May 4, 2025 • 31 mins
Jason Sterling May 4, 2025 Faith Presbyterian Church Birmingham, AL Bulletin
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you have a copy of God's Word, turn with me this
morning the book of Acts.
I'll explain in a moment.
You're like how did we get toActs?
I'll explain that in just asecond.
But Acts, chapter 1, we havebeen studying this year, in 2025
, the gospel of Luke.
In the last couple of weekswe've been walking through
(00:21):
Jesus's life and, of course, thelast couple of weeks in light
of Easter and the week after, welooked at stories around the
resurrection.
And this morning we come to ourfinal series, or our final
sermon in the series.
Next week we'll start oursummer series on the book of
Psalms, but this morning we'relooking at the ascension of
(00:43):
Jesus.
Jesus has died, he's beenburied, he rose again and this
morning, as we're going to see,he ascends into heaven.
So why are we looking at thebook of Acts?
Well, in short, acts and Lukego together.
The book of Acts is written byLuke, it's considered the gospel
(01:09):
of Luke, part two, and at theend of Luke it's a very small
summary, a short summary of theascension.
The book of Acts opens with amuch fuller, detailed
description of the ascension.
So I want us to look at Acts 1and that account of the
ascension.
This morning, follow along withme as I read.
(01:30):
Please note, you'll see thesecond there after the comma, o
Theophilus.
You're going to say who in theworld is Theophilus?
Theophilus appears to besomeone who is investigating
Christianity and Luke is writingto him in order to convince him
that Jesus is real and thatJesus is alive and that Jesus is
(01:54):
at work.
So with that in mind, followalong with me.
You'll see it printed in yourbulletin.
It also will be on the screenbehind me this morning.
This is God's Word.
In the first book, o Theophilus, I have dealt with all that
Jesus began to do and teachuntil the day when he was taken
up.
After he had given commandsthrough the Holy Spirit to the
(02:17):
apostles whom he had chosen, hepresented himself alive to them
after his suffering, by manyproofs appearing to them during
40 days and speaking about thekingdom of God.
And while staying with them, heordered them not to depart from
Jerusalem but to wait for thepromise of the Father, which he
(02:38):
said you heard from me, for Johnbaptized with water, but you
will be baptized with the HolySpirit not many days from now.
So when they had come together,they asked him Lord, will you
at this time, restore thekingdom to Israel.
And he said to them it is notfor you to know the times or
(02:59):
seasons that the Father hasfixed by his own authority, but
you will receive power when theHoly Spirit has come upon you
and you will be my witnesses inJerusalem and in all Judea and
Samaria and to the end of theearth.
And when he had said thesethings, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up and a cloudtook him out of their sight.
(03:23):
And while they were gazing intoheaven as he went, behold, two
men stood by them in white robesand said men of Galilee, why do
you look?
Why do you stand looking intoheaven?
This Jesus, who was taken upfrom you into heaven, will come
in the same way as you saw himgo into heaven.
(03:45):
This is the word of the Lord.
Let me pray, let's ask for theSpirit's help as we look at this
passage this morning.
Please bow with me, father.
We bring lots into this roomthis morning and I have one
(04:06):
prayer, and that is that,through your spirit, that every
person here, those listening inthe overflow room, would have a
powerful encounter with the LordJesus Christ.
That's what we want, that's ourprayer.
Would you come and do that?
(04:27):
Only you can do that.
We're asking for that thismorning in Jesus' name, amen.
So the ascension of Jesus issomething that we don't talk
about, or I don't think we talkabout nearly as much the church
in general don't talk about, orI don't think we talk about
nearly as much the church ingeneral or focus on nearly as
(04:48):
much as we should.
But it is a really big deal andour creeds say that the
ascension is one of the core orcritical aspects to Christianity
.
Think about the Apostles' Creed.
We do that here at the churchas we come to the table often
and I'll say Christian, what doyou believe?
And I won't go through all ofit, but at some point in the
(05:11):
creed we say suffered underPontius Pilate, crucified, died,
was buried the third day.
He rose again from the dead.
Then he ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand
of God, the Father Almighty.
One of the things that iscritical to your Christian faith
(05:31):
is the fact that Jesus ascendedinto heaven and is seated at
the right hand of God, theFather Almighty.
Why is that such a big deal?
Why is that so important?
Or, like we often like to askhere what does the ascension
(05:54):
have to do with you on a Tuesdayafternoon in 2025?
I hope to answer that questionthis morning.
The ascension, as we're going tosee in this passage, matters
because it means that Jesus isstill at work.
Number one, secondly, thatJesus is always with you.
(06:16):
And then, lastly, jesus is youradvocate.
The ascension means that Jesusis still at work, he is always
with you and he is your advocate.
Let's look at all of those thismorning in turn.
Let's start with number oneJesus is still at work.
Look at verses 1 and 2 there Inmy gospel.
(06:37):
So in the gospel of Luke Idealt.
Luke is saying with all Jesusbegan to do and teach.
Luke is saying with all Jesusbegan to do and teach.
In other words, the book ofActs is about what Jesus
continued to do and teach.
The ascension is not the end ofJesus' ministry.
(06:57):
Rather, it is a signal that anew phase of ministry is
beginning.
That a new phase of ministry isbeginning Now, through the Holy
Spirit.
Jesus will continue his workthrough the Spirit until he
comes again.
And when we think about theascension, I think we quickly
(07:19):
move past this fact.
The ascension means that rightnow.
Think about this with me.
This is a little mind-blowing.
You really think about it.
But the ascension means thatright now, a real human being
body, skin, blood flowingthrough his veins, hair,
(07:42):
eyebrows, resurrected body, ofcourse is seated next to God,
the Father Almighty.
I've heard someone describe itthis way.
If we were in heaven, we thinkabout it this way.
If you were to stick yourfinger out, you would not hit
air, you would hit Jesus's chest.
(08:06):
The point is that a real personright now is on a throne,
ruling this world through thepower of the Holy Spirit.
Right now, not in the future.
Right now, that means thatJesus is ruling over the cell of
(08:27):
your home, that he's rulingover your singleness, that he's
ruling over your children andyour marriage and your family
and your future and whateversituation you find yourself in,
your work situation.
(08:49):
And the disciples obviouslydidn't completely get this phase
of Jesus' ministry, and you seethat very clearly.
Look at verse 6.
Lord, will you, at this time,restore the kingdom to Israel?
And so the disciples arethinking this is it, it's over,
(09:11):
this is the end.
And, as we've seen before wesaw it last week the disciples
misunderstood the nature of thekingdom that Jesus was bringing
into the world and they neededto have their expectations
adjusted.
And that's what Jesus does.
He adjusts their expectations.
(09:31):
Look at verse 6.
Jesus does.
He adjusts their expectations.
Look at verse 6.
It indicates that the disciplesare expecting Jesus to restore a
physical kingdom to the nationof Israel, that he's going to
overthrow the Romans.
Well, look at verse 8.
Jesus says you're going toreceive power when the Holy
Spirit comes upon you.
In other words, I'm going torestore the world, but it's
(09:54):
primarily going to be aspiritual restoration, not
physical.
I will indeed make this worldright again.
Of course Jesus he's going todo that.
But his kingdom is differentthan our kingdoms.
It will not be through violenceand war and strength of arms,
(10:14):
but instead Jesus brings hiskingdom through forgiveness and
humility, love and sacrifice.
They expected that and you seeit again that it seems as if
they're thinking ethnic Israelwill be restored.
And look at what he says inverse 8.
(10:34):
You will be my witnessesbasically all over the world.
The kingdom that I'm bringingis a restoration and healing of
every nation, tribe and tongue,and they expected again you see
it in verse 6, that it was goingto come immediately.
At this time, are you going torestore.
(10:56):
And then, verse 7, jesus saysthat's not for you to know.
Only God knows.
The father knows the time ofthe restoration.
Until that time Jesus comes,until he comes again, he
ministers through the HolySpirit.
And so then the question is so,what?
(11:18):
What does this have to do withyou today, and why does that
matter?
It matters because we think ofthe ascension, and I think we're
really good I'm really good atfocusing on the things that
Jesus has done the birth and themiracles and the death and his
(11:43):
resurrection.
We talk about those things alot and we often have this view
that Jesus is somehow up inheaven and he's twiddling his
thumbs or pacing, just waitingon the Father to give him the
signal and say okay, it's time.
(12:04):
And we might not say that outloud, but our lives reflect.
That's what we believe, becauseit's reflected, is it not, in
our prayerlessness.
It's reflected in the fact thatwe carry with us consuming fear
(12:24):
and anxiety and stress andworry about our life.
It shows up that we don'tbelieve Jesus is still at work.
It shows up in the fact that weoften give up on people.
We give up on our familymembers and on our friends and
(12:44):
on our children we say thingslike well, I know he says he's
never going to do this again,but you don't know him.
I know him and he is going todo it again.
He's never going to change thatperson.
We might say, no, there's noway they ever become a Christian
(13:06):
.
Or we do it to ourselves.
Maybe we're stuck and we sayI've struggled with this for so
long and we start to think, well, this is it, this is just the
way it is and I will neverchange this particular area in
my life.
Friends, I don't care if you're30, 60, or 80.
(13:31):
The ascension means that God isstill at work through his spirit
in your life and he wants tochange you and he's in the
business of changing you, makingyou more into the image of God
and into the image of Jesus.
It also shows up with the waywe give up on our city, the way
(13:55):
we give up on the world.
If we've given up on our world,if we've given up on our city,
it shows and it's proof that wehave forgotten the ascension,
because the ascension means thatJesus is still at it, that he's
still ministering, that he isstill at it, that he's still
ministering, that he is still atwork in your life, in your
(14:17):
family and in this world.
So that's the first thing andthat's why it matters.
Jesus is still at work and sowe have great hope.
Secondly, jesus is always withyou.
Look at verse 8.
You will receive power when theHoly Spirit comes upon you.
Very interesting story aroundthe resurrection in John,
(14:40):
chapter 20.
Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb.
She finds the empty tomb.
She sees Jesus and she runsover to Jesus and she grabs him
and Jesus responds to her andsays don't hold on to me,
because I haven't returned tothe father.
(15:00):
And that phrase don't hold onto me means literally to cling
tightly.
So the picture is MaryMagdalene, when she sees the
resurrected Jesus, goes and sheis literally holding him so
tight she is squeezing the lifeout of him.
That's the picture.
Why?
(15:21):
Why is she holding him sotightly?
Because she's afraid of losinghim and she wants him to stay on
this earth just as he is.
And Jesus responds and says andshe wants him to stay on this
earth just as he is.
(15:42):
And Jesus responds and says Mary, let go of me so that I can
come into your heart, so thatyou'll never lose me, so that
you'll have the ultimaterelationship and fellowship with
me, and so that I will be withyou always, to the end of time.
And it's why Jesus says thingsMaybe you've heard these things
in the Bible, in John 16, 7.
(16:03):
When he says things like it'sbetter that I go away, for if I
don't go away, then the HolySpirit will not come.
You see, we are tempted tothink.
I'm tempted to think that itwould be so much better if Jesus
were still here on earth.
(16:24):
It would be so much better if Icould just go to Jerusalem and
if I could hear Jesus preach andsee all the miracles and be
with all the people there in thefirst century that are
believing in Jesus.
That is not true, because thatwould mean that Jesus could only
(16:44):
minister at one place at onetime.
The Spirit is better because itmeans that Jesus can be
everywhere.
He can be present in the heartof every believer through his
spirit, and so the question,then, that we're asking is okay
what difference does that makein your life?
(17:05):
This morning, let me answerthat question through an
illustration.
Remember 2018,.
You might be familiar with thisstory.
It captured the world.
The youth Thai soccer team gottrapped in a cave.
You remember this.
So it's 12 boys and they have acoach who was around 25 years
(17:28):
old and they are at this soccertournament and they are at this
soccer tournament and they areexploring in these caves.
Well, a monsoon hits, floodsthe caves and for nine days no
one knows if they're alive, andit's pitch dark.
They're on this mud shelf, all12 of them, 13 of them huddled
(17:48):
around trying to survive, hopingthat the water does not
continue to rise.
Days later, the British diversfind them.
They're expecting the worst.
They're expecting there's noway in their minds that someone
survives this.
And all 13 of them were alive.
(18:11):
And as they are talking aboutthis and as they have been
rescued, the boys on the teamstart to describe kind of what
happened inside the cave andthey described essentially how
their coach never left them.
(18:32):
They were terrified and hewould reassure them.
They were hungry and whatlittle he had to eat he would
share with them.
They were feeling abandoned andhe would assure them someone is
(18:52):
searching for us, someone iscoming, and it's the coach's
unwavering presence.
The soccer team said that wastheir lifeline.
It did not change thecircumstances, it didn't remove
the darkness, food didn'tmagically appear, but it was the
(19:18):
fateful presence of this coachthat sustained them in this very
hopeless, dire situation.
(19:39):
Friends, the ascension meansthat, through the Holy Spirit,
jesus is looking out for you.
That Jesus, in your darkestnights, in your most painful
struggle, that, even walkingthrough the valley of the shadow
of death and your moments ofgreatest fear, jesus is not
watching from a distance.
Jesus dwells within you and heholds you tight and he will be
(20:07):
with you and he will never letyou go.
You see why the ascensionmatters.
You believe that, again, itmight not change all your
circumstances, but that willsustain you in your darkest hour
.
Lastly, jesus is your advocate.
So we've seen here that Jesusis always with you.
(20:30):
The ascension means that.
It also means that Jesus,lastly, is your advocate.
Look at verses 9 through 11.
This is really amazing.
If you have been checked out, Iwant you to engage in this
moment, okay, so hang with me.
(20:51):
Put your thinking cap on.
If you do, we'll find somethingreally amazing here.
You ready?
So let's dig into this lastpoint the Hebrew word for yeah.
Anytime you start out with that, you're like I'm out.
No, but hang with me here,because this really stood out to
(21:13):
me this week.
The Bible's amazing, becausethis really stood out to me this
week the Bible's amazing.
The Hebrew word for burntoffering actually means
ascension and in the OldTestament, smoke from the burnt
offerings, from the sacrifices.
When they would sin, the peoplewould go and they would offer
(21:34):
these sacrifices and the burntoffering and the smoke would
arise.
Leviticus 1.9 says as apleasing, soothing aroma to the
Lord.
God was receiving thesubstitute of the animal in your
place.
Why do we need a substitute?
Why did the people in the OldTestament need a substitute?
(21:56):
Because of sin.
We have a debt that we owe God,and so they would place these
animals on these burnt offeringsand they would sacrifice them
as in an effort to renew theirrelationship with God.
The ascension is Jesus's way ofsaying I am the ultimate
(22:18):
fulfillment of the burntofferings, I'm the ultimate
sacrifice and I will be raisedup and I will ascend as a
soothing aroma to God.
