The Lutheran Hour
-
"Celebrate the Ascension"
- No Sermon MP3 No bonus material MP3
-
Text: Acts 1:9-10 "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them."
-
PRAYER: O Lord, we pray, this is the week Your dear children all over the world celebrate the departure of Your crucified and resurrected Son, as He returned to heaven to be in Your glorious presence. We call this Christ’s ascension. Heavenly Father, just as Jesus promised during His public ministry to send the Spirit, the Comforter, so now also gracious heavenly Father we pray, send Your Spirit into the hearts of all who are troubled. Replace anxiety with peace; exchange unbelief, O Lord, with repentance and Your gift of faith. Substitute frustration, discouragement, and despair with the living hope of Christ’s resurrection from the dead and the blessed certainty with all Your children that they will spend eternity with You and Your Son, the Lord Jesus. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
After three days of being in a cold and dark grave, on Easter morning Jesus Christ rose from the dead! Immediately, His friends were excited but His enemies were furious! Their most devious plans had not deterred the gracious will of God. Christ’s enemies’ attempt to silence the first Christians did not stop these disciples from spreading the historical truth of Christ’s resurrection, the foundation of God’s Good News.
The joy of these early believers was not based on an illusion as enemies of Christ often try to claim. Instead, their enthusiasm which hell itself could not stop, was based solidly and squarely on Jesus Christ Himself, who, according to the Bible, for 40 days after defeating death, continued to show His followers He was alive “by many convincing proofs.” Imagine all the joy of Christ’s followers. Only days before, even hours before, tears had streamed down their cheeks as they wept over the bloody crucifixion and innocent death of their merciful Master. But then, Easter morning arrived and Jesus rose again, defeating death and drying His follower’s tears.
Later, however, there came another time for tears, but only temporary tears. You see, some six weeks after His resurrection Jesus told His disciples He was leaving them to ascend into heaven to be with His Father. However, the important point today is that Jesus also said to His followers, as He says to you, He will return in glory just as He departed!
So, friends, to lift you up today and help you celebrate Christ’s ascension with believers all over the world, let me read the historical account of Jesus’ departure as it is recorded in the Bible in the New Testament book of Acts. “Jesus,” the Bible says, was “lifted up” while His disciples were watching and “a cloud received Him out of their sight.” As His disciples “were gazing intently into the sky” probably with tears in their eyes, the Bible further explains “that two men in white clothing stood beside them.”
These two angels then said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11).
To be sure, the words of the angels that Jesus would definitely return may not have been all that comforting for the disciples at the moment of departure. Nevertheless, so great a word of hope has this promise of Christ become for believers throughout the centuries that now Christian churches all over the world observe a special “Ascension” celebration. These celebrations are more than mere historic recollections. These celebrations emphasize the gifts God gives to His Church as a result of the Ascension. Today we will list several of these gifts!
Now, before we begin, here is the tragic note in the midst of this celebration. Tragically, most Christians nowadays will not celebrate Christ’s glorious ascension. Consequently, they will deprive themselves of a key promise of Christ’s Gospel because many in our Christian culture have become very indifferent to the teachings of the Bible. As a population, we have become scripturally illiterate. We pick up our ideas of religion more from watching man-made religious TV shows than from the Word of God. We are tempted to follow the comfortable path of popular religious personalities rather than the clear path of our Savior. For all these reasons, we need to raise up and celebrate publicly the importance of Christ’s glorious ascension into heaven.
Celebrating Christ’s ascension is important for two reasons: First, our Savior’s final words to us just before He departed remind us that He is always with us. For example, in the Gospel of Matthew 28 we read Jesus’ final words just before His glorious ascension. “I am always with you,” Jesus said, “even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
Listen also to our Savior’s words recorded in the Gospel of John and spoken to His disciples. He is also, by the way, speaking these words of comfort to you.
“I will ask the Father,” Jesus said, “and He will give you another Helper. This Helper will be with you forever.” “I will not leave you as orphans,” Jesus said. “I will come to you.” After a little while Jesus said, “The world will no longer see Me but you will see Me; and because I live you will live also” (John 14:16-19).
Few words of Jesus are more relevant and more applicable to you than Jesus’ promise, “I will always be with you, even to the end of the world.” For example, one nationally syndicated columnist who has had editorials in the ‘Dallas Morning News,’ the ‘Miami Herald,’ and the ‘San Jose Mercury,’ has said that the baby boom generation “is headed for a crisis of loneliness.” This has resulted because we are selfish, self-centered, and self-serving. Selfish life styles drive away your friends and leave you on an island alone. Your “sinful selfishness” then becomes your own self-made hell.
