Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Hearts Set on Heaven

In his classic devotional book titled The Saint’s Everlasting Rest, English Puritan pastor and author Richard Baxter (1615–1691) wrote:

“Why are not our hearts continually set on heaven?

Why dwell we not there in constant comtemplation?…Bend thy soul to study eternity, busy thyself about the life to come, habituate thyself to such contemplations, and let not those thoughts be seldom and cursory, but bathe thyself in heaven’s delights.”

Our Daily Bread, July 28, 1997

In the OT, the glory of God descended upon his people in a cloud (, ; ; ).

It was no doubt the cloud of God’s glory that overshadowed the virgin Mary when Jesus was conceived in her womb ().

It was the cloud of God’s glory that overshadowed Jesus, Peter, James, and John on the Mount of Transfiguration revealing the glory of Jesus ().

And it was in a cloud, as we see here in , that Jesus ascended to heaven.

This was no doubt the cloud of glory that surrounds the very presence of God.

But it’s funny how our hearts are pulled past to v. 10, which speaks about the return of Jesus.

We long for his return, so like those early disciples we are tempted to gaze into heaven longing his return.

We hear, however, the rebuke of the angels and are reminded that we have work to do, so our minds are drawn back before to v. 8.

It’s funny how our hearts are pulled past to v. 10, which speaks about the return of Jesus.

We long for his return, so like those early disciples we are tempted to gaze into heaven awaiting his return.

We hear, however, the rebuke of the angels and are reminded that we have work to do, which draws us back past v. 9 to v. 8.

There we are told that will we be his Holy Spirit-empowered witnesses.

But rather than be pulled past v. 9 to v. 10 or be drawn back from v. 9 to v. 8, we should sit awhile with v. 9, for it tells of an essential of the Christian faith--the ascension of Jesus.

There we are told that we will be his Holy Spirit-empowered witnesses.

But rather than be pulled past v. 9 or drawn back before v. 9, we should sit awhile with v. 9, for it tells of an essential of the Christian faith— an event just as fundamental to the Christian faith as the incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection— the event v. 9 talks about of course is the ascension of Jesus.

In his incarnation, Jesus came in the flesh and lived among us in spotless obedience to God.

In his crucifixion, Jesus offered himself as the spotless sacrifice for our sins.

In his resurrection, Jesus proved that those of us who believe in him have been made spotless before God.

And in his ascension, Jesus brings to completion all that he has done for us on earth and begins to do even more for us from heaven.

On the Christian calendar, this past Thursday was Ascension Day, celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter.

[CIT] The ascension of Jesus is essential to the Christian faith, and it is a great encouragement to Christians in all ages.

On the Christian calendar, this past Thursday was Ascension Day, celebrated on the fortieth day after Easter.

[PROP] And what I hope is that by the end of this sermon we’ll be thanking God for the ascension of Jesus and finding encouragement in his ascension to walk more faithfully and joyfully with Jesus.

[INTER] So, why should we rejoice in and be encouraged by the ascension of Jesus?

[TS] As we look at several different passages of Scripture, we will think about several REASONS...

Completion

Glorification

Exaltation

Possession

Preparation

Commission

Major Ideas

Reason #1: In his ascension, Jesus finished the work he did to save us ().

[Context] The book of Hebrews is a book that shows us that Jesus is greater.

He is greater than angels, greater than Moses, greater than Joshua, greater than Aaron or any other high priest for he is the high priest of a greater covenant, the New Covenant, which has been ratified by a greater blood-sacrifice, the sacrifice of Jesus himself.

[Context] The book of Hebrews is a book that shows us that Jesus is greater.

He is greater than angels, greater than Moses, greater than Joshua, greater than Aaron or any other high priest for he is the high priest of a greater covenant, the New Covenant, which has been ratified by a greater blood-sacrifice, the sacrifice of Jesus himself.

[Exp] Every priest before Jesus offered sacrifices for his sins and then offered sacrifices for the sins of God’s people.

