Christ’s Ascension Is Our Confidence!

7th Sunday of Easter, 5/28/17
Acts 1:1-14


Christ’s Ascension Is Our Confidence!
I. Our confidence for our earthly life
II. Our confidence for our eternal life


When you have a loving relationship with someone, saying good-bye can be difficult if not heartbreaking. Think of all the parents in our nation’s history who have said good-bye to their young adult sons as they went off to war, never knowing if they’ll ever see them alive again. I can’t imagine it. I’d be paralyzed with fear and dread.

Most parents have similar sentiments, although probably not as intense, when sending their son or daughter off to college. Will their child be safe? Will they make good decisions? What will happen to their Christian faith? Saying good-bye to them can be heart-wrenching.

We have a good-bye of epic proportions before us this morning. We’re celebrating the Ascension of our Lord, but I’m not so sure his closest followers felt like celebrating it as it happened. It might have filled them with fear. Where was Jesus going? Would he come back and, if so, when? How would they get along without him? How would they be able to carry on the work he had given them to do if he wasn’t there visibly and constantly to guide and encourage them? How would they withstand the attacks from the Jewish leaders?

As his modern followers, we might have many of the same questions. And we might be led to think that things would be much better for us if Jesus hadn’t ascended into heaven. After all, wouldn’t we be far better off if we could see Jesus right here with us this morning? But his ascension into heaven eradicated that possibility. His ascension into heaven could fill us with doubt and apprehension.

It could, if it weren’t for what Jesus said and did prior to his ascension. Instead, his words and actions fill us with ascension confidence. Christ’s ascension is our confidence. May the Holy Spirit fill your heart with that ascension confidence this morning!

Part I.

I’m guessing the following scenario has played out countless times in countless homes. A young man is married and he and his wife have been blessed with a son who is four years old and a daughter who is two. This man’s employment position requires him to travel. And as he leaves the house and kisses his loved ones good-bye, he tells his young son, “You’re the man of the house now while I’m gone. You take care of Mommy and your sister, OK?” And his four-year-old son is only too eager to accept this adult-like responsibility.

For what was likely three years, the disciples had followed Jesus around Judea and Galilee. They had even made short trips into Samaria and Gentile cities such as Tyre and Sidon. They had willingly followed him and learned from him. He had made it clear that the time would come for him to send them out to do his kingdom work. And suddenly, that time was here. He told them, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” How would they fare at this world-changing work without Jesus?

But recall what Jesus had told them. Luke doesn’t record it but Matthew does. He told his followers, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt. 28:20). Jesus would be right there with them as he always had been, just not visibly. In fact, prior to his resurrection Jesus limited the use of his almighty power. Now, in his state of exaltation, Jesus would make unlimited use of that power.

In fact, he would double the divine presence among them. He told them, “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Ten days later his promise to them was fulfilled in dramatic fashion as he poured out the Holy Spirit on them, an out-pouring that equipped them for the saving work Jesus had commissioned them to accomplish.

And the disciples did as they were told. Our text tells us they went right back into Jerusalem and gathered in an upper room. Luke lists the names of the disciples, and mentions the women who had followed Jesus. Then he specifically mentions Jesus’ mother Mary and his brothers. And notice what they were doing. Luke tells us, “They all joined together constantly in prayer.” Prayer is an act of worship. Did they sing hymns and share portions of God’s word as well? We don’t know, but it wouldn’t surprise us if they did. They gathered together and the Lord strengthened them as they prayed together.

Does that sound oddly familiar? Isn’t that exactly what we’re doing now—being strengthened as we worship together? And isn’t Jesus present with us just as he was present with them? Surely he is! And isn’t the Holy Spirit working among us through word and sacrament? He promises that he is! These confidence-building aspects of the ascension are repeated among us every time we gather together. That confidence fills us as we face our earthly lives just as it did these disciples who watched the Lord ascend.

Christ’s ascension is our confidence—confidence for our earthly life.

So, can you feel the power? Do you feel like you could walk through brick walls? Are you brimming with confidence as you face your earthly life? Probably not. And you’re not the only one. So often in our earthly lives we feel powerless, not powerful. We’re forced to accept things the way they are because we can’t seem to change them. We feel inadequate even to meet the needs of the people we love. We’re haunted by the feeling that we’ve failed them, let them down. And as we continue looking inward at ourselves, we feel more and more alone. In fact, we often wonder, “Where are you, Lord, when I need you?” And here’s his answer, “Surely I am with you always. I will not leave you as orphans. I will send you the Holy Spirit. I have surrounded you with my people so that you can build each other up through my word as you pray for each other.” The reason Jesus left his throne in heaven was to come to this earth to redeem us, to make us his own, to forgive us, to establish an eternal relationship with us, a relationship in which he is always with us. His ascension into heaven doesn’t rob us of his presence; it guarantees it. So live each day in the confidence of your loving Lord’s presence. His ascension is our confidence for our earthly life.

Part II.

A few minutes ago I shared with you the scenario in which a young father leaves home and places his young son in charge while he’s gone. Prior to his leaving, what does that loving father and husband do? He tries to share special time with his wife and children. He wants them to know that, even though he will not be with them, he loves them and they will be on his heart and mind while he’s gone.

Your loving Lord Jesus is no different. He knew he was returning to the Father. So what did he do? Listen to Luke describe it, “After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.” Luke has an interesting phrase in that section. Did you catch it? He noted “convincing proofs.” There’s an implication in that phrase that the disciples tested Jesus to make sure it really was Jesus standing before them. Perhaps those were verbal tests. They asked Jesus to recount prior events they had experienced with him. Perhaps they were visible tests, such as Jesus did on Easter evening when he ate in their presence. We get the feeling that whatever Jesus needed to do to convince them that he had risen from the dead, he did. He built up their confidence in his resurrection from the dead.

And right after his ascension he built up their confidence in his return. The angels declared to the disciples, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Jesus had told them repeatedly that he would return on the Last Day. Now he used his holy messengers to repeat that promise once more. He would come back and they wouldn’t miss it because he would come back visibly just as he ascended visibly and this time every eye will see him (Rev. 1:7). Jesus didn’t ascended by simply spouting his intention to return if all goes well. He promised it and he will keep it. He will keep his promise to return and bring us into eternal life with him.

Christ’s ascension is our confidence—confidence for our eternal life.

Every one of us is busy—busy living our lives. We’re busy trying to accomplish our goals. We’re busy trying to make the lives of our loved ones better. We’re busy seeking solutions to our problems. We’re busy trying to find relief from what stresses us. In fact, we’re so busy that we often fail to consider our eternal goal—heaven. And there are even times—times filled with guilt and shame—when we wonder if we’ll ever attain it.

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (Jn. 14:2-3). Your hopes and dreams for this life are often based on your own effort, as God blesses you. But not your eternal life. Your eternal life is based solely on what Jesus has done for you—his life, death and resurrection. His resurrection assures you of his promise of eternal life. His ascension assures you that he went to prepare a place for you.

Live each day of your life in the confidence that his ascension gives you! Amen.