May 29, 2014
The Ascension of Our Lord
Luke 24:44-53
"Power for Ending & Beginning"
Introduction: The
Ascension of our Lord marks the ending as well as a beginning. The earthly
ministry of Jesus has been accomplished. Now, as recorded in the closing words
of Luke's gospel, Jesus gave final instructions to His disciples. Then He
ascended on high to the position of eternal glory that He, the Son of God, had
left in order to be our Redeemer. But this ending was truly a beginning. For now,
He would bestow power on His faithful people. This night let us consider the
power for ending as well as beginning.
1. We end and begin with the powerful Word of our Savior.
A. Jesus is
the fulfillment of the Word.
1. The sweep
of salvation history covers "everything
written about Me in the Law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms" (Luke
24:44). In Christ, all things are completed.
2. Luke's
gospel is a record of that fulfillment. It started with the prediction that at
just the right time Christ would come into the world. Luke outlines for us how
Christ finds His way all the way back to the people of promise in the genealogy
of Jesus. Luke records for us Jesus' birth, His trip to the temple to be
circumcised and then at the age of twelve.
We have recorded
for us his life and ministry, which culminated in Jesus' death and
resurrection. During these past forty days we too have been witnesses of His
resurrection...Luke has lead us to the conclusion that this Jesus is none other
than the very Son of God, the chosen One of the Father.
B. Jesus
reveals Himself as the Center of the Word.
1. In our
text, we are reminded that Jesus "opened
their minds to understand the Scriptures" (v. 45). What this simply
means is that without Jesus Christ the Word becomes a mere record of ancient
history. But with His revelation which comes through the Word we know Jesus to
be the way the truth and the life.
2. Jesus'
death and resurrection is the key that opens up the Word. In the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have come to know that He holds for us the key,
which opens the gate, which leads to eternal life.
C. This
fulfilled, Christ-centered Word must be proclaimed in the world.
1. The proclamation is repentance and forgiveness in Jesus' Holy Name.
2. It is
proclaimed to all people and all nations for God desires all to be saved and to
come to the knowledge of the truth.
Transition: Scripture's
purpose is not a dead end. It is a new beginning, for it has power through this
proclamation of Jesus' suffering, death, resurrection and ascension to bring
repentance, forgiveness and life to all who believe. This is the new beginnings,
which Christ brings to us this day.
2. We end and begin with the power of the Holy Spirit.
A. We are
called to be His witnesses.
1. We
witness to what the disciples had seen in Christ. In spirit we were there as
Jesus suffered, was crucified, died and was buried. We too have seen His
resurrected from the dead.
2. He too
have witnessed to what we by faith have seen ourselves. The resurrection of
Jesus Christ has the power to change lives. Every person who passed by the open
tomb of the resurrected Christ had their lives changed. Before the resurrection,
they were fearful and doubting. But after the resurrection, their lives were
changed as the witnessed Jesus alive from the dead.
B. But wait!
The Power will come!
1. On the
day of Pentecost the Savior would "clothe" the disciples with the
power of the Holy Spirit. Having received power from on high they began in
Jerusalem and were His witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the rest
of the world.
2. We too,
begin by the power of the Spirit to witness to Jesus Christ. As we have
received the power of the spirit in baptism, we go out into the world
witnessing of what Christ has done for us in our lives as well.
Transition: A witness
is one who cannot but speak and live the endings and beginnings that God, by
grace, has bestowed upon His people. As we begin, we receive the living Christ.
3. We end and begin under Christ's powerful blessing.
A. The ending
point of Jesus' earthly ministry was His glorious Ascension.
1. Jesus ascended to heaven to receive all glory and honor from God the
Father.
2. He
ascended to bless His Christ as its living, present Head as He comes to us, His
children through Word and Sacrament.
B. We are
blessed with joy.
1. The
disciples did not mourn Jesus' leaving; the rejoiced for they knew that He was returning
to the Father.
2. This is
far different from Memorial Day sadness and helplessness when we remember those
who are no more. Christ continues to be alive and with us. We might not see Him
but He remains with us. As He has promised, "Lo, I am with you always,
even 'till the end of the age" (Matthew 28:28)
3. He who
rose is with us this night. He will return at His Second Advent to take us to
be where He now lives and rules at the right hand of the Father.
Conclusion: So, filled with
joy, the disciples waited and "were
continually in the temple" (v. 53). We too await the Lord's return not
with sadness but with joy, not in weakness but in His power and strength. The
ascension is the ending that brought new beginnings. It is power like that of
our baptism. Our earthly lives will end one day but will also begin again with
joy our entrance into life eternal.
988 Words
71% Reading ease
6.9 Grade level
.JPG)