Sermon Illustrations for Ascension of the Lord (2024)
Illustration
Acts 1:1-11
As I write this, world events have inspired any number of Christians in my area to speculate that these are clear signs of the end. By the time you read this those great events will be history, but don’t worry, stuff is happening as you read this that is causing some to speculate those current events are clear signs of the end.
There’s no question that according to scripture God the Creator, will end history at a time in accordance with the Divine Will. That will be a day of rejoicing – for somebody. But one of the qualifications for being counted as part of God’s people is not staring at the sky waiting for the return of Jesus. That’s obvious not only through his own words, but the words of the “two men in white robes,” quite possibly angels, who say to the apostles staring up in the sky where Jesus disappeared, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the saw way you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
This is a great way to begin a book that beings with the various and sundry acts of the apostles and continues far past chapter 28 into our own day and our own lives. We’re a part of this story, and if we’re to pay attention to the Word of God at all, it becomes clear that we need to be about the business of the kingdom, and not engaged in some sort of unbiblical calculations.
Frank R.
* * *
Acts 1:1-11
Preaching a sermon on the Lesson, Martin Luther once proclaimed:
For that reason Christ ascended on high and led captivity, or sin captive. It is as though He said, I ascend to heaven ... to take captive the captivity which has lain on my Christians and believers... it’s your turn [sin] to be taken captive and be made a slave to yourself. (Complete Sermons, Vol.6, p.120)
... He ensnared man’s perpetual enemies and captors, and the devil, who had taken the entire world captive. He imprisoned them, and the end result is that even though sin and the devil diametrically oppose me and want to torment me, nevertheless, when I cling to Christ, they cannot overcome me. (Ibid., p.122)
Famed modern Catholic theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin elaborates on what having Christ the victor entails for the world and for us:
Now that humanity has become conscious of the movement which carries it onwards, it has more and more need of finding... an infinite objective... And what is this infinity? The effect of twenty centuries... has been precisely to show us that the Baby of Bethlehem, the Man on the Cross, is also the Principle of all movement and the unifying Centre of the world... (Hymn of the Universe, p.139)
Mark E.
* * *
Acts 1:1-11
Jesus reminds us that the Holy Spirit will come to us, even if we don’t know when or where. We are called to have confidence in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Have you had an encounter, a Holy Spirit moment?
When I am leading worship, I hope that the Holy Spirit is present in the sanctuary. When I am praying, I hope the Holy Spirit will guide me and give me wisdom. When I write a sermon message, I trust that through the Holy Spirit, the words the congregation needs to hear will be written and spoken by me. I call on the Holy Spirit when I feel lost, disconnected, or alone. I call on the Holy Spirit when I am afraid.
And I trust that the Holy Spirit will come. For me the opposite of fear, the fear I sometimes feel, is trust – trust in God, trust in Jesus and trust in the Holy Spirit.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Ephesians 1:15-23
The Lion King tells the story of a king's ascent. At the beginning of the movie, young Simba is lifted before the animals of the kingdom as they bow before him. He is their future king. The rest of the story describes Simba's leaving Pride Rock and his eventual homecoming. When Simba returns, he defeats his uncle Scar and claims his place as king. The movie ends with his son being lifted up before the animals of the kingdom as the heir to the throne.
In a way much more meaningful and powerful than Walt Disney animators could imagine, God lifted up his son as the king. “God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come” (vs. 20-21). Jesus is King and Lord of all. Dwight L. Moody once proclaimed, “Death may be the King of terrors... but Jesus is the King of kings!”
Bill T.
* * *
Ephesians 1:15-23
This passage, which is one long sentence, though the NRSVue divides it up into three sentences, is a great example of the way Paul dictated his letters, sometimes seemingly off the cuff. We should not picture someone sitting down, pen in hand, writing and rewriting a carefully reasoned essay. Paul was dictating an urgent letter through a professional scribe who probably struggled to keep up with his dictation!
It’s a good choice to go with the Ascension of the Lord, because God has put all things under the feet of Jesus, as he is raised up high into his inheritance. We too share in what Paul calls “…his glorious inheritance,” and it is Paul’s prayer that we may gain knowledge of —
The hope in our calling;
The wealth of his inheritance; and
The greatness of his power
Seeing Jesus raised on high in glory confirms this knowledge, fulfilled with the resurrection of the dead, and that is the cause for Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving.