Columnist Kirby Anderson states it this way: “Our self-centered and self-serving society is to blame for much of the increased loneliness. Selfish people don’t make good marriage partners. Consequently, divorce is often the result. Tragically, divorce produces even more single parents, and fathers, mothers, husbands, and wives all forced to live alone.”
One sin leads to another. Thus, no matter what your situation is, now is the time to enter God’s circle of protection away from the demons of loneliness. If there is no Christian church in your area celebrating the glorious Ascension of our Lord this week, then celebrate this special event with your family. Put a candle on your table. Read from the Bible from the Book of Acts, chapter one. Take note how the angels said, “Jesus will return.” Then, read also from the last chapter of Matthew where, upon His departure, Jesus promised His disciples and promises you also that He shall be with you forever even to the end of the world.
These blessed words Jesus spoke just before He ascended are words to be treasured and clung to by God’s gift of faith.
A second reason Christ’s ascension is so important to you is because this event reminds you that Jesus is now interceding before the heavenly Father’s throne on your behalf for mercy each time you sin, stumble, or fall.
You see, centuries before Jesus was born, Isaiah the prophet foretold that Jesus would bear the sin of many and He would intercede for the transgressors, of which you and I are numbered (Isaiah 53:12).
The apostle Paul also says Jesus “is at the right hand of God, [and He] intercedes for us” (Romans 8:34).
In the book of Hebrews, in the New Testament, we read that “Jesus is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him since He [Jesus] always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
So, friends, if you are burdened with the feeling of guilt that you did not raise your children as well as you might have, then say to the devil as Jesus did: “Get behind me, Satan.” Then celebrate Christ’s ascension and know He is at the right hand of your Father’s throne pleading for mercy on behalf of your shortcomings.
If you have spent years and years piling up money selfishly for yourself and thinking very little of others, then repent of your serious sin and look to Jesus for forgiveness. Then, with God’s gift of faith, celebrate Christ’s ascension. Celebrate, for He is now interceding before the eternal throne of God’s grace on your behalf. If you’re sorry you have lived a selfish life thinking you are better than others and that God will accept your self-righteousness, then repent to your heavenly Father. Confess your sins. Then celebrate your Savior’s ascension, for He is the one who has covered you with the cloak of His perfect righteousness.
When you celebrate the ascension and are reminded of God’s undeserved love and mercy for all your sins, and when you are reminded that Christ is interceding on your behalf before the throne of God, then let these blessed reminders assure you that God’s forgiveness also empowers you to forgive others.
In last month’s issue of ‘Better Homes and Gardens’ one of the authors stated that “most Americans think it’s important to forgive, However, in reality, less than half of us make any serious effort to forgive others.” That’s interesting!
Even though this was a secular article, all of us need to hear what this author said. She pointed out that research has been done on the subject of forgiveness. And those who did this research were surprised to find that anger-prone people were three times more likely to have heart attacks or by-pass surgery than less angry folks. This study, publicized in ‘Circulation’ magazine, involved 13,000 men and women. The study also revealed that men who got rid of their anger had only half as many strokes as those who refused to forgive. This study was conducted by the University of Michigan.
Now, a study at the University of Pittsburgh revealed that women with chest pains and those who harbored feelings of anger were four times more likely to have an unhealthy cholesterol level which is linked to heart disease.
So, God’s gracious assurance of His forgiveness through the blood of Jesus not only unburdens your conscience but it also empowers you to forgive to be a healthier person.
Not only this week but every day, celebrate with joy, the Ascension of Jesus Christ as He returned to heaven. As prophesied by Isaiah the prophet, Jesus is daily and hourly interceding on your behalf (Isaiah 53:12).
If the devil tempts you to believe the life you have lived has been too sinful to be forgiven, then remember how Jesus interceded for His worst enemies even while they were mercilessly nailing Him to the cross. Even then He prayed, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Oh, you may have sinned by not knowing what you were doing. Perhaps your sin is the almost total lack of remembering each day all that God has done for you. Or, maybe you have sinned by not praying every day, as God has asked you to. In these cases, the sin-atoning blood of Jesus Christ covers you just as it covered the sins of those who crucified Christ. Although Christ forgave those who murdered Him, they were condemned because they did not receive God’s gift of forgiveness with His gift of faith.
The call to you today is — don’t make the same mistake. By God’s gift of faith, receive also His unconditional mercy. In all of this, God’s blessing of His own forgiveness is more than a blessing we will enjoy as the key to heaven. God’s forgiveness which unburdens our conscience and God’s gracious forgiveness because of what Christ did on the cross, also empowers us to live a more blessed and fulfilled life on this earth even among those who don’t agree with us and those who may even dislike us. The bottom line is this: celebrating the Ascension is a daily, even an hourly, reminder of your forgiving God in Christ as He seeks to change not only your thoughts of heaven but also totally transform your attitude toward life on earth. This new attitude will bring joy and strength and hope into your life.
God bless you. Celebrate Christ’s Ascension and all the joy it brings to you. You are forgiven. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for May 12, 2002
ANNOUNCER: We have Dr. Wallace Schulz in the studio. I’m Mark Eischer. Dr. Schulz, you pointed out the Ascension is often overlooked as to its importance in the everyday lives of our listeners.
SCHULZ: I hope and pray our listeners and all Christians would have a revived interest in celebrating the Ascension of Jesus and also to thank God each day for the blessings this ascension gives us.
ANNOUNCER: That’s such an important message for people to hear today. Dr. Schulz, could we just recap the two main points you made and perhaps even expand on them a little bit. The first point: Even though Jesus has ascended, He is still always present with us.
SCHULZ: Yes. When we talk about Jesus or God’s presence or the Spirit’s presence among us, this isn’t something people have dreamed up, shall we say, over the ages. It isn’t some spiritual “feeling” that some get and others do not. This precious promise of Christ’s presence is the foundation that drives away fear from many senior citizens that have lost their spouse. You see, when a husband or wife dies, the partner left behind is often visited with moments, hours, and even days of loneliness. In fact, loneliness can be so powerful it can paralyze even a child.
ANNOUNCER: So, the Ascension promise is also an encouraging message for children and young people?
SCHULZ: I think that is certainly the case. In fact, on the subject of loneliness and Jesus’ Ascension promise of always being with us, let me tell you a story about a pastor who was part of my life many years ago. This pastor’s name was the Rev. Carl Wolf. He had lost his mother through death. His father who was living in Missouri at the time couldn’t take care of the two little children left behind. So, the father, even though it broke his heart, placed his two children in an orphanage in Nebraska. The boy suffered under great loneliness which he vividly recalled in his later years. However, he also said that when he was about 13 years old, a Lutheran pastor came to the orphanage and explained in a devotion that he, the little 13-year old boy, had a Father, a heavenly Father. This Good News of God’s Gospel of the heavenly Father totally changed this young man’s life. He later went on to the seminary, graduated, became a missionary and a pastor in several states impacting and inspiring the lives of thousands and thousands of people, including my own life.
ANNOUNCER: I’m sure many of our listeners can relate to that story, especially those who feel lonely or have no close friends.
SCHULZ: I know, Mark. We have so very little time left, but I do want to make this comment, once again. On the second point I raised in my message today, one of God’s greatest gifts we become sensitized to when we celebrate the Ascension, is that every time we stumble or fail, Jesus intercedes for us on our behalf.
ANNOUNCER: Do you think this teaching is widely understood?
SCHULZ: Perhaps many have heard about it. But it is not discussed very much nowadays. For that reason, I want to mention to our listeners again, not according to my opinion, but by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and through the writings of the apostle Paul, we know Jesus “is at the right of hand of God interceding for us.” So, if you are a listener at this moment and you’ve been troubled by some of the failures or sins, or perhaps misspoken words in your life, to your family or friends, take heart in the Good News of God’s Gospel: Jesus died on the cross to wash these sins of yours away. In the Bible, in the book of Hebrews, we read, “Jesus is able to save forever all those all those who draw near to God through Him since He [Jesus] is always at the right hand of God making intercession for you” (Hebrews 7:25).
ANNOUNCER: How would you summarize this?
SCHULZ: The bottom line is celebrate! Yes, celebrate the ascension and Jesus’ promise that He is always with you. Know He is every hour interceding before God’s throne on your behalf. When Jesus died on the cross, His blood cleansed you from all your past mistakes and nobody — absolutely nobody — is going to change this Good News of God for you.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Dr. Schulz. The next Lutheran Hour message is titled, “God Wants to Transform Your Life.”