Our Savior's Ascension
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 5/17/2012 PM (Ascension Day) |
Text: | Matthew 28:16ff; Acts 1:1-11; Lord's Day 18 |
Psalters: | 309, 59, 183, 302 |
- The Significant Event (five things).
- The disciples saw Jesus rise up and a cloud actively received Him (Acts 1:9).
- His ascension indicates His previous glory (John 3:13; 6:38; Eph. 4:9,10).
- The Savior?s ascension is a change of location ? heaven (Heb. 9:24; John 14:2,3).
- In the ascension Jesus presented His perfect sacrifice to the Father.
- He now is active in heaven at God?s right hand: as King, as Advocate, as Intercessor.
- The significant advantages (five things).
- Now He can be with us in a much closer sense (Matt. 28:20).
- The advantages of His being in heaven as our advocate and intercessor.
- Presenting His sacrificial death to the judgment seat of God, He constantly shows why we are righteous.
- As our intercessor, He constantly pleads for God to bless.
- His ascension is a cause for great joy among believers, though the disciples were initially saddened.
- Essentially the church ascended with Christ, our Head (Heb. 10:19-22).
- Practical results for us (two things).
- As Jesus was other-worldly, so now the members of His body are in this world, but not of it.
- And we increasingly long for heaven (II Cor. 5:2-5; Col. 3:1,2).