0:00

This week on the Word of

0:02

the Lord Endures Forever, we finish

0:04

up verse Peter with Shepherd the

0:06

Flock and a Roaring Lion. Then

0:08

we plow on into second Peter

0:10

with introduction, an entrance into

0:12

the Eternal Kingdom, and by way

0:14

of reminder, join me, Pastor Will

0:17

Whedon, for the Word of the

0:19

Lord Endures Forever, your daily 15-minute

0:21

verse-by-verse Bible study on demand. Listen

0:24

at thewordendures.org or your

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favorite podcast provider. The

0:29

following is an encore presentation of Issues,

0:31

etc. The

1:07

Ascension hymn up through endless ranks

1:10

of angels talking about Christ ascending

1:12

into heaven. And the biggest recording

1:14

of this actually comes in two

1:16

places. The very end of

1:19

Luke's gospel and then in another book

1:21

by the evangelist Luke, the beginning of

1:24

the Acts of the Apostles. Why does it

1:26

end the gospel and begin the Acts

1:29

of the Apostles? Greetings and welcome

1:32

to Issues, etc., coming to you live from the

1:34

studios of Lutheran Public Radio on this Ascension Day.

1:37

I'm Todd Wilkin. Thanks for tuning us in.

1:39

Dr. Arthur Just will join us to talk

1:41

about the Ascension of Christ, and then we'll

1:43

spend some time talking about Rick Warren, female

1:45

pastors on the Southern Baptist Convention with Dr.

1:48

Denny Burke of Boyce College. Dr.

1:50

Arthur Just is professor of New Testament

1:52

at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

1:56

He's author of the two-volume Concordia Commentary on

1:58

Luke and the book Heaven Honors.

2:00

the gifts of Christ in the divine service.

2:02

Dr. Jest, welcome back. Wonderful

2:04

to be with you on this day of the

2:06

ascension of our Lord. Is there

2:09

any significance to Jesus' ascension

2:11

40 days after his resurrection?

2:14

I think there is. One of the great numbers

2:16

in Scripture is the 40 days. You

2:20

have the 40 years in the wilderness of

2:22

the children of Israel and the Exodus. 40

2:25

days for Jesus' temptation by Satan,

2:28

and then of course the

2:30

40 years between the death of Jesus and

2:32

the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. It's

2:36

sort of a time of fullness,

2:38

and those 40 days

2:41

come right at the end of the great

2:43

50 days, which is in

2:45

some ways an even more important

2:47

number. That's of course from Easter

2:49

Sunday to Pentecost, the 7 times

2:51

7 plus 1, the

2:53

eschatological number. But

2:56

it's a significant moment not

2:58

only in the ministry of Jesus, but

3:01

in the life of the church. In some

3:03

ways, you don't have the full gospel unless

3:05

you have the ascension. The

3:08

40 days does link it with all those other

3:10

important moments, and in

3:13

some ways for me the most important one

3:15

is the Exodus, because it

3:17

is the time when they come into the Promised

3:19

Land, and it is the

3:21

movement of Jesus into the world, and

3:24

out of the world. Our creed has

3:27

that journey of Jesus, that brink again

3:30

with the incarnation at the annunciation.

3:33

And then only Luke has both of these, and

3:36

then at the end of course the ascension back to

3:38

heaven. So in a way,

3:40

that's Jesus' big journey, and in a

3:42

way that is his exodus. And

3:45

that's the language that Luke uses in

3:47

the transfiguration when Moses and Elijah come

3:49

down. The Exodus, he was

3:51

about to fulfill in Jerusalem. And

3:54

I think they're pointing to that journey

3:56

from heaven back to heaven, and

3:58

certainly the end of that journey. is

4:00

the ascension. Luke also has

4:02

in 951 the turning point of Jesus when he

4:04

turns his

4:08

face to go to Jerusalem for his lifting

4:10

up. And I think

4:12

again that refers to his suffering, death,

4:14

and resurrection like the Exodus does, but

4:17

it also refers to his ascension. And

4:20

I think what Luke teaches us in

4:22

recording the ascension at the end of

4:25

his gospel, and then of course at the

4:27

very beginning of this second volume Acts, is

4:30

that you know you can talk about the suffering,

4:32

death, resurrection of Jesus, but you

4:35

must always include the ascension because that's

4:37

the Exodus. That's the lifting

4:39

up. And so I think 40

4:41

is a very important number. How

4:45

does the ascension itself fit into the saving

4:47

work of Jesus? Well

4:50

it is I think something that

4:52

is captured best by

4:54

the hymn that we sang in chapel

4:56

this morning, and you and I probably

4:59

do more hymn studies than anything else, and

5:02

it's hymn I think it's 494 in

5:05

LSB, See the Conqueror

5:07

Mounts in Triumph. It's

5:09

by Christopher Wordsworth who is I think the

5:11

nephew of William, the famous poet, but

5:14

his fifth verse I think

5:16

describes why the ascension is so important.

5:18

And I always tell students for

5:21

my money it may be the greatest verse

5:23

in our hymnals, and I'm

5:25

gonna read it and then we can talk about it. He

5:29

has raised our human nature on

5:32

the clouds to God's right hand. There

5:35

we sit in heavenly places, there

5:38

with him in glory stand. Jesus

5:41

reigns, adored by angels.

