The Ascension Of Jesus
Sermon Notes
Introduction
Now if you’re a 1st time guest with us, we’re doing a series called The Story. We’re going through the biblical narrative from the very beginning in Genesis 1 to the last amen in Revelation 22, and today’s text brings us to the story of the ascension of Jesus. It’s a story about the time in history when Jesus leaves his disciples, he speaks to them face to face, physically for the last time. But Jesus doesn’t leave them without hope, because the ascension of Jesus is filled with all kinds of hope. We all need hope...We all need hope at some point in our life...If you don’t get into the college you want you need hope it’ll still turn out well for your life. If you don’t reach your athletic goals or you injury your knee like McKenzie Milton, you need hope it’ll still turn out well for your life. If you get dumped, rejected, lose your job, have shattered dreams, have a bad day, have a doctor tell you it’s cancer, you need hope it’ll still turn out well for your life... Everybody needs hope at some point in their life, and so what about you? Where do you need hope in your life?...What burden are you carrying, what problems are keeping you up at night?... Where do you need hope in your life?...The ascension of Jesus can give you hope, and that’s what we’re talking about today. So let’s turn to Acts ch 1 and get into it. If you open your bible to the middle, keep turning right, you’ll find Acts. We’ll be in Act 1:1-11. Title of today’s message is The Ascension of Jesus, and the big idea is that the ascension of Jesus means there’s hope...The ascension of Jesus means there’s hope, in the daily intercession of Jesus...
Context:
Here’s your context. The past several weeks we’ve been studying the life of Jesus, and last week we talked about the crucifixion of Jesus. We talked about the historical and medical details regarding the crucifixion of Jesus. So at this point in Acts ch 1 Jesus has already suffered excruciating pain on the cross. He’s already died, been buried, and risen from the dead on the 3rd day. So what we’re about to study are the events that happened shortly after Jesus had risen from the dead. We’re about to study the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. Let’s check it out.
The Word:
Acts 1:1-11 states, “I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach...” The author of the book of Acts is a man named Luke. He was a medical doctor, an investigator, and a historian. He writes this book to a man named Theophilus, and it’s the 2nd book he’s written to Theophilus. The 1st book, the 1st narrative he wrote, is the Gospel of Luke. It’s his medical, investigative, and historical report on the life, death, resurrection of Jesus. He states in Luke 1:3-5, “It seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything, to write to you an orderly account Theophilus, 4 so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.” He says he “carefully” investigated everything about Jesus, so you may know the “certainty” of the things that have taken place. Luke’s goal in writing both his books, is to give an accurate account of the events that have taken place.
William Ramsay is one of the greatest historians and archaeologists ever known. He set a goal to disprove the credibility of the bible, especially the credibility of Luke as a historian. Yet after a lifetime of historical and archaeological research he concluded this...Ramsay states, “You may press the words of Luke to a degree beyond any other historian's, and his words will stand the keenest scrutiny...Luke is a historian of the first rank.” This coming from a skeptic, from a guy who sought to discredit the historical credibility of Luke. He says what Luke records is true, it's accurate, it can all be trusted, and that includes the resurrection claims Luke mentions next.
Again vs. 1, “I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day he was taken up, after he had given instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After he had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” Luke says there’s many convincing proofs that Jesus rose from the dead, and it’s important to realize both skeptics and believers share an equal burden of proof. A skeptic has to prove Jesus didn’t rise, just like a believer has to prove he did. Luke says there’s many convincing proofs he’s risen, but there’s really only 1 proof skeptics could provide to completely destroy the resurrection claims. It’s to show us the body...Show us the body of Jesus...This is where you hear crickets from skeptics, because there isn’t a single credible historical document telling us where the body of Jesus is. We’re talking the greatest public figure in history, the greatest public event in history, yet nobody knows where the body of Jesus is? I mean we have numerous documents telling us the Romans and Jews tried preventing claims about his resurrection from spreading. They sealed the tomb, put guards at the tomb, even persecuted and killed Christians for claiming he’d risen. So all they had to do was open the tomb, show the body of Jesus, and it would’ve squashed all the resurrection claims. But the reason they didn’t show people the body, the reason skeptics and historians still can’t show us the body nearly 2000 yrs later, is because Jesus is alive...It’s because Jesus is alive, he’s risen from the dead, and we have many convincing proofs like Luke said. But skeptics have zero proof for where the body of Jesus is.
