Ascension Day (Sermon)

Jesus Left Us

Acts 1:1-11

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Our text for this morning comes from Acts chapter one. This is the account of Jesus ascension, which as the text says took place approximately 40 days after his Resurrection, which would have been last Thursday. And next Sunday will be 50 days after Easter, and thus it is called Pentecost.

But this text and this day leaves me with one very difficult and hard question: Why does Jesus leave us? We can look for an answer in John 16:7, "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper [aka the Holy Spirit] will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you."

In John 20, Jesus breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit. So is Jesus talking about his death in John 16, or his ascension. But John 14 even tells us, "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." This seems to talk about his Ascension, so that he can build the New Jerusalem for us to dwell in for everlasting life.

John makes many more references to the Ascension, some seem to either relate to his Ascension or to his three day rest in the tomb. In John 14, Jesus continues to make reference to a little while and you will not see me, and the Helper, or Holy Spirit, will come. He sends the Holy Spirit so that they will not be alone. But he must go to be with the Father.

So little while after Jesus says this in the upper room, Judas returns with soldiers to lead Jesus away. For a little while they do not see Jesus, because he is dead and buried. But then they see Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit. Then a little while (like 40 days) Jesus is taken up out of their sight behind a cloud. And Stephen told us last week that he saw Jesus at the right hand of God. So Jesus ascends, leaving us to suffer on earth so that he can sit next the Father, and gives us the Holy Spirit, something we can not see or touch.

So why did Jesus have to Ascend into Heaven? St Paul writes in Romans 8, "Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us." He not only goes to the Father in order to prepare some new creation for us. He goes to plead our case before our Father in Heaven. Just as he showed St Thomas his wounds for his transgressions, Jesus stands before our Father showing those very wounds for your transgressions. St John tells us, "My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

Jesus is our advocate, our intercessor, our defense attorney, and our savior. Thus, he is always pleading for us before God the Father. But now I want to pull your minds a little more.

A few weeks ago we talked about how Jesus was the greater Moses. Moses went done to Egypt and did many powerful signs, or God sent plagues upon the people. Moses stretched out his hands repeatedly to preform these signs. And he even stretched out his arms at the crossing of the Red Sea, providing the people the way of Salvation, drowning hard hearted Pharaoh and his army.

Moses brought those very people to a mountain. This picture we can see at the End of Matthew's Gospel. Jesus on some random Mountain in Galilee, tells them All authority has been given to him. He then commands them to make disciples. There he provides instruction for them on what they are supposed to do as God's people. Moses on Mount Sinai receives the Ten Commandments, what we are supposed to do to be God's people.

Further, Moses spends 40 days up on that Mountain with God, receiving instruction. The top of the Mountain is enveloped with a dark cloud, so the people think he is dead. They sin against God, by making a golden calf. Moses therefore, must plead with God for their lives. God has determined to kill them all and start over with just Moses, but he listens to Moses' cry for mercy and forgiveness.

Finally, most interesting connection. Why has Jesus ascended into heaven? He ascends to intercede for us, and to prepare a place for God to dwell with his people eternally. Moses during those 40 days upon the Mount Sinai, receives the instructions on how to build the Tabernacle of God, or the Tent of Meeting. This is the place were God will dwell with his people for over 400 years, before the Temple of Solomon is built, which is modeled after that very tent.

Moses received instruction on how to build the place where God would dwell with his people. Moses interceded for the people of God. Shall we who sit at the base of the mountain look up and think that God has abandoned us, died, or left us? Are we going to build our golden statues and turn away? No, for Jesus left us the Holy Spirit as our Helper and guide. He left us the eyewitness testimony of the holy Apostles. He left us his witnesses. He also left us the sacraments, of holy Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Here we recall how Christ is with us. Here we hear, see, taste, and touch how Christ has died for the forgiveness of our sins, and continues to intercede for us.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.