Frank R.
* * *
Luke 24:44-53
Pope Benedict XVI commented on the Ascension, writing:
On the other hand, the Ascension of Christ points to the opposite end of human existence... This existence embraces, as the opposite pole to utter solitude, to the untouchability of rejected love, the possibility of contact with all other men through the medium of contact with the divine live itself... (Introduction To Christianity, p.312)
In the same spirit, concerning the Ascension, Martin Luther proclaimed in a sermon on this Festival Day the implications of this new reality for how we live:
However, if sin is to be taken captive [as Christ has on Ascension Day], then I, who believe in Christ, must live in such a manner that hatred and jealousy toward my neighbor and other sins do not overpower me... We must, therefore, understand this correctly. By His Ascension and preaching of faith Christ does not want to make lax and indolent Christians... (Complete Sermons, Vol.6, pp.122-123)
Of course the Reformer hastens to add elsewhere that God’s great love makes us willingly do His will (Complete Sermons, Vol.1/2, p.316). About such forgiving love he writes:
But now forgiveness is so great and powerful, that God not only forgives the former sins you have committed; but looks through His fingers and forgives the sins you will commit. (Ibid., p.317)
Mark E.
* * *
Luke 24:44-53
Oh, how the disciples must have rejoiced when the scriptures were opened to them, when they felt the blessing of Jesus, and when they saw him ascend into the heavens. No wonder they went back to Jerusalem filled with joy and worshipped in the temple continually.
Have you ever had a moment when the scriptures were opened to you, an aha moment? How did that feel? Did it fill you with joy and hope, with a need and desire to worship? I have had that experience when my heart sang with the presence of God. In between those times I wait, sometimes impatiently, for the Holy Spirit to rest on me once again. Sometimes I almost hold my breath waiting for the next time I will feel the Holy Spirit. I believe in the promise of Jesus, that the Holy Spirit will come, and while I may not bodily ascend into the heavens, my heart and soul reside there, even for the briefest of moments. I hope you have those moments as well.
Bonnie B.
As I write this, world events have inspired any number of Christians in my area to speculate that these are clear signs of the end. By the time you read this those great events will be history, but don’t worry, stuff is happening as you read this that is causing some to speculate those current events are clear signs of the end.
There’s no question that according to scripture God the Creator, will end history at a time in accordance with the Divine Will. That will be a day of rejoicing – for somebody. But one of the qualifications for being counted as part of God’s people is not staring at the sky waiting for the return of Jesus. That’s obvious not only through his own words, but the words of the “two men in white robes,” quite possibly angels, who say to the apostles staring up in the sky where Jesus disappeared, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the saw way you saw him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
This is a great way to begin a book that beings with the various and sundry acts of the apostles and continues far past chapter 28 into our own day and our own lives. We’re a part of this story, and if we’re to pay attention to the Word of God at all, it becomes clear that we need to be about the business of the kingdom, and not engaged in some sort of unbiblical calculations.
Frank R.
* * *
Acts 1:1-11
Preaching a sermon on the Lesson, Martin Luther once proclaimed:
For that reason Christ ascended on high and led captivity, or sin captive. It is as though He said, I ascend to heaven ... to take captive the captivity which has lain on my Christians and believers... it’s your turn [sin] to be taken captive and be made a slave to yourself. (Complete Sermons, Vol.6, p.120)
... He ensnared man’s perpetual enemies and captors, and the devil, who had taken the entire world captive. He imprisoned them, and the end result is that even though sin and the devil diametrically oppose me and want to torment me, nevertheless, when I cling to Christ, they cannot overcome me. (Ibid., p.122)
Famed modern Catholic theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin elaborates on what having Christ the victor entails for the world and for us:
Now that humanity has become conscious of the movement which carries it onwards, it has more and more need of finding... an infinite objective... And what is this infinity? The effect of twenty centuries... has been precisely to show us that the Baby of Bethlehem, the Man on the Cross, is also the Principle of all movement and the unifying Centre of the world... (Hymn of the Universe, p.139)
Mark E.