5:44

Man with God is on the throne.

5:46

By our

5:49

mighty Lord's ascension we

5:51

by faith behold our

5:53

own. Now I Think you have

5:55

it all right there that our human

5:57

nature goes with Jesus. The

6:00

ascension into heaven. so we are and

6:02

thrown didn't have a now with Christ

6:04

and that's by faith. We behold our

6:06

own, We behold who we are and

6:08

Man with God is on the throne.

6:11

I. Think it's a profound moment

6:13

on so many levels, but

6:15

I think theologically for us

6:18

we are now already in

6:20

heaven. And Heaven is already

6:22

here on earth in cries,

6:24

goes wherever Christ as their

6:26

is heaven, and so on.

6:28

So many different levels. The

6:31

Ascension is. Important.

6:34

Not only to see that movement of Jesus

6:36

to heaven, but to notice that he's gonna

6:38

be with the snow in a new way.

6:40

And that's one of the things that looks

6:43

gospel. A soap. Particular. About

6:45

showing us and you really can't read

6:47

the Ascension apart from the I'm A

6:49

A story because the Emir story which

6:51

of course proceeds it and now Luke

6:53

Twenty Four talks about how he disappears

6:56

from them. Now it's not the Ascension

6:58

but it is a hint of was

7:00

going to happen and course at the

7:02

end of John's gospel or I am

7:05

going. You cannot go the in some

7:07

ways of speaking of his cross there

7:09

but he's also speaking of the fact

7:11

that he is going to heaven and

7:13

he's. Gonna leave them behind and yet

7:16

as this him says he is also

7:18

taking them into heaven with him and

7:20

so a mass gone back to amass

7:22

a man's teaches us that the lord

7:24

are going to be with us and

7:26

the same way. He's going

7:28

to be with us in the preaching the

7:31

gospel. And. The Lord's Supper and

7:33

those of the structures in the Liturgy

7:35

that may as talks about that he

7:37

is with them, on the things on

7:39

the road and how he was known

7:41

to them in the breaking at the

7:43

bread. And you know his Ascension shows

7:45

them that. Yeah, it's it's gonna be

7:48

different now. He's not gonna be there.

7:51

In the flesh sitting and table with

7:53

them, walking with them, teaching them but

7:55

he still going to be with them.

7:58

And. That he needs to leave. So

8:01

that the promise of the spirit

8:03

can come and that the spirit

8:05

of Jesus you know which is

8:07

how we always think of the

8:09

spirit. The spirit of Jesus will

8:11

allow. The. Church to

8:13

understand how he is now

8:15

present among us. In. The

8:18

preaching and the sacraments. Why?

8:21

Is the ascension necessary? Well.

8:25

I stick. I just in a

8:27

way gave a sense of why

8:29

it's necessary because we're not going

8:31

to have him walk with us

8:33

and talk with us as as

8:35

he did with the Disciples. He's

8:37

gonna be present in a new

8:39

way and in some ways. As

8:42

Peter says in his Epistle and

8:44

a better way and I think

8:46

the Ascension is to show us

8:48

the journey of Jesus is over.

8:50

He has suffered, died, and he

8:52

has been raised and now ascended

8:54

to the right hand. The Father

8:56

and that he he rules over

8:58

his enemies their from the right

9:00

hand of the father and that

9:02

right hand. The Father is in

9:04

heaven but it's also the right

9:06

handed the Father is is had

9:08

our alter were by word and

9:10

sacrament. He continues to dwell among

9:12

us. If. The

9:15

Ascension hadn't happened that would not

9:17

have been possible so to speak

9:19

and it prepares for the coming

9:21

of the spirit that twice the

9:23

part of acts that that beginning

9:25

of acts. I should say that

9:27

is that hinge you know with

9:29

the Ascension at the very end

9:31

of look and act at the

9:33

very beginning of luke second volume

9:35

and mean both of them talk

9:37

about the coming of the promise

9:39

and that the promise must be

9:41

given and that that promise of

9:43

the spirit is the. Way in which

9:45

Jesus is going to be present now. That

9:48

are there just is. Our guest

9:50

were discussing the Ascension of Christ.

9:52

When we come back we will

9:55

talk about how loose ends his

9:57

gospel and begins acts with the

9:59

census. This.

10:15

Week on the word of the Lord

10:17

indoors for ever. We finish up first

10:19

Peter with shepherd the flock and are

10:21

roaring lion. Then we plow on into

10:24

a second Peter with introduction. And.

10:26

Entrance into the Eternal Kingdom And

10:28

by way of reminder, join me

10:30

Pester Wil Wheaton for the Word

10:33

of the Lord Indoors For ever

10:35

your daily fifteen minute verse by

10:37

verse Bible study on Demand, listen

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prayer? Why do Christians price? How do

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we pray? What's a select? We talk

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about that in church once I collect

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Huddle I pray a collect for this

10:52

question and many others like it's pick

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14:09

Loot in Public Radio choir with the

14:11

Ascension him a him of glory let

14:13

us sing were talking about the Ascension

14:15

Christ's Doctor Arthur just is. have guessed

14:17

I'm Todd Vulcan. this is issues, etc.

