Celebrating the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Sunday, May 20th, 2012: “Our Ascended King” (Acts 1:1-11)

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Gospel or the Good News that we are saved and rescued from sin, death, and the power of the devil consists specifically of the saving work that Jesus Christ conducted — which could be performed only in His person as the God-man — and these works include His taking on our flesh (the incarnation), His living to fulfill all righteousness/keeping God’s law in our stead (His active obedience), His dying in our stead and shedding His blood to cover our sins (His holy atonement on the cross), and His conquering death and grave for us (His resurrection).

But don’t look now, I left something out, which — unfortunately — is something that Christians do all of the time. I left out His being lifted up into heaven after his 40-day/Easter-season appearances (His ascension).

The holy ascension of Christ into heaven does not mean that Jesus is confined to a heavenly location. Rather, it was — like many of Christ’s miracles — something which for the sake of the disciples could be empirically observed. They could in this way make the connection between the person and ministry of Jesus Christ, and the power of God made manifest through these.

But again, this was not for Jesus to say, “I am going to be confined now and far away,” rather it was a physical manifestation that the Son of God was rising to heavenly glory. Such a state of affairs does not in any way imply limitation, but precisely the opposite. The One who was ascended is the Lord of all power. He ascends to punctuate the power of His saving ministry: to say that He is limitless and fills the universe with His glory! Christ who has ascended is the One who rules His Church and guides His people. As this One, He is also able to be — even bodily — present with His people on earth. His ascension says: “I have all power to be with you wherever you go my dear child!”

This is a supreme comfort for us dear Christians. Our Savior is not weak in any way, but mighty and powerful to save and to help us in every way. Afterall, He is ascended and as the ascended One, nothing can withstand His will to bless you dear Christian. We pray His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…He exerts that will in the form of His grace to shower you with God’s love and mercy, to keep you in the forgiveness of sins, to guarantee that in Him you have life eternal. You are blessed because your eternal Savior reigns; His ascension testifies to this truth!

In Christ,

Dr. Espinosa

• Share