The Ascension of Our Lord - Video of Divine Service and Sermon Text
Thank you to Pastor Dave Mueller of Trinity, Goodland and St. John's, Rensselaer; and to Pastor Andrew Keller of St. James, Reynolds for helping to lead the Divine Service at St. Luke.
2026 Ascension of Our Lord Acts 1:1-11 Ephesians 1:15-23 Luke 24:44-53
Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
O Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.
At the beginning of his Gospel of Jesus, Luke informs Theophilus that he, himself, was not an eyewitness of the ministry of Jesus Christ. His gospel is the result of a thorough investigation. He consulted other gospels of Jesus. I presume that he talked to eyewitnesses. He certainly had access. He writes to Theophilus that he wants to provide an orderly account so that Theophilus can have “certainty concerning the things that you have been taught.” After reading any of the other gospels in the canon, you cannot help but notice that Luke pays attention to a lot of detail. Often, more detail than the other gospel writers. This is a good thing because don’t we want our physicians to pay attention to details? The correct diagnosis and the potential cure lie in careful attention to the details of our complaints and symptoms.
I bring this to your attention because I am somewhat intrigued by what is missing as Jesus ascends into heaven. The gospel reading occurs in two different places. Verses 44-49 occurs in Jerusalem. Jesus just revealed himself to Cleopas and the other disciple in the breaking of the bread in the village of Emmaus. You recall that right after that revelation, Cleopas and the other disciple returned to Jerusalem and found the other disciples. While they were all together and talking about what Cleopas and the other disciple reported, Jesus appears in their midst.
They are, of course, startled and frightened. Jesus assures them that he is the same Jesus they knew before the crucifixion. He says, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see.” The gospel reading for today then conveys to all of us who are lovers of God, for that is what Theophilus means, lover of God, additional words that Jesus says in that room.
After that lesson is over, Jesus leads them out to Bethany. This is what I find interesting. The text says, “Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried into heaven.” There is again attention to his body, but no recording of what he was saying. I cannot be the only one that wants to know what that blessing was? Was it the Aaronic blessing? Was it the Trinitarian formula that we encounter in Matthew 28? Was it another offering of “peace be unto you?” Aren’t those last words so important for us to hear?
As Luke is so good at attending to details, and recording words, surely someone remembered what our Lord was saying as he was lifted up? I realize that the Ascension was not something that they had seen before. But, after the resurrection, surely they would come to expect the unexpected? He does keep appearing on roadways and in locked rooms, you know! Didn’t they start to get used to it during those forty days? Certainly, someone must have remembered what Jesus said as he was moving upward.
Why does Luke not record it for our edification, even if it is a commonplace benediction? My suspicion is that Luke thinks that at this point in the narrative, the lovers of God need to focus on something other than Jesus’ words. We need to be reminded that Jesus is God incarnate, fully human, fully God. Luke has us focus on two things. First, we see his uplifted hands. Second, we see his actual ascension.
First, the hands of Jesus. These uplifted hands have blessed so many. To bless is to remember the past actions of our God. From the past faithfulness of our God, we can look into the future with hope. Those hands healed, comforted, and saved people. These hands held carpenter tools and learned Joseph’s trade. These hands know the joy and exhaustion of hard work. These human hands conveyed a divine touch upon those in need. Jesus’ hands made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and made the dumb to speak. These hands lifted the cold, pale, hand of a lifeless little girl, restored her life, and gave her back to her parents.
Those strong, comforting hands gathered little children into his arms to hug and bless them. Those strong hands took hold of Peter and lifted him out of the water when his faith faltered. Those same hands took bread, blessed, broke, and fed thousands of people in one sitting. A few loaves of bread and a few fish fed them all. Those same hands, dipped bread into a bowl at the same time as his betrayer. And, continued on to hold up bread, bless, break, and speak the words of institution. This is my body given for you. This is my blood shed for you.
A short time later, those same hands received the nails that went in and attached Jesus to the instrument of his death. Jesus’ strong hands are pierced because of our sin. They are pierced so that we may all have faith in Him and be comforted by his sacrifice for us. We are saved because He allowed His hands to save us. His hands are held open wide to embrace the sin of the world upon the cross. His whole body bore the weight of our sin, but it began with those hands. Those hands burned with agony as the pain shot through his whole body. His pierced hands bless the disciples as he ascends into heaven.
The second thing we focus upon is his ascension. No human being saw the actual resurrection. Humans felt the earthquake, saw the angels, heard the announcement of his resurrection, beheld in wonder the empty tomb, saw and touched the hands and body of the resurrected Jesus. But the ascension? Lots of eyes saw that! Those same witnesses will in ten more days have yet another profound spiritual experience during the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Jesus says in Luke 24, “behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you.” Jesus ascends so the Holy Spirit can come.
When the Holy Spirit comes, all fear leaves the disciples. The Spirit emboldens their faith and they begin to speak openly, convincingly, of the Good News of Jesus Christ, crucified and risen so that the whole world may believe in Him, be reconciled to God, receive the forgiveness of their sins, and live with the hope and joy of the promise of everlasting life with God.
The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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