And he did this day after day, year after year because

[Exp]

And these priests did this standing daily at their service because the sacrifices of bulls and goats could never take away sins.

The ascension proves that Jesus’ death and resurrection were accepted by the Father.

But as says...

Now, notice the difference— in v. 11 the priest that offers bulls and goats stands, while in v. 12 Jesus sits after he has offered himself.

What’s significant about this?

[Illus] My wife likes to do chores.

She actually likes to do LOTS of chores.

Some mornings she wakes up and puts together a big chore list.

She tries to get the kids excited about doing chores (and for the most part they usually are).

But I’ll go to work and come back home hours later and Cheryl will still be doing chores!

(That’s when I know I didn’t stay at work long enough!)

On some nights though, when we’re about to do our family devotion, Cheryl will finally plop down on the couch, and I know what that means—Cheryl is done with chores for the day.

Cheryl being Cheryl, if she wasn’t done, she wouldn’t have sat down.

But when the chores are done, Cheryl sits down because she is finished.

It really is the same sort of thing when we read in and other Scriptures that Jesus sat down at the right hand of God.

Jesus sat down because he was finished.

[App] When Jesus ascended to heaven, he sat down at the Father’s right hand because his work on earth was finished.

The fact that the Father welcomed Jesus to sit at his right hand (a place of favor and authority), shows that the Father accepted Jesus’ work to save us as completed.

As Hebrews 10:14...

We should rejoice in this aspect of Jesus’ ascension and be encouraged by it!

If we have trusted Jesus, we ought to rejoice because, although we aren’t home yet, we are fully and finally saved and nothing will ever be able to changed that!

How do we know that’s the case?

Because Jesus sat down at the Father’s right hand, and like a diligent wife and mother with a gargantuan chore list, Jesus wouldn’t have sat down unless the work was through!

Perhaps you’ve repented of your sins and you’ve trusted Jesus the best you know how.

You’re trying to pray and you’re trying to study your Bible and you’re trying to tell people about Jesus.

But more often than not you’re just trying to want to do those things.

This constant war within leaves you feeling down and at times feeling like perhaps you don’t belong to Jesus.

If you’ve trusted Christ and you’ve seen some growth in Christ, even if its minimal, but you’re feeling like you not always doing enough to prove your salvation, please look at where Jesus is seated.

If you trusted Jesus and you’re following Jesus even though imperfectly, the fact that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father is what proves your salvation is finished!

Sure, you must bear fruit in keeping with repentance, and you must strive for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord, but your salvation is ultimately not up to you.

It’s up to Jesus!

And what Jesus said on earth about your salvation on the cross when he said, “It is finished,” he also said in heaven when he ascended and sat down at the Father’s right hand.

Our salvation is finished!

[TS] That’s REASON #1...

The ascension proves that Jesus was the firstfruits of the resurrection.

In other words, his ascension assures us that we shall be raised as he was.

Reason #2: In his ascension, Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us ().

[Context] Every gospel in the NT (i.e., Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) shows Jesus at times frustrated with his disciples and at times very tender with them.

In John’s gospel, the raising of Lazarus, Jesus’ friend, meant that great crowds greeted Jesus when he rode into Jerusalem during Passover week, which was the final week of his life before his crucifixion.

During that week with his own death looming, Jesus spent a great deal of time being tender with his disciples.

He washed their feet as an example of servanthood to them.

He commanded them to love one another.

He spoke of himself as the true vine and they the branches that must abide in him.

But during that time Jesus also warned his disciples.

He said that one of them would betray him.

He said that Peter would deny him.

He said that the world would hate them.

It’s in the context of the world’s hatred toward the followers of Jesus that we find , the passage we just read.

[Exp] Jesus knew that his disciples would be persecuted.

He also knew that if they could not endure persecution, they would fall away, which means they wouldn’t endure to the end and be saved.

He had withheld this information from them before because he was with them, but in v. 5, he speaks of his ascension when he says...

John 16:5

Did you hear what Jesus said?

“It is to your advantage that I go away...” (v. 7).