14:21

Doctor. Just why did Luke end

14:23

his gospel and begin the Book

14:25

of Acts with The Ascension? Lucas

14:29

very concerned was showing the

14:31

entire kind of program of

14:34

salvation and one of really

14:36

remarkable things about the very

14:38

amazon Eleven vs in Acts.

14:41

The amazing thing about it

14:43

is that it sort of

14:46

summarizes. Everything the Jesus

14:48

did. The. Mean, it talks

14:51

about what he began to do

14:53

in teach and I always tell

14:55

students that that's the profit crystal. And

14:57

than that, Jesus comes as a profit,

14:59

performing miracles and teaching. That's the the

15:02

main thing that he does. And by

15:04

doing that, he shows that the creator

15:06

has come to his creation to

15:08

make all things new. and then it

15:11

says until the day when he was

15:13

taken up. now that's the same language

15:15

that's used and nine fifty one that

15:18

he's gonna be taken up. But

15:21

it also references the Holy Spirit

15:23

after he had given the command

15:25

through the holy spirit to the

15:27

Apostles whom he had chosen. Now

15:29

that's the very end of Luke.

15:31

That's where he talks after the

15:33

kind of the final statement of

15:36

his passion and that such a

15:38

beautiful moment in the gospel of

15:40

Luke. it's of a summary of

15:42

the entire docile and I think

15:44

this is and Luke Twenty Four,

15:46

Forty Four and following I think

15:48

it's were Luke shows. Through

15:51

the final teaching of Jesus how

15:53

the gospel is to be preached,

15:56

that it has to be based on the old

15:58

testament that it has to

16:01

talk about the suffering of Christ and

16:03

on the third day His resurrection, but

16:05

also that there needs to

16:08

be the proclamation of

16:10

repentance and forgiveness of sins in

16:12

His name, beginning from

16:14

all nations. And then He says, you are

16:17

witnesses to these things. And this is, in

16:19

a sense, what He's saying to the

16:21

apostles at the beginning of Acts. You

16:24

know, you are going to be witnesses. And

16:27

then at the end of Luke, I am

16:29

sending the promise of my Father upon you.

16:32

That is a Trinitarian moment. I, Jesus, am

16:34

sending the Spirit, the promise of my

16:37

Father upon you and stay

16:39

in the city until you are clothed with power

16:41

from on high. And

16:43

He says here, the Holy Spirit

16:45

to the apostles whom He had

16:47

chosen, He presented Himself alive. Here's

16:50

the resurrection appearances after suffering.

16:54

And then the reference back to John. John

16:57

baptized with water, but

16:59

you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit

17:01

not after many days from now. So

17:04

I mean, the connection here is to

17:07

see the seamless movement from

17:09

the story of Jesus to the story of

17:11

the church. And

17:14

if Luke is about the story

17:16

of Jesus, Acts is

17:18

about the story of Jesus who have

17:20

become a people, the new

17:22

Israel, the Kingdom, present

17:25

now in the gifts that He gives,

17:28

you know, by the Spirit, which is always

17:30

the Spirit of Christ. So

17:33

this intimate connection between Luke and

17:35

Acts is, in many ways, fundamental.

17:39

And then there's the actual ascension itself, which,

17:42

of course, in Luke

17:44

is very, very brief. And

17:46

it's almost kind of a liturgical

17:48

moment. You kind of stand back

17:50

and wonder as to how

17:52

this happened. And

17:55

you know, He's in Bethany, and He

17:57

lifts up His hands Like

17:59

in a liturgy. Where he's going out either

18:01

bless them, are blessed something but it

18:03

it does say he bless them and

18:06

nord this use there's the word the

18:08

word the to use for prayer Blessed

18:10

to be the Garden Father of Our

18:12

Lord Jesus Christ that Sir Canada Unit

18:14

of Prayer for the Jews for Jesus

18:17

is and sense giving them kind of

18:19

a Jewish blessing. From.

18:21

That it's in the midst of that blessing?

18:24

In a while his blessing them his

18:26

hands are raised that he he is

18:28

lifted up the he parts from them

18:30

and is carried up into heaven. And

18:33

I think the response is

18:35

so remarkable. I mean, they

18:38

immediately worship him. Because

18:40

it's a C often a it's a

18:42

as the ah any of. God's.

18:45

In a sense Gods final act

18:48

in Christ of our redemption where

18:50

he carries us now into heaven

18:52

as that him says and we

18:55

are enthroned in heaven with Christ.

18:57

And they they do what they

18:59

see. Another good Jews state what

19:01

are they do they want to

19:04

worship so they go to the

19:06

temple continually praising God blessing him

19:08

with great joy. And

19:11

they bless God just as God

19:13

bless them. You can see the

19:15

worships, the temple, the blessing, the

19:17

lifting up of the hands. When

19:20

you get hurt acts though, it's

19:22

more kind of a more historical

19:24

rendering. and it's got this incredible

19:26

moment where the disciples ask a

19:29

question and that I've puzzled over

19:31

this. I've heard many sermons about

19:33

it, read a lot about it

19:35

does hurt A sermon on it's

19:37

in chapel in oh lord will

19:39

you at. This time restore

19:41

the kingdom to Israel. You

19:44

get the sense there that the

19:46

disciples don't yet quite. Understand.

