In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

This Thursday is Ascension Day. So, this weekend, we are celebrating the fact that, 40 days after he rose from death...

1. What happened.

Let's review the big picture. God created this world in six days. At that time, everything was perfect. The population of the world was only two: Adam and Eve. They were sinless and enjoyed a perfect world in the Garden of Eden. But then Satan tempted Adam and Eve to fall into sin. They disobeyed God's one and only command to them. Immediately, everything changed. The world was not perfect anymore. Adam and Eve felt guilty and afraid. They were hiding from God. When God asked them about their sin, they blamed others. God could have condemned them right then and there, but instead, God promised a Savior from sin. He promised a Savior who would crush the power of the devil and set people free from condemnation. Then, all through the Old Testament, God repeated and clarified that promise of a Savior. In the New Testament, we read how Jesus was born of virgin, so he would be true God and true man. Jesus had no sin. He grew up living a perfect life. He never did sin. He embarked upon a public ministry of preaching and teaching and healing. He trained 12 disciples to be his spokesman. He told them what was foretold about him. He told them that he would suffer and die for sinners, but that he would rise from death on the third day. When the right time came, everything was fulfilled. Jesus was betrayed into the hands of sinful men. He suffered and finally died on the cross of Calvary. He died there for you and me and all sinners. On that cross, Jesus paid for every sin ever committed. He satisfied God's justice by paying our penalty for sin. He suffered what we all deserved. On the third day, he rose from death, because he had won our forgiveness. And so, God declared peace and forgiveness through Jesus Christ. For forty days, Jesus appeared to his disciples and gave "many convincing proofs that he was alive" (v.3). He taught them about the "kingdom of God."

The disciples still did not understand everything as we see their question in verse 6. Apparently, some of them still had those false "Jewish dreams" of an earthly, political kingdom. But Jesus promised that he would send them the Holy Spirit. That would happen on the day of Pentecost. He would equip these disciples to be Jesus' witnesses in all the world.

After saying this, Jesus started to go up toward the sky. They watched him as he strangely started going up, up, up until a cloud hid Jesus from their sight. Jesus became invisible. They kept staring up into the sky. Suddenly, two angels appeared to them to explain that Jesus had been taken from them into heaven. So, that's what happened. JESUS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN!

2. What it means for today.

The first meaning of the ascension is that Jesus completed his mission of saving sinners. His redeeming work is done! Once for all, he paid for sin on the cross! So, Christ's ascension means "Mission Accomplished." There is no more need to pay for sins. Jesus did it all. It is finished. The price for sin is paid in full.

Jesus ascension also means that he is no longer visible to our eyes. Yet, that does not mean that he is gone from us. Jesus is still with us right now, we just can't see him. He is in heaven, that is true, but Jesus is also on earth. In fact, he is omnipresent. He is present everywhere. The book of Ephesians tells us that Jesus fills "the whole universe" (4:10) and "fills everything in every way" (1:23). Jesus said, "surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Mt 28:20).

Jesus rules over the whole universe right now. This world might seem out of control, but Jesus is in control. Shortly before he ascended into heaven, Jesus said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" (Mt 28:18). Though Jesus gave up the full and constant use of his divine power and glory as God, for a time, in his state of humiliation, for the purpose of saving us, he has once again resumed the full and constant use of his divine power and glory. And he uses that divine power and glory to rule the universe in the best interests of his church. That is what it means that Jesus ascended to the right hand of God the Father. He has all authority in heaven and on earth, and he is ruling everywhere, in heaven and on earth.

That is not just nice to know for the BIC class or doctrine books. That is for our learning, for our faith, and for every day life. When you think about it, Jesus is ultimately in control of everything right this minute. He is working above the scenes and behind the scenes, invisibly, but powerfully, to see that everything works out for the good of those who love him. He is working everything out for his believers, so that his believers end up in heaven. And that means, dear believers, that Jesus is ruling the whole universe with YOUR best interests in mind. He is seeing to it that children have Christian mothers. He sees to it that congregations have the pastors and teachers he wants them to have. He sees to it that certain things happen in your life to lead you into his word. It might be an illness, a set back, or something else that gives you a reason to pray, or a reason to want to hear God's Word. Sometimes he sends discipline our way, discipline that is painful, but discipline that is for our good. But, above it all, and behind it all is our loving Lord. And when we go through these rough times, we know that we have someone to pray to who can help us, and will help us, with our best interests in mind. Do you ever worry about your problems? Do you experience anxiety? Our epistle for today said, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). That's what it means that JESUS ASCENDED INTO HEAVEN. Now, consider...

3. What it means for the future.

We don't know how long this world will last, but we know what will happen in the end. On the last day, Jesus will return visibly, just as he ascended visibly. The angels who appeared to the disciples on that first Ascension Day said, (11) "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." Just as the disciples saw Jesus go up, so we will see him return. Scripture says that "every eye will see him, even those who pierced him" (Rev 1:7).

Jesus will return with great power and glory as the Judge of all. He will raise all the dead. He will quickly separate the believers from the unbelievers, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. It will be no problem. It will happen in an instant. And then, Jesus will condemn all unbelievers to eternal punishment in hell. And, he will take his believers to be with him in heaven forever.

From that time on, we will live with him (and see him) forever in heaven! With body and soul reunited, all believers will enjoy the new heavens and the new earth, the home of righteousness. And everything will be perfect. There will be no more death, or crying, or pain. There will be no more sickness, disease, or war. Everything will be perfect forever and ever in heaven.

That really gives us something to look forward to. As people argue and debate whether or not my generation will receive anything at all from Social Security, it is comforting to know that we will certainly receive what our Savior has prepared for us in heaven. As our world continues to descend into warfare and fighting, it is good to know that in the future, we will finally have peace and rest. As one person after another contracts cancer and disease, it is good to know that in the future, God's people will never suffer again. And as we are separated from our loved ones, it is good to know that in the future, we can look forward to that happy reunion in heaven. The future is so bright, that faith moves Christians to want Jesus to return soon. It moves us to say, with John the apostle, "Come, Lord Jesus." Yes, quickly come, and take us home to be with you. But remember, the only people who are going to heaven are those who believe in Jesus as their Savior from sin. Jesus has gone before us. May, by faith in him, follow to where he has gone. Amen.