What the Ascension Means

This morning, we look at why the Ascension is so important that Jesus, who is God and Man, sits at the Right Hand of God the Father Almighty, and is not here with us today.

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Good Morning. When I took some Psychology classes at UMBC, I could get extra credit for signing up for experiments. There’s one experiment where students stand in the quad and stare up at the sky and point … and without fail, lots of other people gather round to look up at the sky and try to work out what it is that everyone is looking at. I always found this kinda silly, because, of course everyone would stop and look expecting something.

Staring up looking expecting something that wasn’t coming is exactly how the angels find the disciples this morning, before moving them along to Jerusalem.  “Men of Galilee - why do you stand looking into heaven?” The obvious answer was “That’s where Jesus went, and he better hurry back, because I need to know what to do next.”

Today we’re looking at the Ascension. Jesus, who is God and Man, is seated and enthroned in Heaven. Jesus in heaven means that 1- This is, and always has been God’s plan, and knowing God keeps his promises means we can trust him. 2- This is for our Good, even if we can’t see it. Wouldn’t it be better if He could stay here with us. John 16:7 says No.

The disciples couldn’t see it either since their heads were, pun- stuck up in the clouds with Jesus, but God had once again done something, like the Crucifixion and Resurrection, that was not ONLY Awesome and Amazing, but something no one expected, not even those closest to Him, even though it was exactly what He and the Bible said would happen. Pt 1. Trust God

Which is really neat! In our lesson from Daniel, we see an amazing vision which, when you read the whole chapter, really confuses Daniel and Everyone.

Verses 9-10 of Daniel 7 describe the worship of the Ancient of Days, obviously God, seated on the Throne in Heaven. Then, in verse 13, something amazing happens. Into Heaven comes the “Son of Man,” riding on the clouds signifying that He is God. That’s an ancient cultural clue like wearing a cape and tights today, you know it’s a Superhero.

Next, the Son of Man is given dominion, glory (God) and a kingdom,

all peoples, nations, and languages serve him;

his dominion is everlasting, and his kingdom shall not be destroyed. 

Without our New Testament context, this prophecy is hard to understand. How are both the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man enthroned in heaven and Worshiped. Is the Son of Man God? Before Jesus came, this passage confused the Jews reading Daniel’s prophecy. Does this mean the Messiah is God and Man?

But you see how at His Ascension, and being seated on His heavenly Throne at the right hand of the Father, Jesus fulfills Daniels prophecy, exactly and clearly as God said He would, but to the amazement of everyone who just couldn’t figure it out.

It’s a funny thing about the Bible, God saves us exactly how he promises, beginning with Adam, through Abraham, but everyone all along seems surprised.

Why? … Not our plan.

Acts 1 is a perfect image of God’s plan vs our plan. Of the 11 verses in our first lesson, only half a verse tells us about Jesus going up into heaven. That half verse is all the disciples seem to want to focus on.

The rest of the passage outlines God’s plan for his kingdom.

This passage really is Luke’s version of the Great Commission!

And none of it involves standing, pointing up in the sky, and wondering what to do now since Jesus is not here on Earth telling them what to do.

The scariest fact of the Ascension to the disciples, and the point that Jesus and the angels are trying to communicate, is that it is God’s purpose to bring about his Kingdom through us! And Surprise, it’s what God Said all along!

That’s our point to focus on. What does David say about the work of the Messiah after he completes his work and ascends into heaven?

The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

The Mission of the Church is God’s plan to bring the nations to Christ, exactly how he outlined throughout the Old Testament, and yet even this is to be done in a way which seems to surprise everyone. 

Even here, though, at the Ascension, they still didn’t get it. They ask Jesus, are you now going to overthrow the Romans and set up an Earthly Military Kingdom. But Jesus says that’s now how we will Conquer.

We conquer through Love and Evangelism, and making disciples of all nations, and not through conquest, not by Might, nor by power, but by the Holy Spirit. (More on that Next Week) Funny thing was, the disciples took almost 15 years to figure out the Gospel was to go to the Gentiles as well as the Jews, even with Jesus words you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 

So that’s part one, God has done exactly what He said he would do by ascending into Heaven and commissioning his church, to the surprise of everyone, including the disciples. Now, why is this a good thing. 

If you’ve ever been asked to do a job you feel unqualified for, Jesus asking you to bring all nations under His feet might just top that.

But, if that’s God’s plan, which He promises to bring about, no worries! Two quick notes as we wrap up here. 

The two points of This is for our Good, even if we can’t see it. 

First, the Ascension means that the same Savior who loved you enough to die for you now sits on the throne of Heaven and hears your prayers. He’s not in the Grave, not on the Cross, but sitting on the Throne, watching his people and His Kingdom. Nothing should bring you more confidence than that.

Second, the Ascension also means that we can know we are redeemed because Jesus has done everything laid out through the Scriptures for our redemption. Hebrews 10 tells us that after he presented offered himself as a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Father. Where other priests were constantly having to make daily offerings, where so many try to please God by punishing themselves, we can know Christ took our punishment on Himself, and that once for all offering is accepted, so He is finished and seated.

So, this is kind of a part 1, because you may still say, How can I do this. I don’t know if I’m capable, gifted, or anything like that. That’s why next week we look at the coming of the Holy Spirit, who fills us, equips us, and enables us to carry out this Great Commission which we could never do on our own.