Jesus’ Homecoming – The Ascension
Luke 24:50-51; Mk. 16:19; Acts 1:8-11
I Timothy 3:16—And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, RECEIVED UP into glory.
There are many important events in the life of Christ. Among the most important are:
- His miraculous incarnation.
- His glorious transfiguration…
- His vicarious crucifixion…
- His triumphant resurrection from the grave.
- His marvelous ascension back to heaven. What a dramatic scene that must have been!
He came as a humble baby—He left as an exalted Savior—He will come again as a conquering King.
Actually, Jesus ascended to heaven two times after His resurrection:
(1) When Mary approached Him on the morning of His resurrection, He told her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ASCENDED to my Father” (John 20:17). Then a few hours later He is being held by His feet (Mt. 28:9). That was a fast trip to heaven and back again!
(2) Forty days later He ascended back to heaven where He is today. It is this ascension I am preaching about in this message.
I. The PARTING of Christ into heaven (Luke 24:50-51).
“While they BEHELD…” (Acts 1:9).
- It was important for the disciples to actually SEE Jesus taken up to heaven and not just disappear. Since His resurrection He had been appearing and disappearing spontaneously only to reappear later. If Jesus just vanished into thin air would have left the disciples speculating He would reappear soon.
- By seeing Jesus taken up with His hands outstretched with a parting blessing, assured them His earthly mission was complete. Now they could to go on to the business at hand—Being His witnesses to the world.
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“Elvis has left the building” is a statement that was often used at the end of Elvis’ concerts to disperse the audience who lingered behind in the arena. Guess what? “Jesus has left the building!”
A. The PURPOSE—
- Jesus had to leave in order to send the Holy Spirit (John 7:39 – “the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.”). While physically on earth, Jesus could only be in one place with a limited number of people at a time. By leaving and sending the Holy Spirit His presence would not be limited to one locality (John 16:7; 14:16-20).
- He would fulfill the promise of His presence (Mt.18:20). Today He abides in every believer anywhere on earth. “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.”
- Notice Mark 16:20 — “And they went forth, and preached every where, THE LORD WORKING WITH THEM…” Jesus was physically gone, but He was still WORKING with them. When you do the work of the Lord, you never work alone—The Lord is working right along with YOU (1 Cor. 3:9). GLORY!!!
B. The PROOF— Mark 16:19 says Christ “was RECEIVED UP into heaven…”
This proved several things:
- His earthly ministry was accepted by the Father.
- His earthly ministry was over. He SAT DOWN (Heb. 1:3).
- It demonstrated a power greater than the law of gravity. To send a man into outer space requires enormous power. [Launching a space shuttle requires 16 million horsepower.1] How much more the power required and exhibited to take up a body from the earth all the way to heaven?!
II. The POSITION of Christ on High (Eph. 4:8-10).
Ephesians 4:8-10— Wherefore he saith, When he ASCENDED up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. 9 (Now that he ASCENDED, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ASCENDED up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
A. HIGH position — Position above all the world and it’s strife. Everything is under His feet (Eph. 1:20-23).
B. HONORED position—Position of sovereignty and power. He is seated at ”the right hand of God.”
1 Peter 3:22—Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. His ascension became a coronation!
Partial Sermon: CLICK HERE for full PDF