19:50

And as one of the saying that

19:52

I think is really a struggle in

19:55

some ways you know how do we

19:57

understand. how the

19:59

disciples were after the

20:01

resurrection, you know, as Jesus is appearing

20:03

to them for those 40 days after

20:06

he's suffered. And how are

20:08

they here on the ascension? I don't think

20:10

they get the full picture. I think they

20:12

certainly, it's coming into focus. He reveals himself

20:14

in the breaking of the bread. He comes

20:16

to them in the upper room. I'm talking

20:18

now about the end of Luke and

20:21

eats broiled fish in front of them, showing

20:23

them his hands and his feet, saying it is

20:26

I, I am himself,

20:28

you know. And they

20:30

disbelieve for joy, which, you know, is

20:32

such a great expression, too good to be

20:34

true. But here they're

20:36

thinking maybe there's more,

20:38

there's more. And he

20:40

says to them, you know, it's not for you

20:43

to know the times or the seasons. The Father

20:45

is fixed by his own authority. Then

20:47

he points them to Pentecost. And that's

20:49

exactly right. You will receive

20:51

the power when the Holy Spirit has come

20:54

upon you. And you will

20:56

be my witnesses. And here it is, this

20:58

wonderful statement in Luke, I

21:00

mean, excuse me, Acts 1.8 of

21:03

the mission of the church, Jerusalem, Judea,

21:06

Samaria, the end of the earth. That,

21:09

in a sense, sets the program of Acts. We're

21:12

just going to watch that kind of play

21:14

out. And I think it's

21:16

so important to see that in these words,

21:19

the mission of the church is embedded

21:22

in the ascension. In a sense,

21:24

the mission of the church can't happen until the

21:26

ascension. So if you're asking, why

21:28

does the ascension have to happen so that

21:30

the mission can happen, so that the Spirit

21:32

can come? And

21:35

after saying those things, they're looking

21:38

on, they see him lifted up, and

21:41

the cloud takes him from their sight.

21:44

Now, that cloud is so important.

21:46

The cloud appears over

21:48

Mary at the incarnation,

21:51

at the Annunciation in Luke 1. It's

21:53

the Shekinah, the presence of God. There's

21:56

a cloud at the transfiguration. And

21:59

now here's the context. cloud. And

22:01

it reminds us of Elijah. And

22:04

you've got this sense of Jesus

22:07

being lifted up by a cloud,

22:09

but then the Spirit coming down

22:11

on Pentecost. So there's, as Jesus

22:13

goes, the Spirit comes down.

22:16

And yet there are those 10 days

22:18

which we are about to enter, which

22:20

must have been difficult days for the

22:22

disciples. As he's

22:24

being lifted up and the cloud takes them out of

22:26

this sight, they're gazing into

22:28

heaven. And then these two men stand by them

22:32

with right robes. Now

22:34

this is really interesting because in

22:36

the Greek language, in the Scriptures,

22:39

at the Transfiguration, at the

22:41

Resurrection, and at the Ascension, and this

22:43

is all Luke, the

22:46

four words are used, and

22:48

behold two men. Now at

22:50

the Transfiguration it's Moses and Elijah. And

22:53

one wonders, especially because Moses and

22:55

Elijah are associated with the clouds,

22:59

if in fact these two

23:01

witnesses, these great witnesses Moses

23:03

and Elijah are witnessing

23:06

to the glory of

23:08

Jesus in the Transfiguration, the Resurrection,

23:10

and the Ascension. But

23:14

their final words are comforting. Men

23:16

of Galilee, why do you

23:18

stand there looking into heaven? Is Jesus, who

23:20

was taken up from you into heaven,

23:23

he will come in the same way

23:25

that you saw him go into heaven?

23:27

And so what you see here is

23:30

that the Ascension is also connected with

23:32

the parousia when the Lord comes again

23:35

in glory to judge both the living and the

23:37

dead. So I think,

23:39

you know, when you look actually at the texts

23:41

in Luke and Acts, I mean, there's such

23:44

incredible theology here about

23:47

the nature of Jesus' ministry, the

23:49

whole program by which he saves us,

23:52

and then really looking forward to the

23:54

time when he comes again in judgment.

23:57

So it's, this is what links the

24:00

gospel with the church. And

24:02

Luke Acts are so intimately

24:04

connected on so many different

24:06

levels, but perhaps the most

24:09

intimate connection of all is

24:11

the ascension of our Lord. Dr.

24:14

Arthur Just is our guest. We're talking about

24:16

the ascension of Christ. When

24:18

we come back, where else in

24:20

Scripture is the ascension to Him?

