In Jesus Holy Name May 21, 2023
Text: John 17:5, ACTS 1:9-10; Revelation 5 Ascension Redeemer
“Ascension to Coronation”
On May 6, 2023 the world was captivated with the coronation of King Charles III. The Coronation of The King and The Queen took place at Westminster Abbey. It was a spectacular display of British pride, a military parade with all the King’s men and horse’s at their best. The King and Queen traveled from Buckingham Palace in The King’s Procession to Westminster Abbey in the Diamond Jubilee Gold State Coach. Created for Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate the 60th anniversary of Her late Majesty’s reign in 2012.
The music at the coronation concert was fabulous. The concert had a world-class orchestra play a host of musical favorites along with the Royal Opera House, The Royal House of Music all taking part.
The concert was attended by the cheering of people numbering in the hundreds of thousands, fireworks were on display. There were street parties and coronation lunches throughout England.
The King’s Ring is composed of a sapphire with a ruby cross set in diamonds. The ring was made for the Coronation of King William IV in 1831, and all British kings from King Edward VII on have used it at their Coronations. The crown is a 1661 replica of the Crown for Charles II. Made of solid gold and weighing five pounds, it contains 444 gemstones, including rubies, sapphires, garnets and diamonds.
It was a glorious event watched by millions, but the pageantry can not compare to the coronation of Jesus in heaven.
It is possible that upon arriving at church this morning you did not know that on the Church Calendar that today is Ascension Sunday, the day Jesus ascended into heaven, which is why the Epistle lesson is from Acts 1. It is impossible to overstate the importance of Good Friday, when Jesus died for our sins, and Easter Sunday, when He was raised from the dead — but His earthly ministry did not stop on Easter Sunday. His earthly ministry continued through the apostles, the Church. Jesus promised every apostle and every Christian the same Holy Spirit that dwelt in Jesus so that through us, through the church His ministry, His message of forgiveness and salvation might continue to be told.
After the resurrection, Jesus taught his disciples about God’s kingdom for forty days ( Acts 1:3) and then He was “taken up” to heaven (Acts 1:11) . The cross and empty tomb are at the very heart of the gospel message proclaimed by Jesus’s followers throughout history. (I Corinthians 15:1-4). However, for many evangelical Christians and churches, Jesus’s ascension is simply an afterthought to Easter and Good Friday. Yet His ascension is critical. Without His coronation His death and resurrection and the Holy Spirit would not be validated by God.
According to the Apostles’ Creed, Jesus “ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.” That is our confession…and we dare not overlook it’s importance. Jesus is taken up to heaven in a cloud. When Stephen was being stoned to death he declares that he sees the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. (Acts 7:55)
The ascension of Jesus, His return to heaven, is the answer to the prayer of Jesus in John 17. “Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” That sentence alone is astounding if we stop to think about it. He was at creation, He existed before creation.
The Old Testament prophet Daniel was given a vision of the future coronation of Jesus. Daniel 7 records the coronation. “As I looked, thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. “
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”
God the Father exalted Jesus above all and enthroned him as Lord over all. He is now eternally seated at the right hand of his Father in heaven, and from his throne he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead. This we confess in the Apostle’s Creed.
Revelation 5 is exactly what Jesus is referring to in His prayer in John 17. Jesus said: “I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.” What did Jesus do? He healed the leper, enabled the lame to walk, give sight to the blind, raised the dead.
Then Jesus went to the cross as the sacrificial “Lamb of God”. He carried on His shoulders all our broken commandments and He left them there so that all who believe in Jesus will not experience the wrath of a just and holy God.
Read Hebrews 1:1-3 & 2:7-8,14-15.
The Book of Revelation always brings great curiosity, yet the book of Revelation tells us more about heaven than any other book in the Bible. When reading Revelation people often get confused. Just a few weeks ago we read that famous promise of Jesus in John 14: “do not let your hearts be troubled. In my Father’s house are many mansions….I am going there to prepare a place for you.”
Jesus told his disciples that where He is going they could not come. (John 13:33) But He would return and take them to be with him forever. (John 14:3) Jesus was talking about the cross. They could not go to the cross for the redemption of humanity. He was talking about His ascension to the throne of Heaven. But Jesus promised that He would return and bring them to where He was. Heaven.
You can not separate the Ascension of Jesus from His coronation in Revelation 5.
You might want to open your bibles to Revelation 4 & 5 Follow the story.
The place: The throne room of heaven. The time: After His Death, resurrection and Ascension. The setting: A magnificent throne and a mysterious scroll. Around the throne are myriads of angelic creatures, glorious and awesome to behold. A bright rainbow encircles the throne. Twenty-four elders wearing crowns of gold surround the throne. Flashes of lightning frame the One seated there. A sea of glass surrounds the throne. Everywhere there is singing, worship and praise.
Your eye darts from one detail to another. You notice the four living creatures and wonder who they are and what they represent. There are armies of angels on every hand. There are cherubim and seraphim, and other angels you cannot identify. There is smoke and incense and light and joy. Your eyes and ears cannot take it all in. “Holy, Holy, Holy” cry the four living creatures. Suddenly, spontaneously, gladly, you find yourself bowing down before the One on the throne.
You have finally reached heaven. You are in God’s presence. Nothing you heard or saw or imagined on earth prepared you for this moment. I can only imagine.
The Lamb who was slain is now the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He has triumphed over death and hell and all the forces Satan could throw against him. Only a worthy victor could take the scroll and open it. He has fought the fight, won the battle, now the spoils of war belong to him.
Stop and think about this great point. The Lamb has already won the battle. It’s over. He has won. The victory is His. From God’s point of view, Satan is already defeated. When Jesus returns in glory (Revelation 19-20) Satan and all who followed him will be cast into the lake of fire, which is the 2nd death for eternity.
Jesus takes the ownership of the earth away from the devil. Jesus truly becomes the king of the earth. It is just like the Lord of the Rings episode, “The Return of the King.” At this point Jesus takes the power and authority of God and begins enforcing the values of the Kingdom (Sermon on the Mount).
Read Revelation 5:9-14
When Jesus was on earth His death and resurrection secured our forgiveness, justification, and reconciliation with God. Jesus is now in heaven interceding for his people as our true high priest and advocate. (Hebrews 8) Jesus did not leave the disciples nor us to “make it on our own” until He returns. He was very clear. On the day of Pentecost He gave every disciple “His Holy Spirit”. Paul writes in Galatians 4:6 “God sent the Spirit of His Son Jesus into our hearts.”
The purpose of the Holy Spirit is to enable each Christian to “imitate” Jesus and display His character traits in our daily lives. His Spirit will help each of us remember “His words” and be involved in convicting people of their broken commandments. His Spirit will produce in us love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control.”
His Spirit will provide us with the “gifts of the Spirit so that we might witness and tell the story of God’s salvation through faith in Jesus. And then on the last Day when Jesus returns His Spirit will raise us from the grave and Jesus will give us a glorious resurrected body to live in the new heaven and new earth.
The Coronation of Jesus means that God the Creator accepted His perfect life, His sacrifice so that He will see us “holy in His sight without blemish.” We can sing with all the saints
“No guilt in me, no fear in death…this is the power of Christ in me.
Jesus commands my destiny, no power of hell, no scheme of man
Can take me out of His hand: till He returns or calls me home.”
