Acts 1:1-11          Sermon       Ascension

This morning Jesus tells the disciples, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.” 

Jesus always refused to discuss timetables for the future events, but here in this short time he has left on earth he does something different he assures the disciples that they will receive “power” saying that they will be baptized by the Holy Spirit “within a few days.” 

“Baptized by the Holy Spirit.”  Think about it, he is telling them that they will have an experience that is completely foreign.  Would it feel like water baptism?  Would they know when it happened?

This is not just preparation for what is to come.  This is an assurance, something to hold on to.  They are about to see Jesus ascend into heaven, and when they experience his leaving, the feeling of loss could overshadow everything else.  The disciples are going to have to live in a world without Jesus being physically with them.  And without this assurance, without something to hold on to, the anguish of the crucifixion could again come as flood over them paralyzing them in hopelessness. 

And so, Jesus tells them, “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.”

After hearing those words the disciples respond, as if they had no understanding.  “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”  

In spite of all they know, the disciples are still thinking in terms of an earthly kingdom.  They are still merely looking forward to restoring Israel to her glory.

They still don’t get it.  God’s purpose in Jesus Christ expands far beyond the national border of Israel.  His reach expands far beyond race and gender.  His sphere expands far beyond culture and language. 

This is a God whose Lordship is to all creation.  It is God and only God who sets the agenda for this world, no matter what anyone may tell you.

You know the Ascension has a very interesting position in the biblical time-line. 

It nestled between Easter and Pentecost.  It always happens on Thursday, which means it sometimes is just overlooked. 

And yet it is the pivotal point in the story.  It turn the disciples focus to what is to what is to come next, toward the birth of the church; the event that changed the world forever. 

Ascension is important.  It has something important to say to the church. 

First and foremost, it clearly shows the church that Jesus is Lord. 

All of Jesus’ claims about being God’s Messiah are stamped on every action that he took and every word that came from his mouth from the moment of his resurrection.  Jesus is the resurrected Lord of Life and they knew it.  So everything about life; all the death and all the limitations they face and we face, have been turned upside down.  Now they know that Jesus lives and this is the future for every child of God.

This Jesus, who lived, died and rose, is now clearly alive and is ascending to God.  This One is returning to a place we can’t yet see, but Jesus goes with a purpose, it is part of God’s unfolding plan for the world.  Jesus is not absent because of a lack of care on God’s part.  Nothing about these events is random. 

God’s amazing, creating, saving grace has been at work at every step of the way.  From the birth in the manger, to the healing and the teaching, the miracles and confrontations to the flogging post and the crucifix to the tomb and the stone rolled away.  Jesus has completed his earthly journey and his work given to him by God.  Now it is time for Jesus to physically exit so that the Holy Spirit can come and be God’s presence in the world. 

And in his physical absence, Jesus shows us our purpose is in the world.  We are to be witnesses to Jesus.  The One no longer present in the world in a way the world can see becomes visible in the church.  When we live and speak the glory of God’s amazing love and grace, Jesus becomes visible to the world.  When we share the compassion and mercy of God, Jesus becomes visible to the world. 

When we relate in love to one another in here and to those out there,

Jesus becomes visible to the world.

We have heard it said over and over, “You are the only Jesus some folks will ever see.”  In the telling of the story of the Ascension we hear the truth of this. 

This too, is God’s plan. 

Beloved, the church does not exist for us.  It is not a social club. 

The church exists as God’s visibility to the world. 

From the time God called a special people, God has made it clear those God calls are blessed for one reason and one reason only, to be a blessing.  Those were God’s word to Abraham, “you will be a blessing…and all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through you.”  That is Jesus’ instruction to the church.  You will be blessed to be a blessing and through you all the peoples of world will be blessed; you the church. 

We are the way that God blesses this world.  If we, the church lose sight of that, if the church belongs to us and not to God, it is no different than any business or social club.  And we have lost sight of our purpose. 

We must always remember that we have the privilege of showing people the footsteps of God in their lives in times of sorrow and in times of joy. 

Our call is to grace others with God’s love and point to God’s presence in the world.  The reality is that as we move through life we have no way of knowing the impact we have on the world and the peoples in the world.  All we need do is to keep our focus on our purpose and remember the church belongs to God. 

And the good news is that none of what we do is under our own power.  We don’t live this life blindly and alone.  In the early church Ascension was likened to the healing of the blind man’s eyes.  When Jesus touched the sightless man’s eyes he could see- but only faintly.  People looked, he said, like trees.  And Jesus touched his eyes a second time and the man who had been blind began to see clearly.  He saw faces- beautiful faces- birds, colors, flowers, the blue sky.  Newly opened eyes seeing things they had never seen before, seeing things through new eyes. 

In the promised gift of the Holy Spirit, we are assured that God is closer than our own breath and the invisible becomes visible. 

Our task, our church’s task is to get on with the work of Jesus Christ.  It is why we exist.  God will provide what we need to get going.  That is more than enough reason to keep on going. 

The angels testified to Jesus’ Ascension and they testified of his return; “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do 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 to heaven.”

In the meantime; don’t just stand there; roll up your sleeves, do something.  Get on with the work of the church, the work of the church is to make disciples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

Teach everyone you meet and one another what it means to belong to his wonderful beautiful Jesus the Christ, who is now Lord and King over all.