Listen to Sermon
Pastor Tom Johnson, May 28, 2017
The Ascension is sometimes called the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The eternal Son of God left heaven to be born the Child in Bethlehem. He grew in stature before God and people. He takes the Scripture in his hands and says that he is the promised Messiah chosen to bring the good news. He baptizes to bring forgiveness. He lifts his arms in thanksgiving and feeds the 5,000. He heals the sick by his touch. He takes up his cross. He spreads his arms and hands in death. But just before he gives up his spirit, he forgives them for they did not know what they were doing and he promises the other on the cross that he will be with Jesus in paradise that very day. Early that third day—in the darkness just before dawn—Jesus lifts up his hands in triumph over our sin. Death has been swallowed up in victory! He appears to his disciples. Some doubt. Jesus appears before them and says “Peace!” and shows them his nail-scarred hands and side. He tells Thomas to put his fingers and hands on his eternal wounds and says, “Blessed are those who believe yet have not seen or touched.”
His hands reached out to people with the same struggles as you and me. He tried to wrap his arms around every sinner and draw them to himself. Those hands have been lifted up so many times. And each time he does so, Jesus invites into a deeper and more meaningful relationship with him. He has a glorious, resurrected body. And one of the peculiar things about him is that the marks in his hands and side will never go away. They will forever remind us of the price Jesus paid for our sin and to purchase a place for us in heaven. It is a memorial—a reminder of the scars, wounds, suffering, and death of our Savior. Just as we as a nation remember the price many paid so that we can enjoy our freedoms. Jesus gave himself on earth to bring us forgiveness and eternal life. And now he gives himself in heaven to bring us that same forgiveness and eternal life. That’s why he lifts up his hands toward them.
He is saying with one gesture a summary of all he brings—peace, forgiveness, blessing, and eternal life. It is a universal sign of love. The source of this love is the Person and work of Jesus. He is Prophet whose message of hope and life goes out of his mouth with outstretched arms. He is like the prophet Moses, who lifts up his voice and hands and God parts the Red Sea and delivers them out of slavery into freedom. He is Priest whose hands bless, adopt, and bring forgiveness. He is like the priest Aaron who was told to lift up his hands and to anoint them with God’s presence and say those familiar words: “The Lord bless you and keep you, make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you, the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.” So the Priest Aaron put the Lord’s Name on his people. And so we are Christian’s by the hands of Christ. He is King whose reach is as far as the east is from the west. His Kingdom extends from heaven to earth. And now he has ascended to the strong hand of the Father. His hands of blessing are still extended out to you and me. He is present in our community and fellowship. His voice speaks through his Word. He gives his Body and Blood to strengthen and preserve our faith and lives in him. And he sends us out by his Spirit to tell the nations the good news.
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