Sunday Evening Sermon

Preached by John Gaines at Leonard Street Church of Christ

May 11, 2003

1. Acts 1:9 records a remarkable experience of the eleven remaining apostles. The historian Luke wrote Acts 1:9 (NKJV) Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. Jesus physically, bodily, ascended up into the air and out of sight in the clouds.

2. The apostles stood watching Him go. They continued gazing up into the heavens. Two men in white apparel (surely, angels) appeared and spoke to them, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." [Acts 1:11 (NKJV)].

3. They returned to Jerusalem from Mount Olivet where the ascension had taken place. A week and a half later, the events of the Day of Pentecost took place and Christ's church had its beginning on earth. Let's spend our time tonight, however, thinking of lessons we can learn from the mountaintop where Jesus returned to heaven.

I. JESUS ASCENDED BECAUSE HE HAD FINISHED HIS MISSION.

A. Surely the apostles must have felt forsaken.

1. They were part of a very small group. Only 11 apostles. The total number of disciples numbered only about 120 [Acts 1:15]. Out of all the multitude which had gathered around Jesus when He was working miracles, only 120 people were left. How could Jesus leave behind this small group to accomplish His work in the world? How would they ever be able to get the job done?

2. There was so much the apostles still needed to learn. They believed in Jesus. They were ready to obey Him. But there were so many things the apostles did not yet understand.

a. They weren't clear about the nature of the kingdom. Jesus had said, "For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you." [Luke 17:21 (NKJV)]. They didn't get that because they were looking for an earthly kingdom. Why, just before Jesus ascended, they had asked Him, "Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?" [Acts 1:6 (NKJV)]

b. They knew Jesus had promised that He would send the Comforter to guide them into all truth [John 16:13 (NKJV) "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.]

3. They knew that they had a tremendous job ahead of them. Jesus had commanded them to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." [Mark 16:15 (NKJV)] The task must have seemed very great to this small band of men.

B. Yet Jesus had spoken as He hung on the cross and said, "It is finished." [John 19:30]. Those words were not a sigh of defeat; they were a cry of victory!

C. Jesus would not have left if His work had been unfinished.

1. Humanity needed a redeemer. "Corruptible things" of this world could not accomplish the task. Only the precious blood of Christ could redeem us. [1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV) knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.]

2. The sacrifices of the high priests under the Law of Moses could not bring about true forgiveness [Hebrews 10:4 (NKJV) For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.] Jesus offered the perfect sacrifice [Hebrews 7:27 (NKJV) who does not need daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the people's, for this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.] Jesus appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. [Hebrews 9:26 (NKJV)]. No further sacrifice will ever be needed.

3. Jesus paid the ultimate price for us. He is our "propitiation" [1 John 2:2 (NKJV) And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.] Jesus' death on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God's love [1 John 4:10 (NKJV) In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.]

II. JESUS ASCENDED BECAUSE IT WAS TIME FOR OUR WORK TO BEGIN.

A. The Great Commission gives the task of spreading the good news to human beings.

1. Jesus spoke to the apostles [John 20:21 (NKJV) So Jesus said to them again, "Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you."]

2. Those taught are to teach others who teach still others. The chain reaction of evangelism is God's divine plan to spread the word to the whole world [2 Timothy 2:2 (NKJV) And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.]

3. Consider how things would be if Jesus were on the earth today. With the media frenzy that surrounds and hampers ordinary celebrities, what would the reaction be if Jesus were on the earth working miracles and preaching today?

a. We might reason, "Everybody would be attracted. If Jesus were here, we'd have no trouble reaching the whole world."

b. Think more carefully. When Jesus was here, many came because He fed them and provided an interesting show. Jesus attracted great crowds, but when the cost of discipleship became evident, many turned back and "walked with Him no more" [John 6:66].

B. We can convert the lost today by the power of truth. God never planned for miracles to continue down through the ages. The New Testament makes it clear that prophecies will fail and tongues will cease [1 Corinthians 13:8]. However, the word of God lives and abides forever [1 Peter 1:23].

1. Faith comes by hearing the word of God [Romans 10:17]

2. People must be taught to be doers of the word [James 1:21-22 (NKJV) Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.]

3. Our job is to "teach all nations" [Matthew 28:19]. Jesus promises to be with us always as we carry out the work Christ has given us to do [Matthew 28:20 (NKJV) "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." ]

III. JESUS ASCENDED TO JUSTIFY OUR EXPECTATION FOR HIS RETURN.

A. Jesus went to His Father.

1. After His resurrection, He told Mary Magdalene, "I have not yet ascended to My Father" [John 20:17 (NKJV)]

2. He went to prepare a place for us [John 14:1-4 (NKJV) "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 "And where I go you know, and the way you know."]

3. Jesus is now seated at the right hand of God [Ephesians 1:19-20 (NKJV) and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,]

B. The same Christ who left will return.

1. We have the angels' promise -- Acts 1:11 (NKJV) "This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

2. Every eye will see Him when He returns [Revelation 1:7 (NKJV) Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.]

C. When Jesus returns, it will be for a different purpose.

1. Contrary to the beliefs of many, He will not come to reign on the earth.

a. Jesus is now king over His kingdom [Colossians 1:13 (NKJV) He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,]

b. Jesus will deliver up the kingdom to His father [1 Corinthians 15:24 (NKJV) Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.]

c. When Jesus returns, the living and the dead will be caught up to meet Him in the air [1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NKJV) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.]

2. Jesus' purpose in coming to earth the first time was to save us [Luke 19:10 (NKJV) "for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."] He was named Jesus "for He will save His people from their sins." [Matthew 1:21 (NKJV)].

3. When He returns, it will be to judge us [Matthew 25:31 (NKJV) "When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory.] Everyone must appear before the judgment seat of Christ [2 Corinthians 5:10].

CONCLUSION

1. Jesus' time on earth the first time can be classified as "Mission accomplished."

2. His ascension into the clouds gives evidence of the certainty that He will come again.