On the cross Jesus's life.
He was completely consumed andthen he rose again.
(22:38):
He ascends up to God as asoothing aroma to God and he
sits down and that is a hugedeal.
That Jesus is seated, becausethat means it is finished.
That was Jesus by sitting meansit is over.
(23:03):
I am the once and for all.
I am the great high priest whois atoned once and for all for
your sin and restored yourrelationship with God.
The ascension then means thatJesus, in real flesh and blood,
is sitting next to God, and oneof the things that he is doing
is he is being your advocate.
(23:24):
He is interceding for you asthe perfect sacrifice.
Hebrews 7 25,.
He lives.
He always lives to intercedefor you.
Think about an advocate, adefender, someone who represents
(23:45):
you.
Today, we would think of alawyer.
When you hire a lawyer, you'regetting someone to come and
stand for you in a courtroom,someone who will represent you
before the judge, someone whowill speak on your behalf.
They represent you.
The ascension means that Jesusis representing you.
He is your advocate before thethrone of God.
(24:09):
Okay, what does that mean?
What does that actually looklike?
Keller describes it like this.
I've always appreciated this.
We tend to think it looks thisway I mess up.
Jesus goes before the Father andsays well, jason's done it
(24:32):
again.
He's messed up again.
Will you please forgive him onemore time, will you please just
give him one more chance?
And we picture the fatherbegrudgingly saying well, okay,
I guess I'll do that.
Friends, jesus is not justpleading for you, but he is
(24:59):
actually your lawyer.
And if you've got a good lawyer,they don't just go to the judge
and say, please let him off.
Now what do they do?
They make a case for you.
And here's the case.
Jesus says look at my hands andfeet, look at what I've done
(25:22):
for my people.
The case is, I died on a crossand I paid the debt for their
sin and for Jason's sin in full.
And therefore Jesus says youknow Jason well, he did it again
(25:45):
.
But I'm not asking for mercybecause I've paid this debt and
it would be unjust for you totake two payments for the same
debt.
So I want full acquittal, I'masking for justice.
You see the difference?
It's an indestructible case.
(26:06):
Jesus says look at what I'vedone Now accept them in me.
And that means that if you area Christian this morning,
friends, the verdict, the onlyverdict that really matters, is
in on you.
If Jesus is your advocateRomans 8.34,.
(26:27):
Who then is the one whocondemns?
Listen to this, look this uplater.
Who then is the one whocondemns?
You know what it says?
No one, because Jesus Christ isat the right hand of God
interceding for you.
(26:47):
This is the time of year whenstudents are trying out for
different sports teams for thefall.
My daughter, eva, tried out forthe eighth grade basketball
team last week and if you'veexperienced tryouts personally,
or if you have had a childexperience tryouts, you know
that it's the mostgospel-centered thing in the
(27:09):
world.
Kidding, it's the mostanti-gospel thing in the world,
isn't it?
I mean, in these tryouts youknow they're making cuts and so
the pressure is turned all theway up and it feels like every
moment, every play, every freethrow, every shot makes all the
(27:35):
difference in the world.
You've got the coaches withtheir clipboards, you've got a
number.
They're watching you and inthat moment you feel like that
one mistake and you don't makethe team.
That it's up to you.
It's a very weighty thing.
It's a very weighty thing.
(27:55):
And then on Thursday they'rehaving tryouts.
They walk in, the coach grabsthe team and pulls them together
all the girls that are tryingout and said this is the team.
All of you made it.
You're on the team Today.
We are simply going to practice.
(28:17):
What do you think the girls didthen?
They took a deep sigh of relief, they relaxed, they played free
, they were free to make amistake, to try new things.
They had fun, they had freedom,they had joy, they took risk,
(28:42):
they tried Eurosteps, they triednew things.
Why?
Because the verdict was in, thepressure was off, and that is
what it feels like with Jesus.
That is what life with Jesus islike when Jesus is your
(29:06):
advocate.
The ultimate verdict, the onlyverdict that matters, is in on
you and you are free.
Who is there to condemn you?
No one.
Now do you see why theascension is such a big deal?
Now do you see why it's so good?
(29:29):
Because it gives you hope foryour life, because it means that
in our world, because Jesus isstill at work, it gives you
peace and sustains you, becauseyou're not alone in this world
and, lastly, it gives youfreedom and joy and confidence,
(29:49):
because the verdict is in andJesus loves you and he is
defending and he is youradvocate before God.
The ascension, friends, is goodnews indeed.
Amen, let's pray.
Father, thank you for sendingJesus to live for us, die for us
(30:16):
, rise again for us, but also toascend for us.
Would you forgive us for theways that we neglect the
ascension, for the ways that welive like we're all alone ways
(30:40):
we live, like you're no longerat work and for looking in so
many other places for life andto give us favorable verdicts.
We have nowhere to look but you, and I pray that through your
spirit you would help us to havea new appreciation for the fact
that you are now raised andascended and seated at the right
(31:01):
hand of God.
