Our Savior's Ascension

Minister:
Date: PM (Ascension Day)
Text: Matthew 28:16ff; Acts 1:1-11; Lord's Day 18
Psalters: 309, 59, 183, 302
  1. The Significant Event (five things).
    1. The disciples saw Jesus rise up and a cloud actively received Him (Acts 1:9).
    2. His ascension indicates His previous glory (John 3:13; 6:38; Eph. 4:9,10).
    3. The Savior?s ascension is a change of location ? heaven (Heb. 9:24; John 14:2,3).
    4. In the ascension Jesus presented His perfect sacrifice to the Father.
    5. He now is active in heaven at God?s right hand: as King, as Advocate, as Intercessor.
  2. The significant advantages (five things).
    1. Now He can be with us in a much closer sense (Matt. 28:20).
    2. The advantages of His being in heaven as our advocate and intercessor.
      1. Presenting His sacrificial death to the judgment seat of God, He constantly shows why we are righteous.
      2. As our intercessor, He constantly pleads for God to bless.
    3. His ascension is a cause for great joy among believers, though the disciples were initially saddened.
    4. Essentially the church ascended with Christ, our Head (Heb. 10:19-22).
    5. Practical results for us (two things).
      1. As Jesus was other-worldly, so now the members of His body are in this world, but not of it.
      2. And we increasingly long for heaven (II Cor. 5:2-5; Col. 3:1,2).