* * *
Acts 1:1-11
Jesus reminds us that the Holy Spirit will come to us, even if we don’t know when or where. We are called to have confidence in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Have you had an encounter, a Holy Spirit moment?
When I am leading worship, I hope that the Holy Spirit is present in the sanctuary. When I am praying, I hope the Holy Spirit will guide me and give me wisdom. When I write a sermon message, I trust that through the Holy Spirit, the words the congregation needs to hear will be written and spoken by me. I call on the Holy Spirit when I feel lost, disconnected, or alone. I call on the Holy Spirit when I am afraid.
And I trust that the Holy Spirit will come. For me the opposite of fear, the fear I sometimes feel, is trust – trust in God, trust in Jesus and trust in the Holy Spirit.
Bonnie B.
* * *
Ephesians 1:15-23
The Lion King tells the story of a king's ascent. At the beginning of the movie, young Simba is lifted before the animals of the kingdom as they bow before him. He is their future king. The rest of the story describes Simba's leaving Pride Rock and his eventual homecoming. When Simba returns, he defeats his uncle Scar and claims his place as king. The movie ends with his son being lifted up before the animals of the kingdom as the heir to the throne.
In a way much more meaningful and powerful than Walt Disney animators could imagine, God lifted up his son as the king. “God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come” (vs. 20-21). Jesus is King and Lord of all. Dwight L. Moody once proclaimed, “Death may be the King of terrors... but Jesus is the King of kings!”
Bill T.
* * *
Ephesians 1:15-23
This passage, which is one long sentence, though the NRSVue divides it up into three sentences, is a great example of the way Paul dictated his letters, sometimes seemingly off the cuff. We should not picture someone sitting down, pen in hand, writing and rewriting a carefully reasoned essay. Paul was dictating an urgent letter through a professional scribe who probably struggled to keep up with his dictation!
It’s a good choice to go with the Ascension of the Lord, because God has put all things under the feet of Jesus, as he is raised up high into his inheritance. We too share in what Paul calls “…his glorious inheritance,” and it is Paul’s prayer that we may gain knowledge of —
The hope in our calling;
The wealth of his inheritance; and
The greatness of his power
Seeing Jesus raised on high in glory confirms this knowledge, fulfilled with the resurrection of the dead, and that is the cause for Paul’s prayer of thanksgiving.
Frank R.
* * *
Luke 24:44-53
Pope Benedict XVI commented on the Ascension, writing:
On the other hand, the Ascension of Christ points to the opposite end of human existence... This existence embraces, as the opposite pole to utter solitude, to the untouchability of rejected love, the possibility of contact with all other men through the medium of contact with the divine live itself... (Introduction To Christianity, p.312)
In the same spirit, concerning the Ascension, Martin Luther proclaimed in a sermon on this Festival Day the implications of this new reality for how we live:
However, if sin is to be taken captive [as Christ has on Ascension Day], then I, who believe in Christ, must live in such a manner that hatred and jealousy toward my neighbor and other sins do not overpower me... We must, therefore, understand this correctly. By His Ascension and preaching of faith Christ does not want to make lax and indolent Christians... (Complete Sermons, Vol.6, pp.122-123)
Of course the Reformer hastens to add elsewhere that God’s great love makes us willingly do His will (Complete Sermons, Vol.1/2, p.316). About such forgiving love he writes:
But now forgiveness is so great and powerful, that God not only forgives the former sins you have committed; but looks through His fingers and forgives the sins you will commit. (Ibid., p.317)
Mark E.
* * *
Luke 24:44-53
Oh, how the disciples must have rejoiced when the scriptures were opened to them, when they felt the blessing of Jesus, and when they saw him ascend into the heavens. No wonder they went back to Jerusalem filled with joy and worshipped in the temple continually.
Have you ever had a moment when the scriptures were opened to you, an aha moment? How did that feel? Did it fill you with joy and hope, with a need and desire to worship? I have had that experience when my heart sang with the presence of God. In between those times I wait, sometimes impatiently, for the Holy Spirit to rest on me once again. Sometimes I almost hold my breath waiting for the next time I will feel the Holy Spirit. I believe in the promise of Jesus, that the Holy Spirit will come, and while I may not bodily ascend into the heavens, my heart and soul reside there, even for the briefest of moments. I hope you have those moments as well.
Bonnie B.