We ask these things in Jesus'name, amen.
If you have a copy of God's Word, turn with me this
morning the book of Acts.
I'll explain in a moment.
You're like how did we get toActs?
I'll explain that in just asecond.
But Acts, chapter 1, we havebeen studying this year, in 2025
, the gospel of Luke.
In the last couple of weekswe've been walking through
(00:21):
Jesus's life and, of course, thelast couple of weeks in light
of Easter and the week after, welooked at stories around the
resurrection.
And this morning we come to ourfinal series, or our final
sermon in the series.
Next week we'll start oursummer series on the book of
Psalms, but this morning we'relooking at the ascension of
(00:43):
Jesus.
Jesus has died, he's beenburied, he rose again and this
morning, as we're going to see,he ascends into heaven.
So why are we looking at thebook of Acts?
Well, in short, acts and Lukego together.
The book of Acts is written byLuke, it's considered the gospel
(01:09):
of Luke, part two, and at theend of Luke it's a very small
summary, a short summary of theascension.
The book of Acts opens with amuch fuller, detailed
description of the ascension.
So I want us to look at Acts 1and that account of the
ascension.
This morning, follow along withme as I read.
(01:30):
Please note, you'll see thesecond there after the comma, o
Theophilus.
You're going to say who in theworld is Theophilus?
Theophilus appears to besomeone who is investigating
Christianity and Luke is writingto him in order to convince him
that Jesus is real and thatJesus is alive and that Jesus is
(01:54):
at work.
So with that in mind, followalong with me.
You'll see it printed in yourbulletin.
It also will be on the screenbehind me this morning.
This is God's Word.
In the first book, o Theophilus, I have dealt with all that
Jesus began to do and teachuntil the day when he was taken
up.
After he had given commandsthrough the Holy Spirit to the
(02:17):
apostles whom he had chosen, hepresented himself alive to them
after his suffering, by manyproofs appearing to them during
40 days and speaking about thekingdom of God.
And while staying with them, heordered them not to depart from
Jerusalem but to wait for thepromise of the Father, which he
(02:38):
said you heard from me, for Johnbaptized with water, but you
will be baptized with the HolySpirit not many days from now.
So when they had come together,they asked him Lord, will you
at this time, restore thekingdom to Israel.
And he said to them it is notfor you to know the times or
(02:59):
seasons that the Father hasfixed by his own authority, but
you will receive power when theHoly Spirit has come upon you
and you will be my witnesses inJerusalem and in all Judea and
Samaria and to the end of theearth.
And when he had said thesethings, as they were looking on,
he was lifted up and a cloudtook him out of their sight.
(03:23):
And while they were gazing intoheaven as he went, behold, two
men stood by them in white robesand said men of Galilee, why do
you look?
Why do you stand looking intoheaven?
This Jesus, who was taken upfrom you into heaven, will come
in the same way as you saw himgo into heaven.
(03:45):
This is the word of the Lord.
Let me pray, let's ask for theSpirit's help as we look at this
passage this morning.
Please bow with me, father.
We bring lots into this roomthis morning and I have one
(04:06):
prayer, and that is that,through your spirit, that every
person here, those listening inthe overflow room, would have a
powerful encounter with the LordJesus Christ.
That's what we want, that's ourprayer.
Would you come and do that?
(04:27):
Only you can do that.
We're asking for that thismorning in Jesus' name, amen.
So the ascension of Jesus issomething that we don't talk
about, or I don't think we talkabout nearly as much the church
in general don't talk about, orI don't think we talk about
nearly as much the church ingeneral or focus on nearly as
(04:48):
much as we should.
But it is a really big deal andour creeds say that the
ascension is one of the core orcritical aspects to Christianity
.
Think about the Apostles' Creed.
We do that here at the churchas we come to the table often
and I'll say Christian, what doyou believe?
And I won't go through all ofit, but at some point in the
(05:11):
creed we say suffered underPontius Pilate, crucified, died,
was buried the third day.
He rose again from the dead.
Then he ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand
of God, the Father Almighty.
One of the things that iscritical to your Christian faith
(05:31):
is the fact that Jesus ascendedinto heaven and is seated at
the right hand of God, theFather Almighty.
Why is that such a big deal?
Why is that so important?
Or, like we often like to askhere what does the ascension
(05:54):
have to do with you on a Tuesdayafternoon in 2025?
I hope to answer that questionthis morning.
The ascension, as we're going tosee in this passage, matters
because it means that Jesus isstill at work.
Number one, secondly, thatJesus is always with you.
(06:16):
And then, lastly, jesus is youradvocate.
The ascension means that Jesusis still at work, he is always
with you and he is your advocate.
Let's look at all of those thismorning in turn.
Let's start with number oneJesus is still at work.
Look at verses 1 and 2 there Inmy gospel.
(06:37):
So in the gospel of Luke Idealt.
Luke is saying with all Jesusbegan to do and teach.
Luke is saying with all Jesusbegan to do and teach.
In other words, the book ofActs is about what Jesus
continued to do and teach.
