The Ascension of Jesus

Christ’s ascension gives purpose to his church.

Christ’s ascension gives power to his church.

Christ’s ascension gives power to his church.

The disciples are asking the wrong question.

Christ’s ascension calls our attention to earth.

The question is not, “How will God rescue Israel?”

Jesus answers the correct question.

The correct question is, “How will God rescue the world through Israel, and thereby rescue Israel along the way?”

This is a question of purpose and mission : “How do we participate in God’s mission in the world?”

The purpose of the church is to be a witness of Christ the true King.

The ascension means that Jesus is presently King of creation.

- “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

- “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ..”

- “…when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, no only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet...”

Jesus will not one day be King, he is King now.

Any film or story that features a hero of some kind always has that period of time before the hero truly comes into his or her own. Like we all know one day Peter Parker is going to fight crime as Spiderman, or Frodo will rise up in his journeys around Middle Earth. And often we think similarly of Jesus, that right now he is in this warm-up period, but one day he will show up as the King and hero.

That is crucially not the case. Jesus will not one day be King, he is King. Jesus will not one day be Lord of heaven and earth, he is Lord now. The gospel is the good news that Jesus, who was raised from the dead, the Good Shepherd, the true human, the Passover Lamb is King of creation. And the ascension of Jesus is the exclamation point at the end.

The church is called to be a witness of Christ’s kingship on earth.

The church is called to witness to the fact of the resurrection and its significance.

The church is called to witness to how King Jesus runs things.

The church is called to witness to what’s important in King Jesus’ world.

In a world that money, sex, and power are of ultimate importance

The church should expect suffering to be a part of its witness.

Christ’s ascension gives power to his church.

Rock climbing with Josh —> it was scary, uncomfortable, new, difficult, overwhelming, but I knew I could step into that role and pursue that purpose because I had been given everything I needed.

In sending the Spirit, Jesus provides us with everything we need to carry out our purpose to be witnesses of Christ the King.

Rock climbing with Josh —> it was scary, uncomfortable, new, difficult, overwhelming, but I knew I could step into that role and pursue that purpose because I had been given everything I needed.

We need to be convinced that Jesus is King —> the work of the Spirit.

We need the truth and full weight of the significance of Christ’s death and resurrection to fill our minds and hearts —> the work of the Spirit.

We need otherworldly stamina to be witnesses of Christ the King in the midst of persecution and suffering —> the work of the Spirit.

We need otherworldly boldness and confidence to stand up to the powers and authorities of the world in the name of Jesus the King as we seek justice and peace for all people —> the work of the Spirit.

We need otherworldly power to manifest the good news that Jesus is King tangibly by miraculously liberating people through healings of mind, body, and soul —> the work of the Spirit.

We need the virtues of Christ’s kingdom to increase in us, virtues like love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control —> the work of the Spirit.

We need someone who knows the very mind of God to pray for us without ceasing, even pray for those things that we don’t even know that we need —> the work of the Spirit.

Christ’s ascension calls our attention to earth.

Little League right fielder looking up into the sky - Hey, there’s a game going on!

The disciples needed their vision refocused.

We need our vision refocused.