Sermon
Ascension Sunday
Text
Luke 24:44-53
Another
week and another terrorist attack.
This
latest one being a bomb exploded at a concert intended for young people.
The
intention was to cause maximum harm to quite vulnerable children including an 8
year old there with her mother and sister to watch the concert.
Over
20 dead and many more injured.
The
following day thousands gathered for a vigil to honour and show support for
those affected.
We
keep hearing from our leaders that we are winning the war against terror but
that is not what it looks like.
Today
we celebrate the Ascension – the day that Jesus ascended into Heaven to sit at
the right hand of God with all power and authority.
But,
again, that's not what it looks like.
With
God, sometimes things are not what they look like.
Jesus'
birth did not look like the birth of a King.
Jesus
ministry did not look like the promised Messiah as he ate and drank with
sinners.
Jesus'
death looked nothing like a victory.
And
today, Jesus' ascension looks anything but a position of power and authority.
The
Church today looks anything but a thriving body of Christ, but that is what it
is.
It's
just that God doesn't act the way the world portrays power and authority.
The
world uses military might to show its power and authority, like North Korea
that has to constantly parade its bombs and army down the street to keep
reassuring its people.
The
world uses its economic power to show its power and authority.
We too
use physical things as signs of power and authority – our wealth, our careers,
our possessions our investment portfolios.
But
God chose differently.
God
has chosen weakness to shame the powerful.
God
has chosen foolishness to shame the wise.
God
has chosen the things that are not to shame the things that are.
And as
we begin to understand that framework we begin to understand that Jesus
ascension fits in with that framework.
But
how?
How is
Jesus ruling?
He is
ruling in a way the world does not understand.
Firstly
by commanding us to respond with love and forgiveness rather than by fear or
retaliation.
Jesus
says “Let not your hearts be troubled – trust in God, trust also in me.
In a
world that is gripped in fear over terrorism, crime, environmental issues and a
whole host of other things,
But
our response is not with fear as Jesus says in Luke 12: Have no fear little
flock for your Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom.
So
Jesus power and authority is shown by his assurance that we have nothing to
fear.
Even
to the church he gives that assurance that even though our numbers are
dwindling he assures us that not even the gates of hell shall prevail over the
church.
But at
this time Jesus power and authority are hidden behind the sin in the world.
Hidden,
not absent.
And as
we pray in the Lord's Prayer, your kingdom come, that is when Christ's power
and authority will be revealed.
But
it's not a power and authority only in the future but it is now, hidden, as St
Paul says to the Colossians:
Set
your minds on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God –
for your life is now hidden in Christ, but when Christ appears then you also
will appear with him in glory.
We are
not to be downhearted when we see things in the world but remember that Jesus
has ascended and is ruling and that he has already won the victory.
And we
wait, as Jesus told his disciples – wait until you have been clothed with power
from on high.
It’s
hard waiting when it seems like nothing is happening.
And as
Christians it can be particularly hard as we look around the world and don’t
see anything to indicate that God is in control.
But we
are reminded that God is in control and we are to have faith.
In the
book of Revelation it says:
Look!
He comes with the clouds of heaven.
And
everyone will see him—even those who pierced him.
And
all the nations of the world will mourn for him.
“I am
the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,” says the Lord God. “
I am
the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
So
while it may be hard waiting we know that when that day arrives that it will be
so glorious.
So
until then we are to pray for those who do not yet know Jesus as their Lord so
that when he does return they will not mourn his coming but along with us shout
and rejoice.
So
until that day when our ascended Lord returns may the peace of God that
surpasses our understanding keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen.