Jesus’ Ascension Glory Means Your Ascension Glory!

7th Sunday of Easter, 5/24/20
1 Peter 4:12-14; 5:6-11


Jesus’ Ascension Glory Means Your Ascension Glory!
I. In every suffering you face
II. In every diabolical attack you endure


So, how did you spend this past Thursday? Did you do anything different from what you’ve basically been doing for more than two months? You know, trying to be as safe as you can? From a social standpoint, it was quite a day here in Ohio because it was the first day since March 15 at 9:00 PM that restaurants were open for patrons to be seated inside and enjoy being served food. Maybe some of you did just that. But no matter if you did or not, was last Thursday any “different” for you? Probably not. It was just another day of the week here in the month of May.

But it was a red-letter day on the calendar of the church year. It marked the Ascension of Our Lord. It’s one of the chief events in our Lord’s life that we confess in our creeds during Sunday worship. “He ascended into heaven.” If it weren’t for this pandemic, many Christian churches would have celebrated it with a special festival service.

But just how “special” is the Ascension of Our Lord? While you might agree that it’s worth some extra consideration by Christians, I’m sure you’d also agree that it doesn’t rise anywhere near the level of our celebrations of Easter and Christmas. And it probably doesn’t even rank near your celebrations of Epiphany and Reformation.

In fact, if you failed even to remember last Thursday that it was Ascension Day, I’m not sure that you or your faith were all that adversely affected. Let’s be clear: your eternal salvation does not depend in any way on your observance of the Ascension of Our Lord.

So, does it really mean anything at all? Well, I’m sure you’d agree that it was a glorious event for our Lord. Imagine him ascending higher and higher bodily as you watched him, until the clouds hid him from your sight. And then two angels appeared. Impressive to say the least! It was a glorious event for Jesus.

But what about for you? Well, you weren’t there. You missed it by nearly 2,000 years. So, practically speaking, what does it mean for you?

That’s a good question, one which the Apostle Peter answers in this portion of his letter. He connects the daily lives of Christians, and especially the troubles they face, with their glory in heaven, a glory that all Christians will share with our ascended Lord Jesus. That’s what Jesus’ ascension means. Jesus’ ascension glory means your ascension glory. With the ascension of Jesus before our spiritual eyes, let’s see what Peter means.

Part I.

“There’s a silver lining in every dark cloud.” Do you think that’s true? Have you spoken that phrase to others? I’m guessing most of you think it’s true and have shared it with others. If you look hard enough and wait patiently, you can usually find a silver lining in every dark cloud. I’m sure you’ve thought of a few silver linings to the dark cloud of this pandemic.

But the Apostle Peter takes that a step or two farther. Listen to what he states here in our text, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.”

Peter states two things that might have caused you to wonder. First, he tells you not to be surprised at your sufferings. What?! Not be surprised?! Why should I expect to suffer? Because Jesus said so. Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus told his followers that they would suffer because of their connection with him. Are you a follower of Jesus? I pray you are. Then, you will suffer ridicule and worse from the world that hates Jesus. You’ll suffer for Jesus. Expect it!

Two, Peter tells you something much more difficult to process. He tells you to rejoice that you’re suffering. Rejoice over suffering?! Isn’t that a little psychotic? Not at all. As Jesus tells us in his word, those sufferings are marks that you are following Jesus; you’re following him all the way to eternal life in heaven. So, rejoice! And all the while, your rejoicing in suffering is pointing others to see their Savior, Jesus, as well. Rejoice!

And your rejoicing now is a happy prelude to the rejoicing you’ll do when your Savior returns. Peter states, “So that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.” The flood of every suffering you face in this life will be swept away be a tidal wave of joy when your ascended Lord returns, just as he promised.

So, with that big picture—the eternal picture— in mind, Peter encourages you as you suffer, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Peter assures you that Jesus cares for you. We need that assurance when we’re suffering because that’s when we think Jesus doesn’t care, that he’s forgotten us, or he can’t help us. Peter assures us that he cares. Would you like some proof? Look to his cross. That’s your eternal guarantee that he cares for you.

