May 12, 2013
The Seventh Sunday of Easter, Ascension Sunday

Today is Ascension Sunday. The Nicene Creed says,

“On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;　　　　 he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. 　　 He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.”

To help us understand why this is important and why this day should be a great celebration, I want to look at it from a different angle today. That is, “What if Jesus had not ascended?”

First, if Jesus had not ascended, leaving this earth physically and going to heaven, I think his enemies would have arrested him and crucified him again. Then of course Jesus would resurrect again. Then his enemies would search for him and kill him again. Then of course Jesus would resurrect again. Then this would be repeated over and over again. Rather than crucifixion, maybe they would try beheading and burning at the stake and scattering his ashes in the sea. But that would not stop the resurrection of Jesus, just like it will not stop the resurrection of the dead at the end of the world.

Second, Jesus needed to be sacrificed only once on the cross to forgive the sin of the world. Jesus did not need to repeat that sacrifice, one time was sufficient.

Third, we might think that if Jesus showed that he could always rise again that people would start to believe in him and start worshiping him, but I do not think so. People are so sinful and so stubborn that they will never accept the truth. That is why it is necessary, as the creed says, “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.” Only then will unbelief and sin be conquered. Of course, some people would see him rise again and again and be convinced. But would they see him only as a miracle worker or as their savior? Faith is really important. We have not seen the resurrected Lord, but yet we believe in him. This faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. In faith we look forward to our own resurrection when Jesus returns. In faith we know our sin, and know that we would probably try to crucify Jesus if we had the chance, but in faith we fully understand that the death of Jesus gives us life as our sin is forgiven, forgotten, and forged into a faith that worships Christ who “is seated at the right hand of the Father.”

Fourth, if Jesus were still physically on this earth, even after nearly 2000 years, even if he still had his enemies who wanted to destroy him (as there really are), where would his headquarters be? Would he have a castle or palace or temple where worshipers would have to go to if they wanted to see him? If it were in Jerusalem, would people who live in other places have to travel to Jerusalem to offer their prayers to him? Then would we have to wait in line for days behind millions of people who also want to pray and request something? Could we go there from Japan? Modern people could send an e-mail, but would Jesus answer all his mail? [This reminds me of a scene in the movie “Bruce Almighty.”] People live all over the world, and they would all be far from Jesus. But since Jesus has ascended into heaven, he is not far from anyone; he is equally close to everyone; he is as close as standing next to us, holding our hand, holding us in his arms, carrying us through the troubles of life. Now Jesus is equally close to everyone. He can hear all our prayers. Jesus can do that because, as the creed says, “he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” Being the “right-hand-man” of the Father, it means that Jesus has the authority and the power to do the will of the Father. The will of the Father is to love us and to forgive us and to save us and to hear our prayers and to answer our prayers. We know that Jesus has the power to answer our prayers, and so we can boldly pray to him. We know that Jesus knows what is best for us and will answer our prayers in the best way for us.

Fifth, if Jesus had not ascended and was still here on earth with his enemies still trying to kill him, it would not be heaven on earth; it would not be the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God.

Sixth, it was necessary for Jesus to ascend into heaven so that he can once again descend to this earth. “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.” This is one of the greatest teachings of Christianity. This is what makes it worthwhile to be a Christian. It gives meaning to life because there is the hope. It means we also have to take responsibility for our lives. There are consequences. There is judgment. There is salvation, but there is also damnation. The Bible does not teach universal salvation of even the unbelievers. That is why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit on Pentecost so that the disciples could proclaim the Gospel to the world. At his ascension Jesus said, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7-8). Luke 24 says, “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, ‘This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.’” And so today we remember that Christ gave us the mission to continue his work on earth. His work was to die on the cross and our work is to proclaim what Jesus did. Jesus died to forgive our sin. It is this forgiveness that makes the return of Jesus a joyous event to look forward to. And that is what the Church proclaims.

And Seventh, there is joy because, “his kingdom will have no end.” There is joy because this is a celebration of salvation, an anticipation of our own ascension into heaven. It is also a time to remember those whom we love who have already died and so are now with the Lord. We often use comforting words like, “He has died and gone to heaven.” “She was called by the Lord to come home to heaven.”

Let us pray.
“Almighty God, as Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ascended into the heavens, so may we also ascend in heart and mind and continually dwell there with Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”

Michael Nearhood, Pastor
Okinawa Lutheran Church

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