Homily for Ascension Day: "The Ascending King"

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Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“And when [Jesus] had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:9-11).

Alleluia! Christ is ascended! He is ascended, indeed! Alleluia!

Today is Ascension Day! In fact, we confess this festival day in our creeds:

• The Nicene Creed puts it this way: “And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.”
• The Apostles’ Creed puts it this way: “He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.”

Luke tells us that Christ ascended 40 days after His bodily resurrection from the dead. Both Christ’s resurrection and His ascension show His exaltation, or His Divineness, His true-Godness. 

Now, Christ’s ascension is not the first time He vanishes from His disciples. Remember, throughout the 40 days since His bodily resurrection, Christ vanished from His companions’ sight. One such example was when Christ made Himself known in the breaking of the bread to the two He walked with to Emmaus (Luke 24:31).

So, during the 40 days, Christ visited many and He vanished from many. But, what happened on the 40^th day was different.

As the disciples were on the Mount of Olives, a short distance east of Jerusalem, they witnessed Jesus being taken up into heaven. They saw with their own eyes Jesus ascending into the clouds.

They stood staring up into the sky in amazement. I’m sure we would have done the same!

So, here they are staring into the sky and with good reason. They are straining their eyes to see Jesus after the cloud hid Him from their sight.

Then, suddenly, two men in white robes speak to them saying: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1:11).

You see, Jesus is coming back! But in the meantime, we are not left to fend for ourselves. He is with us offering us comfort in the Means of Grace: In Holy Baptism, in hearing His Word, and in the Lord’s Supper!

But, He promises to return and when He does no person will be left wondering: Is this really Jesus? “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

On that day, there will be no doubting! For every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess to God that Jesus Christ is Lord!

Every person will see Jesus descend from heaven the same way the disciples saw Jesus ascend into heaven. Some will bow in awe and thanksgiving to the King, others will bow in fear and trembling to the King.

Until that day, remember Jesus has not deserted us. He is involved in our lives! He is here always giving us comfort through His unchanging Word that gives us peace! Amen.