24:39

The church has a proclivity to follow after

24:41

trends and fads and be led away by

24:44

things that are super popular in the moment

24:46

and only fall away from it. Pastor

24:48

Chris Rosebrough, talking about his presentation at the 2024

24:51

Issues, etc., making the

24:53

case conference. But Scripture

24:55

tells us that good, sound Christian ministry is

24:58

to mature us in Christ so that we

25:00

will not be children who are tossed to

25:02

and fro by waves and carried about by

25:04

every wind of doctrine and human cunning. So

25:07

in my presentation, we'll be talking about the

25:09

tendency to go towards fads, but the solution

25:11

is being found in Scripture and what it

25:14

is that we're really to be focused on

25:16

in order to build up our faith and

25:18

to sustain the church into the future. You

25:20

can meet and hear Pastor Chris Rosebrough

25:22

making the case against the fad-driven church

25:24

at this year's Making the Case Conference,

25:26

Friday, July 12 and Saturday, July 13

25:28

at Concordia University,

25:31

Chicago. For more information,

25:33

go to issuesetc.org or call

25:35

618-223-8385. At

25:40

the heart of Lutherans for Life is

25:42

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25:44

to a culture so focused on death.

25:47

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25:51

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25:53

Life believes God gives the gift of

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life to all people from the moment

25:58

of conception until natural death. Learn

26:00

more about how you and your congregation

26:02

can help bring hope and healing to

26:04

life issues at lutherans4life.org.

26:09

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If you've contemplated the vocation of

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Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1-800-481-2155, 800-481-2155,

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at ctsfw.edu. The

28:28

Hymn on Christ's Ascension Now I Build.

28:30

I'm Tag Wilkin, this is Issues Etc.

28:33

We're talking about the Ascension of

28:35

Christ with Dr. Arthur Jethse, Professor of

28:37

New Testament at Concordia Theological Seminary,

28:39

Fort Wayne, Indiana. Learn more

28:41

about studying for the vocations of pastor

28:43

or deaconess at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort

28:45

Wayne, Indiana, by calling 1-800-481-2155 or at

28:48

ctsfw.edu. Forming

28:55

servants in Jesus Christ who teach the faithful,

28:57

reach the lost, and care for

29:00

all Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne,

29:02

Indiana. Dr. Jethse, where

29:04

else in Scripture is the Ascension taught? Well,

29:08

you can find it at the end

29:10

of Mark's Gospel, and certainly Paul and

29:12

some of the other writers

29:14

refer to it in terms

29:16

of its theological character

29:18

that he's been exalted. You'll

29:21

find it in the book of Hebrews. So

29:24

his exaltation to the right hand of the Father.

29:27

But the only historical accounts are in

29:29

Luke and Acts. And I think that's

29:31

really quite interesting that those are the

29:33

only two places where you actually

29:35

find it. Sometimes

29:38

revelations four and five are

29:40

thought of as being a view

29:43

of the Ascension from heaven's perspective.

29:46

And I think that's true. I haven't really had a chance

29:48

to kind of wrap my mind

29:50

around that. But Romans and

29:52

Hebrews talk about the ascended

29:54

Christ making intercession for us.

29:57

So It is referred to theologically.

30:00

Said the historical event itself

30:02

is only and luke and

30:04

acts. Why

30:07

is it important that Jesus goes up?

30:10

And summing a sense as

30:12

opposed to simply as stating

30:14

away. Well I

30:16

see you know he fades away

30:18

at the mayor's table and he

30:20

becomes invisible just like he did

30:22

when he was teaching and mattress

30:24

and that for sermon in Nazareth

30:26

and look for he passes through

30:28

the midst of them. But I

30:31

think the the idea is that

30:33

he doesn't disappear, he goes somewhere.

30:35

And. Where he goes is to his

30:37

throne. He's enthroned the you know, the

30:40

right hand to the father, Where he

30:42

rains and the enemies of God are

30:44

now under his feet. So I think

30:46

it's important to see that is a

30:49

physical lifting up of him. To.

30:51

A place that he has now

30:53

and guess you could say earned

30:55

by his. Fulfillment. Of

30:58

the Father's plan by the

31:00

spirit to suffer, die, rise,

31:02

and now ascend. Into

31:04

Heaven So it's a very important

31:07

understanding to see that there is

31:09

a a lifting up and it

31:11

also reminds us of of like

31:14

Alija and the fact that this

31:16

is something that has happened before

31:18

in the history of Israel. Many.

31:22

Christians regard the assented

31:24

Christ as absent and

31:26

sense. Is. That what scripture to

31:28

eat. I think

31:30

with address that to a certain X

31:33

Men and and the answer is a

31:35

resounding no In a sense this is

31:37

what looks trying to teach us at

31:39

the end of a fluke him at

31:41

the beginning of acts that the Lord

31:43

is not apps and. But

31:46

he is present and this is a

31:48

it's the way we understand Christ and

31:51

it makes all the difference in the

31:53

world. How you understand him that the

31:55

person of Jesus. Divine.

31:57

And human nature's is always.

32:01

I know you. You've had Doctor Wine

32:03

regain her many times and he's such

32:06

a wonderful teacher of the early church.

32:08

And of course now John's Gospel. It's

32:10

writing the commentary on it. I tell

32:13

since this all the time. You know

32:15

there's certain moments in your life that's

32:17

sorted. define the way you look at

32:20

things and done nineteen seventy sex in

32:22

early church for us, a Doctor Wine

32:24

rack and it's. Funny

32:27

how the stuck with me. He turned to us

32:29

and he said to him and. Remember.

32:32

That our salvation can never be

32:34

separated from the flesh of Jesus

32:36

Christ. The boy?

32:38

That just that. I'm not sure I understood

32:40

it then, but I knew that that was

32:42

a profound statement. And

32:44

I think that's what The Ascension really

32:47

in many ways teaches us. That.