The ascension is not the end ofJesus' ministry.
(06:57):
Rather, it is a signal that anew phase of ministry is
beginning.
That a new phase of ministry isbeginning Now, through the Holy
Spirit.
Jesus will continue his workthrough the Spirit until he
comes again.
And when we think about theascension, I think we quickly
(07:19):
move past this fact.
The ascension means that rightnow.
Think about this with me.
This is a little mind-blowing.
You really think about it.
But the ascension means thatright now, a real human being
body, skin, blood flowingthrough his veins, hair,
(07:42):
eyebrows, resurrected body, ofcourse is seated next to God,
the Father Almighty.
I've heard someone describe itthis way.
If we were in heaven, we thinkabout it this way.
If you were to stick yourfinger out, you would not hit
air, you would hit Jesus's chest.
(08:06):
The point is that a real personright now is on a throne,
ruling this world through thepower of the Holy Spirit.
Right now, not in the future.
Right now, that means thatJesus is ruling over the cell of
(08:27):
your home, that he's rulingover your singleness, that he's
ruling over your children andyour marriage and your family
and your future and whateversituation you find yourself in,
your work situation.
(08:49):
And the disciples obviouslydidn't completely get this phase
of Jesus' ministry, and you seethat very clearly.
Look at verse 6.
Lord, will you, at this time,restore the kingdom to Israel?
And so the disciples arethinking this is it, it's over,
(09:11):
this is the end.
And, as we've seen before wesaw it last week the disciples
misunderstood the nature of thekingdom that Jesus was bringing
into the world and they neededto have their expectations
adjusted.
And that's what Jesus does.
He adjusts their expectations.
(09:31):
Look at verse 6.
Jesus does.
He adjusts their expectations.
Look at verse 6.
It indicates that the disciplesare expecting Jesus to restore a
physical kingdom to the nationof Israel, that he's going to
overthrow the Romans.
Well, look at verse 8.
Jesus says you're going toreceive power when the Holy
Spirit comes upon you.
In other words, I'm going torestore the world, but it's
(09:54):
primarily going to be aspiritual restoration, not
physical.
I will indeed make this worldright again.
Of course Jesus he's going todo that.
But his kingdom is differentthan our kingdoms.
It will not be through violenceand war and strength of arms,
(10:14):
but instead Jesus brings hiskingdom through forgiveness and
humility, love and sacrifice.
They expected that and you seeit again that it seems as if
they're thinking ethnic Israelwill be restored.
And look at what he says inverse 8.
(10:34):
You will be my witnessesbasically all over the world.
The kingdom that I'm bringingis a restoration and healing of
every nation, tribe and tongue,and they expected again you see
it in verse 6, that it was goingto come immediately.
At this time, are you going torestore.
(10:56):
And then, verse 7, jesus saysthat's not for you to know.
Only God knows.
The father knows the time ofthe restoration.
Until that time Jesus comes,until he comes again, he
ministers through the HolySpirit.
And so then the question is so,what?
(11:18):
What does this have to do withyou today, and why does that
matter?
It matters because we think ofthe ascension, and I think we're
really good I'm really good atfocusing on the things that
Jesus has done the birth and themiracles and the death and his
(11:43):
resurrection.
We talk about those things alot and we often have this view
that Jesus is somehow up inheaven and he's twiddling his
thumbs or pacing, just waitingon the Father to give him the
signal and say okay, it's time.
(12:04):
And we might not say that outloud, but our lives reflect.
That's what we believe, becauseit's reflected, is it not, in
our prayerlessness.
It's reflected in the fact thatwe carry with us consuming fear
(12:24):
and anxiety and stress andworry about our life.
It shows up that we don'tbelieve Jesus is still at work.
It shows up in the fact that weoften give up on people.
We give up on our familymembers and on our friends and
(12:44):
on our children we say thingslike well, I know he says he's
never going to do this again,but you don't know him.
I know him and he is going todo it again.
He's never going to change thatperson.
We might say, no, there's noway they ever become a Christian
(13:06):
.
Or we do it to ourselves.
Maybe we're stuck and we sayI've struggled with this for so
long and we start to think, well, this is it, this is just the
way it is and I will neverchange this particular area in
my life.
Friends, I don't care if you're30, 60, or 80.
(13:31):
The ascension means that God isstill at work through his spirit
in your life and he wants tochange you and he's in the
business of changing you, makingyou more into the image of God
and into the image of Jesus.
It also shows up with the waywe give up on our city, the way
(13:55):
we give up on the world.
If we've given up on our world,if we've given up on our city,
it shows and it's proof that wehave forgotten the ascension,
because the ascension means thatJesus is still at it, that he's
still ministering, that he isstill at it, that he's still
ministering, that he is still atwork in your life, in your
(14:17):
family and in this world.
So that's the first thing andthat's why it matters.
Jesus is still at work and sowe have great hope.
Secondly, jesus is always withyou.
Look at verse 8.
You will receive power when theHoly Spirit comes upon you.
Very interesting story aroundthe resurrection in John,
(14:40):
chapter 20.
Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb.
She finds the empty tomb.
She sees Jesus and she runsover to Jesus and she grabs him
and Jesus responds to her andsays don't hold on to me,
because I haven't returned tothe father.
(15:00):
And that phrase don't hold onto me means literally to cling
tightly.
So the picture is MaryMagdalene, when she sees the
resurrected Jesus, goes and sheis literally holding him so
tight she is squeezing the lifeout of him.
That's the picture.
Why?
(15:21):
Why is she holding him sotightly?
Because she's afraid of losinghim and she wants him to stay on
this earth just as he is.
And Jesus responds and says andshe wants him to stay on this
earth just as he is.
(15:42):
And Jesus responds and says Mary, let go of me so that I can
come into your heart, so thatyou'll never lose me, so that
you'll have the ultimaterelationship and fellowship with
me, and so that I will be withyou always, to the end of time.
And it's why Jesus says thingsMaybe you've heard these things
in the Bible, in John 16, 7.
(16:03):
When he says things like it'sbetter that I go away, for if I
don't go away, then the HolySpirit will not come.
You see, we are tempted tothink.
I'm tempted to think that itwould be so much better if Jesus
were still here on earth.
(16:24):
It would be so much better if Icould just go to Jerusalem and
if I could hear Jesus preach andsee all the miracles and be
with all the people there in thefirst century that are
believing in Jesus.
That is not true, because thatwould mean that Jesus could only
(16:44):
minister at one place at onetime.
The Spirit is better because itmeans that Jesus can be
everywhere.
He can be present in the heartof every believer through his
spirit, and so the question,then, that we're asking is okay
what difference does that makein your life?
(17:05):
This morning, let me answerthat question through an
illustration.
Remember 2018,.
You might be familiar with thisstory.
It captured the world.
The youth Thai soccer team gottrapped in a cave.
You remember this.
So it's 12 boys and they have acoach who was around 25 years
(17:28):
old and they are at this soccertournament and they are at this
soccer tournament and they areexploring in these caves.
Well, a monsoon hits, floodsthe caves and for nine days no
one knows if they're alive, andit's pitch dark.
They're on this mud shelf, all12 of them, 13 of them huddled
(17:48):
around trying to survive, hopingthat the water does not
continue to rise.
Days later, the British diversfind them.
They're expecting the worst.
They're expecting there's noway in their minds that someone
survives this.
And all 13 of them were alive.
(18:11):
And as they are talking aboutthis and as they have been
rescued, the boys on the teamstart to describe kind of what
happened inside the cave andthey described essentially how
their coach never left them.
(18:32):
They were terrified and hewould reassure them.
They were hungry and whatlittle he had to eat he would
share with them.
They were feeling abandoned andhe would assure them someone is
(18:52):
searching for us, someone iscoming, and it's the coach's
unwavering presence.
The soccer team said that wastheir lifeline.
It did not change thecircumstances, it didn't remove
the darkness, food didn'tmagically appear, but it was the
(19:18):
fateful presence of this coachthat sustained them in this very
hopeless, dire situation.
(19:39):
Friends, the ascension meansthat, through the Holy Spirit,
jesus is looking out for you.
That Jesus, in your darkestnights, in your most painful
struggle, that, even walkingthrough the valley of the shadow
of death and your moments ofgreatest fear, jesus is not
watching from a distance.
Jesus dwells within you and heholds you tight and he will be
(20:07):
with you and he will never letyou go.
You see why the ascensionmatters.
You believe that, again, itmight not change all your
circumstances, but that willsustain you in your darkest hour
.
Lastly, jesus is your advocate.
So we've seen here that Jesusis always with you.
(20:30):
The ascension means that.
It also means that Jesus,lastly, is your advocate.
Look at verses 9 through 11.
This is really amazing.
If you have been checked out, Iwant you to engage in this
moment, okay, so hang with me.
(20:51):
Put your thinking cap on.
If you do, we'll find somethingreally amazing here.
You ready?
So let's dig into this lastpoint the Hebrew word for yeah.
Anytime you start out with that, you're like I'm out.
No, but hang with me here,because this really stood out to
(21:13):
me this week.
The Bible's amazing, becausethis really stood out to me this
week the Bible's amazing.
The Hebrew word for burntoffering actually means
ascension and in the OldTestament, smoke from the burnt
offerings, from the sacrifices.
When they would sin, the peoplewould go and they would offer
(21:34):
these sacrifices and the burntoffering and the smoke would
arise.
Leviticus 1.9 says as apleasing, soothing aroma to the
Lord.
God was receiving thesubstitute of the animal in your
place.
Why do we need a substitute?
Why did the people in the OldTestament need a substitute?
(21:56):
Because of sin.
We have a debt that we owe God,and so they would place these
animals on these burnt offeringsand they would sacrifice them
as in an effort to renew theirrelationship with God.
The ascension is Jesus's way ofsaying I am the ultimate
(22:18):
fulfillment of the burntofferings, I'm the ultimate
sacrifice and I will be raisedup and I will ascend as a
soothing aroma to God.
On the cross Jesus's life.
He was completely consumed andthen he rose again.
(22:38):
He ascends up to God as asoothing aroma to God and he
sits down and that is a hugedeal.
That Jesus is seated, becausethat means it is finished.
That was Jesus by sitting meansit is over.
(23:03):
I am the once and for all.
I am the great high priest whois atoned once and for all for
your sin and restored yourrelationship with God.
The ascension then means thatJesus, in real flesh and blood,
is sitting next to God, and oneof the things that he is doing
is he is being your advocate.
(23:24):
He is interceding for you asthe perfect sacrifice.
Hebrews 7 25,.
He lives.
He always lives to intercedefor you.
Think about an advocate, adefender, someone who represents
(23:45):
you.
Today, we would think of alawyer.
When you hire a lawyer, you'regetting someone to come and
stand for you in a courtroom,someone who will represent you
before the judge, someone whowill speak on your behalf.
They represent you.
The ascension means that Jesusis representing you.
He is your advocate before thethrone of God.
(24:09):
Okay, what does that mean?
What does that actually looklike?
Keller describes it like this.
I've always appreciated this.
We tend to think it looks thisway I mess up.
Jesus goes before the Father andsays well, jason's done it
(24:32):
again.
He's messed up again.
Will you please forgive him onemore time, will you please just
give him one more chance?
And we picture the fatherbegrudgingly saying well, okay,
I guess I'll do that.
Friends, jesus is not justpleading for you, but he is
(24:59):
actually your lawyer.
And if you've got a good lawyer,they don't just go to the judge
and say, please let him off.
Now what do they do?
They make a case for you.
And here's the case.
Jesus says look at my hands andfeet, look at what I've done
(25:22):
for my people.
The case is, I died on a crossand I paid the debt for their
sin and for Jason's sin in full.
And therefore Jesus says youknow Jason well, he did it again
(25:45):
.
But I'm not asking for mercybecause I've paid this debt and
it would be unjust for you totake two payments for the same
debt.
So I want full acquittal, I'masking for justice.
You see the difference?
It's an indestructible case.
(26:06):
Jesus says look at what I'vedone Now accept them in me.
And that means that if you area Christian this morning,
friends, the verdict, the onlyverdict that really matters, is
in on you.
If Jesus is your advocateRomans 8.34,.
(26:27):
Who then is the one whocondemns?
Listen to this, look this uplater.
Who then is the one whocondemns?
You know what it says?
No one, because Jesus Christ isat the right hand of God
interceding for you.
(26:47):
This is the time of year whenstudents are trying out for
different sports teams for thefall.
My daughter, eva, tried out forthe eighth grade basketball
team last week and if you'veexperienced tryouts personally,
or if you have had a childexperience tryouts, you know
that it's the mostgospel-centered thing in the
(27:09):
world.
Kidding, it's the mostanti-gospel thing in the world,
isn't it?
I mean, in these tryouts youknow they're making cuts and so
the pressure is turned all theway up and it feels like every
moment, every play, every freethrow, every shot makes all the
(27:35):
difference in the world.
You've got the coaches withtheir clipboards, you've got a
number.
They're watching you and inthat moment you feel like that
one mistake and you don't makethe team.
That it's up to you.
It's a very weighty thing.
It's a very weighty thing.
(27:55):
And then on Thursday they'rehaving tryouts.
They walk in, the coach grabsthe team and pulls them together
all the girls that are tryingout and said this is the team.
All of you made it.
You're on the team Today.
We are simply going to practice.
(28:17):
What do you think the girls didthen?
They took a deep sigh of relief, they relaxed, they played free
, they were free to make amistake, to try new things.
They had fun, they had freedom,they had joy, they took risk,
(28:42):
they tried Eurosteps, they triednew things.
Why?
Because the verdict was in, thepressure was off, and that is
what it feels like with Jesus.
That is what life with Jesus islike when Jesus is your
(29:06):
advocate.
The ultimate verdict, the onlyverdict that matters, is in on
you and you are free.
Who is there to condemn you?
No one.
Now do you see why theascension is such a big deal?
Now do you see why it's so good?
(29:29):
Because it gives you hope foryour life, because it means that
in our world, because Jesus isstill at work, it gives you
peace and sustains you, becauseyou're not alone in this world
and, lastly, it gives youfreedom and joy and confidence,
(29:49):
because the verdict is in andJesus loves you and he is
defending and he is youradvocate before God.
The ascension, friends, is goodnews indeed.
Amen, let's pray.
Father, thank you for sendingJesus to live for us, die for us
(30:16):
, rise again for us, but also toascend for us.
Would you forgive us for theways that we neglect the
ascension, for the ways that welive like we're all alone ways
(30:40):
we live, like you're no longerat work and for looking in so
many other places for life andto give us favorable verdicts.
We have nowhere to look but you, and I pray that through your
spirit you would help us to havea new appreciation for the fact
that you are now raised andascended and seated at the right
(31:01):
hand of God.
We ask these things in Jesus'name, amen.
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