1. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God, our Heavenly Father, and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The message from God’s Word, as we observe the celebration of the Ascension of our Lord, is taken from Luke 24:44-53. It’s entitled, “A New Beginning,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. As I’ve said before, the Christian church today suffers from Ascension Deficit Disorder. Today, we are going to discover once again what the implications of Christ’s ascension has for our lives as Christians. All of us know about endings, but as long as we’re alive and here to talk about them, each one is also a new beginning. Most of us have come to the end of school years, but each one is also the beginning of summer or maybe the beginning of a new level of our education or maybe a transition from school to the beginning of a working career. Some of us have come to the end of our kids-at-home parental phase, but that’s always the beginning of a new chapter, life as empty-nesters. Some of us have reached the end of working for a paycheck, but that’s the beginning of retirement. Nearly all of us have suffered the end of some kind of relationship, always painfully, but, like it or not, the next day is the beginning of a new chapter.
3. How we feel about those new beginnings depends on how they go—and, often, how well we’ve been prepared for them. Ascension Day marks a very significant end in the church year. Jesus’ earthly ministry, his visible presence among us, ended when, right before the disciples’ eyes, he ascended back to heaven. You know they felt an emptiness inside. But very quickly, really just in the next ten days, they realized that Jesus’ Ascension Is an Ending, but Also a New Beginning. And for them—as for us—Jesus had prepared for it to be the beginning of the best yet!
4. Jesus’ ascension brings an end to his bodily ministry on earth . . . but he had prepared the apostles well. He had demonstrated by signs and wonders that he was truly alive, still their Messiah. Suddenly appearing to them after His resurrection from the dead (24:36; Jn 20:19). A second miraculous catch of fish (Jn 21:5–6). Now, ascending back to heaven (v 51; Acts 1:9). In Jesus’ resurrection appearances, he had reviewed the truths his apostles were to proclaim. Jesus said in our text from Luke 24:44–47, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” And, just before Jesus ascended into heaven, He told His disciples in Matthew 28:19–20, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” In Mark’s Gospel Jesus said, “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:15–18) And, in John’s Gospel after His resurrection Jesus told His disciples, “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.” Jn 20:22–23). Jesus encouraged and emboldened his apostles with a promise and a blessing. He did not give up on them because of their failures but forgave them (Jn 20:19; 21:15–17). Jesus officially commissioned his apostles for the most important of tasks (v 48; Acts 1:8b). Jesus promised he would not leave them alone but would send his Spirit (v 49; Acts 1:8a). His exiting words blessed them (v 50).
5. So, a new facet of Jesus’ ministry began with his earthly departure. Jesus was inaugurated as the ultimate Prophet, Priest, and King. Prophet—still teaching us in Scripture (Dt 18:15, 18; Acts 3:22; Jn 3:2; 6:14; Heb 1:1–2). Priest—his sacrifice on the cross was once for all. Now he intercedes and prays for us and all the Church (1 Tim 2:5–6; 1 Jn 2:1–2; Heb 2:17; 5:5–10; 10:12–14; Ps 110:4). King (1 Tim 6:15; Acts 5:31; Phil 2:10–11; Psalm 47). Christ as King is anticipated in Psalm 110:1, which says, “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” Christ as “King of kings” (Rev 17:14; 19:16) is triumphantly echoed in Handel’s Messiah.
6. The apostles began their transitions into the ministries for which God had equipped them. They would no longer join together as Jesus’ students to follow him from place to place. They would soon each be about their appointed ministries. They would all preach the one true Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. But each would utilize his special varied and personal gifts. Two used special literary skills as evangelists. Some adapted to very different cultures and customs. And the continuing work of the Church is always just beginning.
7. Jesus offers forgiveness to sinners new each day (Lk 23:34; Eph 1:7; Col 3:13). Forgiven sinners, of course, includes each one of us (Acts 2:38–39). You are forgiven by Jesus’ death on the cross! We receive that forgiveness in the Means of Grace. Through the Word of promise, the Gospel of Christ. Through the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Each day you have a new beginning! A clean slate!
8. Jesus still equips his Church through the Holy Spirit. The one true Gospel is applicable to all people of all times. It is centered in the person and work—the life, death, and rising—of Jesus Christ. It is preached in accord with the apostolic Scriptures, part of the apostolic ministerial legacy. The Church enjoys a great variety of spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:27–30; Eph 4:11–13) to be used to the glory of God and benefit of our neighbor.
9. Empowered by the Spirit, let us cast out sin, for it hinders us in God’s glorious mission. Let us humble ourselves before the Lord and his perfect wisdom and plan, praying for his guidance. Let us reflect the light of Christ abounding in good works that glorify God (Mt 5:16). The work of the Church, first entrusted to the apostles, is always only just beginning . . . until Christ returns to conclude it.
10. An often-neglected part of the account of Christ’s ascension is the aftermath of that great event (Lk 24:53). Many pastors can say that when they attended seminary, they learned as much outside of the classroom (for example, from dormitory discussions and those in the cafeteria) as they did inside the lecture rooms. The apostles spent a fair amount of time together in Jerusalem after the ascension, before the persecution of Christians in that great city caused them to split up and be about their special Spirit-appointed missions to preach the Gospel and disciple all nations. During their time in Jerusalem, they compared notes and shared insights with one another about the things they had been taught by Jesus.
11. This happens today when Christians join in congregational fellowship for worship, Bible study, group prayer, and informal gatherings. When we gather together at the Lord’s Table, we have a special benefit both from the vertical fellowship that we enjoy with God in Christ’s own body and blood and from the horizontal fellowship we enjoy with our brothers and sisters who also share in our Lord Jesus Christ. Often in hindsight we can realize how God equipped us for key moments in life by events, people, and conversations that did not seem significant when we first experienced or encountered them.
12. At Christ’s ascension, an angel of God announced that Christ would return: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11). When that day comes, Christ will inaugurate his perfect, eternal kingdom. In the meantime, we should, like the apostles, be joyfully about the work God has given us: “They worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God” (Luke 24:52–53). “Repent and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15)! “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:4)! Live in the joy of his love, forgiveness, and blessing. Praise and enjoy his ongoing presence in worship. And live in anxious anticipation of this new beginning, for the best is yet to come (Rev 19:1–9)! Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.
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