32:50

Our salvation is always attached.

32:53

To the bodily presence of

32:55

Jesus And as we confess,

32:57

he is present wherever his

32:59

word is proclaimed and his

33:01

sacraments are administered again that

33:04

him by Christopher Wordsworth, It

33:06

really captures that notion that

33:08

the Lord continues to be

33:10

present with us that even

33:12

though he is on the

33:14

throne with us at Bit.

33:17

Man with God is on the

33:20

throne. He continues to be present

33:22

among us. Because the right

33:24

Hand of God is wherever he is. And.

33:27

We confessed and were Jesus's there's

33:29

Heaven on Earth since you know

33:31

you began by saying I'm the

33:33

author who both have an honors

33:35

that's why I named it. That

33:37

to precisely affirmed this thing that

33:40

many Christians don't have from as

33:42

much as they should and that

33:44

is what you said that he

33:46

is not apps and but present.

33:48

I think that's what the A

33:50

may have stories and away all

33:52

about. He has disappeared from them

33:54

but he will be present in

33:56

the things. On the road and

33:58

as he is, Recognized

34:00

made known and the breaking

34:03

and bread. So.

34:06

How should we understand? Jesus seated at

34:08

the right hand of the Father. He's

34:12

ruining as the punter crossed her

34:14

the one hundred say. This weeknight

34:17

I talked about how all enemies

34:19

are under his foot, but I

34:21

think we're more and more, especially

34:23

in a world where we feel

34:25

as if we're sort of losing.

34:28

Losing control of of things

34:30

that he is in control.

34:33

He is the lord and

34:35

giver of life and that

34:37

everything that happens for us.

34:40

Is. From his gracious hand and

34:42

all things should be considered by

34:44

him, even things that don't appear

34:46

that way to be a gift

34:49

from him and that he continues

34:51

to be. Comforting and

34:53

consoling and giving us

34:55

what we need in

34:57

our life. In.

34:59

Him. As. We gather

35:02

together in the liturgy around

35:04

his his word and around

35:06

his meal and. From.

35:08

The right hander the Father

35:10

he in seeds for us.

35:12

He is pleading for our

35:14

forgiveness and for our release

35:16

from the bondage that we

35:18

have because of our send

35:20

before the father through his

35:22

blood. So his blood is

35:24

is what in or seeds

35:26

for us and he is

35:28

there on our behalf to

35:30

present to the Father his

35:32

sacrifice for the forgiveness of

35:35

our sins. And that's what

35:37

we celebrate every. Time We gather

35:39

together as Christians. So it's at

35:41

the very heart of our of

35:44

our life as Christians that we

35:46

we gather together around this one

35:48

who even though he is at

35:50

the right hand of Father interceding

35:53

for us, he is present also

35:55

among us and heaven and earth.

35:57

Or join together in his flat.

36:02

You mentioned before the Romans in Hebrew say that.

36:04

Descended. Christ is making intercession for us.

36:07

What does that mean? It

36:10

means says he is. As

36:13

I said offerings himself and his

36:15

sacrifice and the blood that he

36:17

said on our behalf to the

36:20

father. That he

36:22

has propitiation. It. Through.

36:25

His blood. He has

36:27

made peace with God

36:29

and that we now

36:31

have this freedom of

36:33

forgiveness that he gives

36:35

us. In our ears

36:37

and in our mouths. And.

36:40

Has intercession for us. It

36:42

includes even bringing everything that

36:45

we pray before the father

36:47

on our behalf. And so

36:49

I mean we oftentimes look

36:52

at the movement liturgical you

36:54

from God through Christ to

36:57

us. But. It goes

36:59

the other way to we

37:01

go to the father through

37:03

Christ and he offers up

37:05

himself for us. And

37:08

that way a mean he is

37:10

offering to the father. On

37:13

our behalf, his sacrifice for

37:15

our sense. How

37:18

are the Ascension and the Second Coming

37:20

of Jesus really just two sides of

37:23

one? Well as

37:25

he is lifted up in the clouds he

37:27

is going to come again. He's going come

37:29

down and a cloud. And

37:31

so I mean, I think those

37:34

words of the angels are just

37:36

spot on. This Jesus who is

37:38

taken up from you into heaven.

37:41

So. They're so lifting up. there's

37:43

the final act of Jesus returning

37:45

to where he you know was

37:48

intended to be from the beginning

37:50

next to the father in the

37:53

same way as you saw him

37:55

go into him and he will

37:57

come again. So there's is. Movement

38:00

from Jesus to Us.

38:03

In the Second Coming that incense

38:05

reverses when his ascension was so

38:07

it and mean. if you go

38:09

back and and look at how

38:11

Jesus talks about second coming in

38:13

his discourses and Luke it's in

38:16

and loot. seventeen and and Luke

38:18

twenty one. When you see the

38:20

son of Man coming on a

38:22

clown, raise your hand, your redemption

38:24

is drawing near. It's one of

38:26

the great moments of hope and

38:28

it's the rhythm of the may

38:30

seem crazy. He comes down, he

38:32

goes back up to heaven. And

38:34

he will come again so that they

38:36

aren't to sides of the same time.

