ASCENSION - SATURDAY

LESSON: PSALM 47

Thou didst ascend the high mount, leading captives in thy train, and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there. Psalm 68:18

All the prophets were very careful to describe the ascension of Christ and His kingdom. As His dying and death are deeply embedded in Scripture, so also is His kingdom, resurrection, and ascension into heaven. One must understand Christ’s ascension into heaven correctly; otherwise, it is powerless and sapless.

Of what use is it to preach only that He has ascended and now sits up there in idleness? The prophet wants to tell us more here in the psalm. Christ ascended into heaven, he declares, leading captivity in His train. This means that He is not only sitting up there on high but that He is also down here on earth. He ascended on high to be present here on earth, so that He might be able to fill all things and be present in all places. This He could not do during His earthly sojourn, for all eyes could not then see Him.

He sat down where everyone can see Him and where He can deal with everyone, fill every creature, be present everywhere. All things are not filled by Him, and there is nothing so great in heaven and earth that He does not exercise authority over it. Everything must do what He wills and no more. He not only rules and governs all creatures (for thereby my faith would not necessarily be helped or my sins taken away) but He has also led captivity captive.

SL 11:942 (30)

PRAYER: Help us to realize the wonderful blessings and assurances which are ours, Lord Jesus, as a direct result of Your ascension into heaven. You are indeed Lord of lords and King of kings, present with us everywhere. In us sinners, however, dear Lord, let Your ascension be a guarantee that You are sin’s conqueror, having led captivity captive. Grant us the full realization of all this, in Your name. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:180-194.

ASCENSION – FRIDAY

LESSON: COLOSSIANS 3:1-4

When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. Ephesians 4:8

Christ’s ascension is a mighty act which should bring us real comfort and assurance. Those who believe in the ascended Lord should be joyful and courageous, take confidence from this act and say, “My Lord Jesus Christ is Lord over death, the devil, sin, righteousness, body, life, enemies, and friends. Of what shall I still be afraid?”

If my enemies beset me with intentions of slaying me, my faith declares, “Christ has ascended into heaven and become the Lord of all creatures. Hence, my enemies must also be subject to Him. So, it is beyond their power to harm me. I defy them to raise a finger against me and disturb one hair on my head without Christ’s will.”

If this is how faith looks at this matter and rests on this article of Christ’s ascension, all is well. Then faith will also become bold and certain and declare, “If my Lord’s will is that my enemies should put me to death, I willingly depart.”

You see, then, that Christ ascended into heaven not just to sit up there in His own interests but to rule there, to work out all things for our good, that we may derived comfort and joy from His ascension.

SL 11:941 (27)

PRAYER: We thank you, Lord Jesus for the assurance of abiding help and blessing, which we derive from Your glorious ascension into heaven, and its significance for our faith and lives as Christians at all times. Continue to be with us and bless us as our ascended Lord, for Your name’s sake. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:180-194.

THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD - THURSDAY

LESSON: MARK 16:14-20

Then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. Mark 16:19

We must regard the ascension of Christ as an efficacious, powerful act which is in continuous and ceaseless operation. We must not just imagine that Christ has ascended into heaven and left us here on earth to be ruled in other ways. On the contrary, He has ascended into heaven because He can achieve most and rule most effectively by that act.

If He had remained visibly here on earth among men, He could never have achieved as much. Not all people would then have been able to be with Him to hear Him. He had to make a start on having to deal with all men, ruling all men, preaching to all men, so that all might hear Him and that He might be with all men.

Take care, therefore, that you do not form the idea that Christ is now far away from you. The contrary is true. When He was on earth, He was far away from us; since His ascension, He is very close to us.

Reason, of course, cannot understand this, so the ascension is an article of faith. Here one must close the eyes to reason and grasp matters by faith. God’s Word tells us that the man Christ Jesus ascended visibly into heaven where He now sits at God’s right hand and governs all things.

SL 11:940 (24-25)

PRAYER: Christ our Savior ascended visibly into heaven from where He now rules and governs all things. Make us aware of the full import of this mighty act of our Savior, heavenly Father, so that we look more confidently to Jesus as Lord of lords and King of kings. Amen.

Editor’s note: No American Edition (AE) equivalent for today’s sermon excerpt exists at the time of this publication. For an alternate English translation of this sermon, see Lenker, Church Postil—Gospels, 3:180-194.