So historians are silent on where the body of Jesus is, but what they aren’t silent on is the fact there were claims being made that Jesus had risen. They aren’t silent on the fact there were even non-Christian sources reporting claims that Jesus had risen. For example Josephus was a Jewish historian within the lifetime of Jesus, and one of his documents was recently found in the middle east. Josephus says, “Jesus’ disciples reported he had appeared to them 3 days after his crucifixion, and that he was alive. He was perhaps the Messiah who the prophets have recounted wonders.” So Josephus who isn’t even a Christian, says there were claims being made that Jesus had risen from the dead, and Christianity spread rapidly as a result of those claims. Historian Edwin Yamauchi says, “There were multitudes of Christians in Rome by 64 AD. There were all kinds of people from cities and country sides, men and women, slave and free…They worshipped Jesus as God.” We have many historical documents archaeologists discovered, confirming there were claims being made about the resurrection, there was a sudden spike in Christ followers as a result of those claims, and all the disciples were persecuted and killed for making such claims. We have many proofs, but skeptics have zero proof, for where the body of Jesus is.
Vs. 6, “So when they had come together they asked him, ‘Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?’ 7 He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’” People ask me this same question all the time. They ask if I think we’re in the end times, if I think Jesus is returning soon? I always respond with what Jesus says in vs 7, which is that we don’t know the day nor the hour. But I do think we’re getting closer, and it’s not for the same reasons doomsday preppers will give you. They start quoting Revelation, talking about wars, plagues, COVID, humanities moral decline, and the list goes on. But the reality is every generation has wars, plagues, people thinking it’s the end times. The disciples are thinking it’s the end times in the text! They’re thinking Jesus is about to conquer Rome and wipe out all their enemies. The closest I ever got to thinking it’s the end times was during COVID, when we ran out of toilet paper...I was like “That’s it! Kids grab your MRE’s, limit your squares on the TP, it’s the end of the world!...” Actually vs 8 is the real reason I think we’re getting close to the end times. It’s because Jesus says he’ll return after the gospel spreads from Jerusalem, to Judea, to Samaria, to the ends of the earth. Christianity’s already spread to all those areas except the 10/40 window, which are the countries between 10 and 40 degrees north latitude. It’s mostly North African, Middle Eastern, and Asian countries. But we’re finally seeing the gospel spread into those areas, which is why I think we’re getting closer to the end times. It isn’t because of wars, COVID, or political corruption. It’s because Jesus promised he’d send the Holy Spirit to empower his followers to be his witnesses, to spread his gospel in the world, and it’s happening.
Vs. 9, “After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going, they were gazing into heaven, and suddenly two men in white clothes stood by them. 11 They said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up into heaven? This same Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way that you have seen him going into heaven.’” Notice Luke says Jesus was “taken up,” meaning he “ascended” into heaven. Luke’s talking about the ascension of Jesus here, and there’s 3 things I want you to know about the ascension of Jesus. The 1st thing is...
#1 The ascension is relational = The ascension is relational, meaning Jesus wants a deeper personal relationship with us. We see this in his interaction with Mary Magdalene in John ch 20. When Mary sees the empty tomb, she cries thinking somebody stole Jesus’ body, but then she sees Jesus in his resurrected body and she’s filled with joy. She clings to him, she hugs him, then Jesus says in John 20:17, “Don’t cling to me, since I haven’t ascended yet.” The reason he says don’t cling to me, is because she’s clinging to him out of fear of losing him again. It’s how any of us would respond if we saw somebody we love resurrected from the dead. We’d cling to them out of fear of losing them again. But Jesus is saying “Mary don’t cling to me, because if I stay here physically like this, you’ll eventually have to let go of my hand again. You’ll have to let go to eat, sleep, live the life I created you to live. I want something better than that for you and the rest of my followers. I want my presence to be with you forever.” So Jesus ascends physically, but he promises to always be with us spiritually through the Holy Spirit. In vs 8 he promises to send the Holy Spirit after he ascends, and the book of Acts records the presence of Jesus still at work in the lives of his followers through the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus wanted to ascend to give us a deeper personal relationship with him. He wanted to send the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of his followers, so we don’t have to cling and lose his physical hand again like Mary. He’s telling Mary “If I ascend, you’ll never have to lose me again.” In the words of St. Augustine, “You ascended from our eyes and we turned back grieving, only to find you in our hearts.”