38:38

It's actually a great way of thinking

38:40

about it because it's exactly what is

38:43

happening. Doctor Arthur.

38:45

Just as our guess we're talking

38:47

about the Ascension of Christ of

38:49

Next. How does the church celebrate

38:52

The Ascension? What?

39:12

Is truth? Where does it come from?

39:14

What is a human being? How do

39:16

we know right and wrong? What is

39:18

beauty? What? Happens when we die.

39:21

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39:23

the issues, etc. Book of the

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one. The.

43:03

Ascension him looky since the

43:05

site is glorious for talk

43:07

about the sentiment that are

43:09

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43:11

Synod Stewardship Ministry Helped congregations

43:13

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implementation of a life of

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Stewardship resources at lcms.org/stewardship managing

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the Gifts God gives us

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else Uma Stewardship Ministry Lcms

43:25

that aren't says stewardship. But

43:28

just why? And then how does

43:31

the church celebrates the a sense

43:33

of Jesus? Well

43:35

it's always on this fortieth day

43:38

and that is always hundred Thursday

43:40

which is one of the reasons

43:42

why some congregations don't have or

43:44

to Thursday's mana com and day

43:47

for us and yet it is

43:49

a mean If you look at

43:51

the christian year there are. Well,

43:55

I mean I suppose you could

43:57

probably put more, but they're really

43:59

five Great. Feasts Christmas of

44:01

her funny. Easter,

44:03

Ascension and Pentecost. So it's one

44:06

of the big five and yet

44:08

so many of our congregation so

44:10

don't celebrate it. I think you

44:12

can see in the him that

44:15

he that there is an incredible.

44:18

Tradition. Of great hims

44:20

associated with. I've already talked about

44:22

the Christopher Wordsworth him, but then

44:25

there's also the him deny him

44:27

of glory. Let us sing by

44:29

the venerable Bead who I have

44:31

a particular affinity for because he

44:34

is from Durham where I studied

44:36

for my Phd. The he said

44:38

Benedictine monks from Northumbrian Northern England

44:40

and his feast day as on

44:43

the Twenty fifth, the Mets which

44:45

is coming up and he wrote

44:47

this incredible him. To the Ascension

44:49

and it's one that we sing

44:51

with it a tune that we

44:54

all love so much. But I

44:56

think you know one of the

44:58

great things about the Ascension is

45:00

said. It gives us a chance

45:02

to gather together as the people

45:04

of God to recognize that we

45:06

are about to enter into at

45:09

least in terms of the church

45:11

here that time when the Lord

45:13

will be present to with us

45:15

among among us by the spirit.

45:17

So it really. Is a

45:19

anticipation of Pentecost. But

45:22

as I always tell students we

45:24

just did this and I agree.

45:26

Greetings Class for John seventeen which

45:28

as a tax for the Sunday

45:30

and three years series those tax

45:33

chosen because these ten days for

45:35

probably hard on the disciples that

45:37

the Lord had ascended but the

45:39

spirit had not yet com. And

45:42

I think what you see in these. Kind

45:45

of ten days is it to

45:47

a certain extent? Sometimes

45:50

our church. Seals.

45:53

This. Kind of being at

45:56

sea, not having christ prison

45:58

among us and yet. The

46:01

spirit has not yet com that

46:03

you could almost be in a

46:05

sort of stupor, you know. And

46:07

that's the church. Could exist in

46:10

these ten days between the Ascension

46:12

and Pentecost as if it were

46:14

lost or confused. And for a

46:16

natural I'm an ethically often hums

46:19

feel that way. But I think

46:21

the Ascension. And. Pentecost Together

46:23

show us that the Lord has

46:25

a plan and we've i think

46:27

talked about that's plan and a

46:30

number of different ways. And that

46:32

is especially the plan that he

46:34

continues to be among us and

46:36

that that is the greatest comfort

46:38

we could possibly have. And it's

46:40

even better than if he were

46:42

with us in the flesh as

46:44

he was during his earthly ministry.

46:48

So we we have in a sense

46:50

in our ascended lord a foretaste. Of

46:53

eternity even now and are

46:55

Ascension Feast and I think

46:57

those final words of the

46:59

venerable beat or or worse

47:01

quoting give us your joy

47:03

on Earth So lord in

47:05

Heaven to be are great

47:07

reward were thrown with you

47:09

forever. We shall praise your

47:11

name eternally and I think

47:13

what the gives us and

47:15

should give us more than

47:18

anything else is joy over

47:20

the gift that Christ has

47:22

given us. And being present

47:24

among us in his flesh.

47:28

First Corinthians, Sistine Talks.

47:31

About. Not just the resurrection, but also about.

47:33

How Christ must rain until he has

47:35

put all his enemies. Under

47:38

his. And and

47:40

question says the last enemy to be

47:42

destroyed. His ass. Totally

47:44

understand Christ's rained now at the right

47:47

hand of God. I

47:49

think that's and are senseless

47:52

and disciples were asking you

47:54

know, will you restore the

47:57

kingdom to Israel now and

47:59

or. Your I'm in that

48:01

at the beginning of the Ascension

48:03

you know it says that he

48:05

was preaching the Kingdom of God.

