... will the Father forgive me for this?
Yet.... there is Jesus, .... at the Father's ... right hand.
Advocating ... interceding ... for those that know him as Savior and as Lord.
Father.... I bore this one's sins on the cross.
Father.... It is finished.
Because Jesus has ascended to the right hand of the Father, ... we have an advocate ... who has paid the price ... who has ... (Slow) paid it in full. (Long Pause)
At the end of each president's term of office, .... they often proclaim ... a number of ... presidential pardons.
They have this right ... according to the law of the land.
People have questioned the wisdom ... and even the ethics ... of some of these pardons.
Yet ... no one has questioned the right of the president ...... to grant such a pardon.
For ... They have that right by law.
Beloved ... Not only did Jesus pay the price of our sins .... but he has been given the right to pardon us .... before the throne.
No matter how dreadful you feel ... that sin may be.
No matter how many times you may have committed it ... when you confess your sins ... when you repent ... of your sins ... you will be pardoned ...before the throne.
It is finished. (Pause)
So ... "What does Jesus' ascension mean?"
(1 Finger) It means that Jesus completed his work on earth.... It is Finished.
(2 Fingers) Secondly, ... we have an Advocate sitting at the right hand of the father.
(3 Fingers) and Lastly ... It means ... Jesus will come again.
As followers of the Christ we make this proclamation: Christ has died ... Christ is Risen ... Christ will come again.
Let us look again at a portion of our text from Acts:
BIBLE "When He had said these things, as they were watching, He was lifted up ... and a cloud took Him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven suddenly, two men in white robes stood beside them; They said, 'Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.'" END Acts 1:9-11
Why do you stand here ... looking toward Heaven?
The focus of the New Testament ... is not about ... When Jesus will return.
The focus is ... How ... How those who call Jesus their Savior and Lord ... live until He returns.
The Scriptures are clear ... we need to live our lives in such a way ... that people yearn ... to have ... what we have.
That the world ... would hunger and thirst ... for the righteousness ... and for the relationship ... that the followers of Christ have ... with their creator.
That is our challenge.
That is our call.
It is Not to know the time ... or the season ... of his return ... or to stand around ... staring at the sky.
It is to do the work ... that he has laid before us. (Pause)
Back in 1780, ...... the Connecticut House of Representatives ... was in session.
The sky above ...become extremely dark.
An eerie dark.
Many of those in the House ... who were believers glancing out the windows, ... feared ...the end ...was at hand.
Many wanted to adjourn the session, ... but a Colonel Davenport ... rose and said, "The Day of Judgment is either approaching or it's not. If it's not, ... there is no cause for adjournment. If it is, ... I choose to be found doing my duty. Therefore, I wish that candles ... be brought forth." (Pause)
Rather than fearing what is to come, ... we are to be faithful ... till Christ comes.
Instead of fearing the dark, ... we are to be candles ... whose light ... points the way ... to Jesus.
Remember Our Lords words to his disciples: BIBLE "Let your light so shine before others, ... that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." END Matthew 5:1
Jesus' disciples ... visibly saw Him ......rise into the heavens.
Jesus closed ... sin's account.
And When you repented ... when you asked Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, ... your sin account was closed.........closed forever!
Beloved Jesus intercedes ... for you.
Jesus is your advocate ... in the heavenlys (Pause)
Jesus' ascension into heaven gives us comfort .... And confidence ... for the day of his return.
For those who have sought Jesus for salvation, .... who have accepted him as both their Savior and their Lord, ... there will be no fear.
Beloved .... Take solace in our Lord's words to his disciples and to us: BIBLE "Do not let your hearts be troubled.
Believe in God ... Believe also in me. In my Father's house, there are many dwelling places; if it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to the place where I am going." END (John 14:1-3)
How tenderly ... our Savior spoke ... before he ascended into heaven.
And our ascended Savior speaks tenderly to us, this day. ....... "Do not be afraid, ... Believe in God .... Believe also in Me"
Beloved .... In this world, ... we will experience dangers .... There will be sorrows.
Yet.... Jesus shares these words of comfort: .... I am with you always" ... I will never leave you.
I am preparing a place for you. And when I come again, .... I will take you to myself.
So ... What does our Lord's ascension mean?"
(1 Finger) It means that Jesus completed His work on earth. ...... It is Finished.
(2 Fingers) We have an Advocate ... interceding for us in the heavenlys.
(3 Fingers) And his ascension gives us assurance that He will come again.
(Slow) Christ has died. ...... Christ is risen. ...... Christ will come again.
(Slow) And when he comes Beloved ... he will take you ... to the place ...... that he has prepared ... for you.
Amen and Amen!
Dear Reader: So I can better help you, if this Message was not helpful and you rated it low, Please let me know what it lacked or why it was not helpful. You can search by contributor Smead (Constructive Criticism is very helpful) and contact me there. Blessings In Christ Jeff