#2 The ascension is transformational = The ascension is transformational, especially to our emotional and spiritual security. So many of us are insecure emotionally and spiritually. We might put up a front like we’re all confident and secure, but deep down we all have insecurities. Some of us are insecure about our looks, our body, our appearances. Some of us are insecure about our jobs, our athletic abilities, our performances. Some of us are insecure about our faith, our relationship with Jesus, our salvation and eternal security in heaven. We try making up for these insecurities by filtering our photos, covering up our blemishes, and working hard to prove ourselves to our peers, parents, even to God. When we do this we’re putting ourselves on trial. Everyday we’re putting ourselves on trial hoping to be accepted and loved by whoever we’re trying to prove ourselves to. But the ascension of Jesus means you don’t have to worry about anybody’s verdict anymore, not even God’s. Every follower of Jesus can rest knowing he’s ascended, he’s seated in the heavenly courtroom as our intercessor giving us a not guilty verdict of forgiveness, love, acceptance. Hebrews 7:25, “Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.” When you believe Jesus died for your sins, he’ll always intercede making sure you’re forgiven. He’ll always intercede making sure you receive a not guilty verdict of forgiveness, love, acceptance. So the verdict is already in for those who are followers of Jesus. You’re already forgiven, loved, accepted by the one who’s opinion should matter more than anybody you’re trying to prove yourself to. Just imagine never having to prove yourself to anybody ever again...Imagine never having to impress somebody to get them to accept you...It’d be extremely liberating never having to prove yourself to anybody ever again. This is what Jesus offers with his ascension. The more you believe in his ascended opinion, the less you’ll worry about people’s descended opinions. The more you believe in his ascended approval of you, the less you’ll allow people’s descended approval to control you.
#3 The ascension is hopeful = The ascension is very hopeful. Ephesians 1 says Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated on the throne of the universe. He’s controlling the entire universe in a way that’ll eventually turn out for our good. Romans 8:28, “We know all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” So Jesus is on his throne controlling history in a way that’ll turn out good for those who love him. “But if that’s the case, then why is life still so hard? Why is my life and this world still so messed up?” It’s because when God created the world he didn’t create it with sin and death, he created it with the possibility of sin and death to give us free will. But every time we rebel against God, we turn the possibility of sin and death into actual sin and death. Every time we sin we add to the destruction of our lives, relationships, and world. But God is so loving he’s willing to redeem the destruction sin is causing, and the greatest example we have of this is the cross. The cross is the greatest example of how Jesus is currently ruling the world. He took something as horrific and evil as the cross, and turned it into something beautiful and good which is forgiveness for us. He took the evil of the cross, and turned it into salvation for us. This is exactly how Jesus is ruling our lives and world now that he’s ascended into heaven. He’s making sure he turns bad things into good things, even though we can’t always see it or understand it. We may never see it or understand it in this life, but he promises it’ll all turn out well for us when we enter eternal life...
See life is a lot like a crocheted blanket. If you look too closely all you’ll see is a bunch of chaotic knots and holes. But if you take a step back to adjust your view, you’ll see a beautifully designed blanket that’ll keep you warm. Up close it’s just a bunch of chaotic knots and holes, but far away it’s a beautifully designed blanket that’ll keep you warm...Life’s a lot like that. Its often hard, it’s often filled with chaotic knots and holes. But Jesus wants us to take those hardships to him and have an eternal view of life. He wants us to trust he sees all the chaotic knots and holes in our lives, and trust he’s weaving it all together into a giant blanket of grace. He’s weaving it all together into a giant blanket of grave that’ll cover all our sins and pains never to return again. I know it feels like Jesus is absent when bad things are happening in your life, but the ascension teaches he’s never absent. The ascension teaches he’s ruling the world in the same way he ruled the cross, and he’s working all things for the good of those who love him. He redeemed the evil of the cross, and he’ll redeem the evil in our lives, if we put our faith and trust in him.
The Big Idea:
The big idea of the message is the ascension of Jesus means there’s hope...The ascension of Jesus means there’s hope, in the daily intercession of Jesus. Do you need hope?...Do you need hope in your life?...What burden are you carrying, what problems are keeping you up at night?... As one scholar put it “You may think you’re at the end of your rope, but you’ll never be at the end of hope.” You’ll never be at the end of hope, if Jesus is your hope. Whatever your problems are, you can always find hope in the ascension of Jesus. You can always find hope knowing it’ll turn out well for your life, because of the ascension and daily intercession of Christ. Let’s pray.