48:07

I think we need to understand

48:10

it as the rule and reign

48:12

of God in his church by

48:14

his presence and know And that's

48:16

to go to the A May

48:18

Disciples that makes our heart burn

48:20

when we hear his word and

48:23

when we get ready for the

48:25

sacrament Week like the him as

48:27

Disciples sort of prevail upon him

48:29

to. Abide with us to

48:31

be present with us and then

48:33

we We see the fulfillment of

48:36

that when we partake of him

48:38

and have communion with his flesh.

48:40

So I think it's it's important

48:43

that that rule and reign of

48:45

God continues now because Christ is

48:47

present here with his gifts. We.

48:51

Spoke earlier about questions regarding Christ is

48:53

absent. What's the danger? Of taking

48:56

that view a decent. While

48:59

the danger is that there's no certainty

49:01

as to. How

49:04

we have this communion with Christ

49:06

the mean is it do it

49:08

would have to be some other

49:10

means so and have to be

49:12

either. By. You. Know

49:14

how we feel about things are

49:16

or maybe some sort of we

49:19

We might look for some sort

49:21

of vision or miracle or experience

49:23

that would surest is present. And

49:26

I mean this is the beauty

49:28

of the fact that these are

49:31

objective means of God's coming to

49:33

us in his grace. That

49:36

and who. We actually hear his words.

49:38

That are the words of Jesus that

49:40

we hear from our from our pastors.

49:43

You know he. Who hears you,

49:45

hears me The absolution. It's as

49:47

if Christ himself were pronouncing those

49:49

words. And it's though, the very

49:52

body and blood of Christ. These

49:54

are objective. Reality is we actually

49:56

are eating and drinking is very

49:59

body and. Blood and if

50:01

we don't have those objective

50:03

means if he is sort

50:05

of absent from us and

50:07

own kind of a different

50:09

way than. Than. With to

50:11

speak about him as as a Sacramento

50:13

church then where is he For me

50:16

his as is often have a new

50:18

he has served detached from the world.

50:21

And. It and away what what

50:24

it is is it. It's a

50:26

different way of understanding who Jesus's

50:29

we reduce or to start to

50:31

different croissant. That Jesus is not

50:33

present according to his divine

50:35

and human nature's but it's some

50:38

sort of spiritual our motorola presence.

50:40

More abstract. It's not concrete, it's

50:43

not objectives and I think

50:45

that can lead you and and

50:47

the wrong direction. Think.

50:49

Another, and this may be more of kind

50:52

of an implicit. Error that

50:54

Christians often entertain regarding the

50:56

scented is Dead. Having ascended,

50:58

he has shed. His.

51:01

Human Nature. And

51:03

is no longer incarnate. right?

51:05

Is no longer is is is how

51:07

would you speak to the. Wise.

51:10

I think that as him speaks

51:12

to it's that when he ascends,

51:14

he ascends in the person of

51:16

Jesus. Divine. Human nature's are always.

51:18

You can't speak to the person

51:20

of Jesus without the Dwyane and

51:22

human Nature to kept separate. The

51:24

nature's so he's always present their

51:26

time in human nature. And that's

51:28

what a sense into heaven. And

51:30

as I said since we are

51:33

in Christ we too are enthroned

51:35

in heaven with him. Man was

51:37

gone, is on this rock and

51:39

we buy. Face behold who we

51:41

are so you don't have the

51:43

Jesus of the scriptures If you

51:45

divide the natures and you say

51:47

that he no longer has his

51:49

humanity. Finally,

51:52

What's the Comfort of Jesus? Ascension?

51:56

I think the comfort is that is.

51:58

he has not left us. But

52:00

he continues to be with us

52:02

and that he has already shown

52:05

us where we are going. So.

52:07

We are already in heaven with

52:10

Christ. We have already ascended with

52:12

him. And that

52:14

is something that we have a from

52:16

for us Every time we gather together

52:18

around the gifts of Christ and the

52:20

liturgy as we hear his word and

52:22

receive a sacrament. And

52:25

that you know as we said about

52:27

you know, ascension in the piracy or

52:29

in a way it doesn't matter when

52:32

he comes back again, we already have

52:34

him now that it's something that we

52:36

can rejoice in and have joy. And

52:38

now. And I

52:41

think the Ascension shows is

52:43

very clearly that heaven is

52:45

our final destiny. but that

52:47

Heaven is already here among

52:50

us because Christ as a

52:52

months. And. He will

52:54

never leave us or forsake us. Dot

52:57

or they're just Is Professor of

52:59

New Testament. Concordia Theological Seminary Fort

53:01

Wayne, Indiana is authors and to

53:03

volume Concordia Commentary on Luke and

53:05

a Book Seven on Earth You

53:07

can purchase these resources on the

53:09

talk on demand are has page

53:12

issues htc.org or by calling from

53:14

Korea Publishing House. One Eight

53:16

Hundred Three To Five Thirty Forty.

53:19

Doctor. Just think. Ah

53:21

plus had a said. Friday.

53:23

On issues, etc. will have pastures Brian

53:25

Wolf Million Brian Kettle My or respond

53:28

to your unanswered Bible question. And.

53:30

It's this week in Pop Christianity

53:32

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53:35

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53:47

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I just had to

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call and respond to this week's

55:59

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us slings and arrows of outrageous

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