And, then, after suffering for you and rising from the dead for you, Jesus ascended into heaven. And that gives meaning to every suffering you face. How so? Because he told you he’s going there to prepare a place for you. He has unfolded his plan for your life here on earth and your life with him in heaven. As you live by faith in him as your Savior, nothing can alter that plan, not even prolonged anguish. Scripture assures us that the glory we’ll experience in heaven will far outweigh the sufferings we face now (Rom. 8:18).

Did you catch the connection? Jesus’ ascension glory…your suffering now…your ascension glory. It’s all part of God’s eternal, loving plan for you. Jesus’ ascension glory means your ascension glory in every suffering you face.

So, when you suffer—for being a Christian or just suffering in general—what are your normal reactions? For one, impatience. We groan with impatience as long as the suffering lingers, and our impatience results in behavior that we’re not proud of. For one, we become angry, with God and anyone else within shooting range. To put it succinctly, when we’re suffering, we’re no fun to be around and we make the people around us miserable, too. And if left unchecked, our anger turns to despair. We lose hope. We’re convinced it will never get any better. Ever!

That’s 180 degrees from where Peter is standing as he writes these words. We tend to cut Jesus out of our suffering picture. Peter places Jesus right in the center of it. He reminds us of Jesus’ sufferings for us. If it weren’t for his suffering on the cross, you and I would be destined to eternal suffering. And then Jesus rose from the dead to assure us that he had conquered our sin and our hell. Next, he ascended to assure us that he rules over all things so that he can bring his eternal plan for us to completion, which is nothing less that heavenly glory with him. Jesus’ ascension glory means your ascension glory in every suffering you face.

Part II.

I’m sure I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know when I say that fewer and fewer people—even among Christians—believe that Satan is real. He’s just a myth, and one that’s thousands of years old.

Peter wouldn’t agree. He asserts Satan is very real and nothing to take lightly. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.” He’s very real. And he’s no housecat to be petted; he’s a killer lion.

And he’s out to kill you. Spiritually kill you, that is. He works tirelessly to convince you that you don’t need the Lord Jesus in your life. He’s the one who leads you to think that Jesus is keeping something good and desirable from you, so do whatever you want. Sound familiar? That was his modus operandi in the very first temptation. Ultimately, he wants you to suffer eternally with him, barred eternally from God, and full of hatred and scorn for everyone and everything.

So, if you knew someone was out to kill you, what steps would you take? You’d do everything in your power to stop him. You’d arm yourself, if possible, and redouble your security measures. You’d lock yourself in a guarded fortress, if it were available.

But none of those things will help with the one who wants to kill you eternally. So, what will you do? What can you do? Look to your ascended Lord Jesus! The reason he ascended into heaven was to guard and keep you. And not just you, but his entire Church on earth. And the means he uses to protect you is his word. His word?! Isn’t there something more powerful than that? Recall the power of that word. God used it to call all things into being. He used it to perform countless miracles. Even to raise the dead. The power of the resurrection of Jesus is the power in his word. And now he’s ascended into heaven to assure you of it. And with one little word—the word “Jesus”—you can overpower Satan himself. What glory!

Jesus’ ascension glory means your ascension glory, glory in every diabolical attack you endure.

And so, I close with these three great truths for you, truths that are yours because Jesus’ ascension glory means your ascension glory. One, the ascended Jesus has all power over every evil force, even Satan himself. Satan can’t touch you. Two, the ascended Jesus will guard and keep you. He promised it, and he will absolutely keep that promise. And three, the ascended Jesus will bring you to your ascension glory with him in heaven. That’s his plan for you and nothing can stop it from happening as you remain in him by faith. That’s what his ascension means for you.

So, even if you missed celebrating his ascension last Thursday, you have the opportunity to do so today, tomorrow, and every day of your life with him. His ascension means everything for you, because it means he will bring you to glory with him. Rejoice in that ascension truth! Amen.