Dear Christian friends:

On Thursday, May 7, we celebrate Ascension Day (Jesus going up to heaven). Jesus ascends up to heaven and we can't see Him now. Does that leave us, His followers, His church, without a leader? Must His Church fail now and collapse because He leaves? Perhaps you wonder and question why Jesus did not stay in person on earth and rule over His Church? Maybe you think that would be better.

Jesus leaving His Church and ascending does not weaken or hurt His Church, but it makes it more strong. Jesus' ascending is good for us His Church. Our text shows why. So let us attend to our text and say Hallelujah!


By ascending Jesus makes it very clear to us what His Church is. Many people misunderstand and are confused about the Church. If you ask them, "What is the Church?" They can't answer or they give the wrong answer. I wonder how many of you here today can answer that question. What is the Church? Lutheran? Methodists? Catholics?

Our text here shows that the church is people. All people who believe what Luke wrote to Theophilus about what Jesus began both to do and teach until the day He was taken up to heaven. (Acts 1:1-2)

Not only what Luke wrote but also what Matthew, Mark and John wrote about Jesus Christ especially about His passion and many infallible proofs to His disciples who saw Him forty days after His glorious resurrection on Easter morning. (Acts 1:3)

Everyone who believes what the Bible teaches of Jesus, that He is the Son of God and Son of Man, the crucified and risen Savior belongs to the Church, no matter if He is Methodist, Lutheran or Catholic. True believers and only believers are the Church.

Remember Jesus' words to doubting Thomas: "Thomas, because you see Me, you believe, blessed are they who have not seen Me and yet have believed in Me." (John 20:29) Not seeing, but believing makes us members of the Church. That is the Church. That is one reason why Jesus is now gone, ascended. See-ers and touchers are not members of His Church, only believers. His Church is spiritual.

Another reason for His ascending is that we may know what the true power of the Church is. The Church is all believers, spiritual, so also it's power is spiritual. "On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 1:4-5)

Power is not in seeing a man leader or president. Some think the power of the church is from the Pope. The Pope says He is the vicar of Christ on earth. He says that He alone has power. But that is false. The power of the church is not in popes or priests. Our text shows it is the power of the Holy Ghost. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

What power? The power to preach, baptize and give the Lord's Supper. Power to believe and receive God's forgiveness for ourselves and the power to love other sinners and preach forgiveness of sins to them and not be ashamed or afraid to talk about sins, confess sins and accept forgiveness. Every believer in Jesus Christ has this wonderful power. Before He ascended Jesus told His disciples, "for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." (John 16:7)

So Jesus ascends that we may know our power is not in any man, but in His Holy Spirit who comes by God's Word, baptism and the Lord's Supper.

Are you weak? Do you have God's power? Use His Word and the Lord's Supper. Daily remember your baptism and you will not be weak and full of hate. But you will be strong and full of love and forgiveness.

By His ascension Jesus also clearly shows the true work of the Church. What is the work of the Church? Do you know? Get members? Earn money to build a beautiful new church building? You can do all that and fail to do the Lord's work. In Acts 1:8, Jesus shows plainly our work very simply. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Be a witness. Not lawyers to make a big fight or arguments. Witness, love someone as God loves you! Forgive someone as God has forgiven you in Jesus' name. Where? Both here at home and all over the world.

Are you a witness for Jesus? Is your heart full of love or hate? Are you selfish or generous? If your heart is cold and selfish. If you hate and can't forgive. If you don't love and support missions. You are not His Church. His ascending into heaven should make that very clear to you.

Many people say, "Witnessing is too hard and too much trouble. I will fail." Can Jesus' Church fail? Do you think Jesus and His Church will fail and not win? Many often act like that: sad, give up, quit, complain, and do not expect to conquer. Then attend to these words of our text because Jesus' ascension proves that His Church has won and will win.

"After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee,” they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11)

We know where our Lord has gone to prepare a place for us. He sits at God's right hand. King Jesus like a Prime Minister rules over His Church and the whole world. He is Lord and King over all. His Church fighting on earth cannot loose.

His Church knows He will come again in glory to judge. He who believes will win with Jesus and he who does not believe will lose with Satan and all the other unbelievers. If you are not on the winning team with Jesus, you better believe and join.

So Jesus' ascending is a wonderful event for His Church. While we remain on earth we can't help looking up and waiting for Him like His first disciples in our text. But like them we must remember not to look and wait only, but to work and witness.

Amen.