Why Celebrate Ascension? (Part II)

Why celebrate Ascension?

Yesterday, we were reminded that as we celebrate our Lord’s ascension into heaven, we have opportunity to focus on the comforting truth of Christ’s rule at the Father’s right hand. We were reminded how Christ rules all things for us even when we have to bear a heavy and painful cross in this life.

On this, the Festival of the Ascension of Our Lord, we are reminded of two more reasons to celebrate Ascension–Christ’s promise to be with us to the very end of the age and his promise to return on the Last Day just as he departed, which motivates us with urgency to go out as his Gospel witnesses to the ends of the earth.

As you celebrate our Lord’s ascension today, here is a selection on those very reasons from Prof. John P. Meyer’s discussion of Augsburg Confession, Article III in his Studies in the Augsburg Confession. [By the way, for those unfamiliar with this book, these selections were originally part of a series of articles from 1940-1946 in The Northwestern Lutheran (now known as Forward in Christ), the Wisconsin Synod's magazine for laypeople. The articles were put into book form for use in the Augsburg Confession course at Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary. It is a relatively easy read with bottomless theological depth!]

Article III concludes, “The same Christ will openly come again to judge the living and the dead, and so forth, according to the Apostles’ Creed” (CA III:6 - Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions [2nd Edition], 2006). (All emphases are his.) Have a blessed Ascension celebration!

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The same Christ shall openly come again.

When Jesus ascended into heaven before the eyes of his disciples, after a cloud had hidden him from view, they stood there as though rooted to the spot, wistfully looking after him. They realized that they had seen him with their mortal eyes for the last time, and their hearts were overwhelmed by the thought.

Then there stood with them two men dressed in white who said unto them, “Men of Galilee…why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven” (Ac 1:11).

This same Jesus–and not another. This same Jesus–in whose person two natures, the one truly divine and the other truly human, are wonderfully and inseparably conjoined. This same Jesus–with the same heart still flowing over with his rich love toward poor sinners. This same Jesus–still engaged in the same work of redemption.

There are different phases in his work. The first required his personal presence here on earth in the state of humiliation. He had something both to do and to teach (Ac 1:1). He had to suffer and die in our stead as the Lamb of God most holy, and he had to proclaim that now the kingdom of God is at hand.

The second phase of his redemptive work is now in progress while he in the state of exaltation is sitting at the right hand of the Father, reigning over all creatures and sending forth his Holy Spirit. During this second phase he is still on earth, though not in visible form. He gave his promise, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Mt 28:20).

For the duration of this second phase, he has conferred the great honor on us that he appointed us as God’s fellow workers (2 Co 6:1). We are helpers of Jesus Christ in his great work of saving the world! Who is equal to such a task? (2 Co 2:16). The Holy Spirit is inseparably united with the word of the gospel. Where the gospel is, there is also the Holy Spirit; but where the gospel is not preached, no Holy Spirit will be poured out. Jesus committed the gospel to us. He commanded us to preach it to all creation (Mk 16:15). We are to proclaim it not by word of mouth only; we are to be living monuments to its saving power also by our holy living, being not conformed to the pattern of this world but being transformed by the renewing of our mind (Ro 12:2). Yes, he has even deigned to elevate our suffering to be an effective factor in his kingdom and assures us that it is a gift from him not only to believe on him but also to suffer for him. (Php 1:29).

The end of the second phase will be reached, and the third phase will be upon us when the same Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead…. Today we wish to ponder a little more on the reaction Christ expects to produce in us by announcing the coming of the third phase.

Christ’s return for judgment marks the end of time, the end of the present world. Then also all gospel preaching will come to an end. Whoever has not heard the gospel by then will never hear it throughout eternity.

We know how earnestly Christ desires to have all men saved. He willingly died on the cross to save them. Should not this same mind be also in us? As Christ was actuated throughout his state of humiliation by that one urge, to save sinners, should not we also? What is the value of all earthly possessions when compared with a soul’s salvation? What is the importance of one’s personal comfort beside the eternal fate of a soul? What, though we suffer much and must even lay down our life, if through our sacrifice a soul can be brought to heaven? If the love which moved Christ moves us only a little, we shall feel ashamed to attach our hearts to the things of this earth in even the slightest degree; we shall gladly sacrifice all in the interest of gospel work.

Nor shall we waste any time. We know that Christ will return and put an end to our work. But we do not know when he will return. He did not know it himself, and he did not lose any time brooding over the question. He left it entirely to his Father. But he faithfully went about his Father’s business. He conscientiously redeemed every minute of his time. He worked while it was day, before the night came, when no one can work (Jn 9:4). Should not we do likewise?

And we remember that through our service Jesus would send his Holy Spirit into the world to sanctify men. The gospel is the vessel which contains the Holy Spirit. Should we then not be very careful in handling the gospel? We bear in mind, it is not the force of human knowledge and understanding (and of having a sevenfold Ph.D) through which the Spirit comes–nor is it human art and oratory, nor is it numbers, nor organizations. It is the gospel, the gospel alone, the gospel in all its simplicity, that conveys the Holy Spirit. Must we then not bend every effort to present the gospel in its fullness and in its purity to the world, just as Jesus entrusted it to us?

“Why do you stand here looking into the sky?” the angels said. This same Jesus shall come again. Let us then get busy with the strength the Lord has given us, and under his gracious protection let us preach the gospel to every creature so that on his return he may be pleased with the harvest of saved souls.

From Studies in the Augsburg Confession, by J. P. Meyer, pages 63-65
(c) 1995 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission.