Dear Christian friends:

Last Thursday was Ascension Day. Many think it is not a very important day. Why? Because they fail to understand it. The Bible tells of Christ's ascension as a wonderful event. In our text we read, "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises." (verses 1, 5, 6)

Jesus' ascension is as important as His birth. Ascension Day should have the same celebration as Christmas. Why not? Many think Jesus' ascension was good for Him, but not much good for us. They think, "Well, Christ finally went back to heaven. That's fine. That's nice for Him. Heaven is His home. He did His work on earth and now He receives His reward. But He's up there, and I'm down here."

These people forget that everything Christ did He did for us, not for Himself. For us He became a Babe; for us He obeyed the law; for us He paid the penalty of sin by dying on the cross; for us He rose from the dead and for us He ascended into heaven.

So from our text and with the help of God's Holy Spirit let me remind you that:


His ascension is our ascension. Really the Bible says that by faith and in Spirit we have already ascended into heaven with Him. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:6, "raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." Our text urges us, "to clap our hands" and to shout to God with loud songs of joy" because He ascends into heaven. We would have no reason to rejoice in such a jubilant way if His ascending was not for us.

Also we must not forget that He ascends into heaven with a body like ours, not spirit, but with His human flesh. When the Jews murmured because He said He was the Son of God Jesus asked them, "What will you say if you see the Son of Man" ascend where He was before?" (John 6:62) He who ascends is not only the Son of God, but the Son of Man, our Brother.

So the one who ascends and now sits at God's right hand is a real human person. The Bible says, "He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. (Ephesians 4:10) At Christmas we remember His descending, His birth, and we must impress and preach that the Babe in the manger is also the Son of God. But on Ascension Day we must preach He who ascends into heaven is the Son of Man, our Brother, our own flesh and blood.

Can we doubt any more about our salvation? We know that sin, death and hell can no more hurt Christ, so also it cannot hurt us. We are freed from their power and joined with Him in eternal, heavenly life. Mark tells us that when Christ ascended, "So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God." (Mark 16:19) What does that mean? (Allow audience to answer.)

Our text tells us that He who went up with a shout and the sound of the trumpet is, "a great king over all the earth." (Psalm 47:2-3) God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne.." (Psalm 47:8)

He ascended for us and now rules for us and with us. A ruler must have power or he cannot rule. What is Christ's power? Forgiveness of sins is His power. The greatest power on earth. Kings and mighty rulers on earth desire to free themselves and their friends from sin and shame, but they can't although they have much power. (Nixon, his friends of Watergate infamy.) Rich people try to forget their sin by spending much money on many pleasures and trips. The artist tries to be free by painting much. The soldier tries to get free by bravely risking his life. But no matter what they do and no matter how hard they try, they can't free themselves.

That only Jesus can do. Jesus only has the power to forgive sins. He suffered and died for all sins and arose and ascended and now sits at God's right hand. He does offer it. He sends us His Church to tell and preach the good news, to baptize and give the bread and wine.

"Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." (Mark 16:16) Jesus is King and ruler. People who believe will be saved; people who do not believe will be condemned. He is the great King, King of Kings. His rule is kind, merciful and wonderful. His rule will never end.

Although we will die we shall, nevertheless live anew in His Kingdom of glory. We shall see Him faced to face in all His beauty and glory.

Then we will really clap our hands and shout to God with loud songs of joy.

Amen.