In the next two weeks in our encounters with Jesus, we will be looking at some of His final words to His disciples before Pentecost.  This week we’ll be looking specifically at Acts 1: 6-11, where Jesus ascends into heaven:

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9 When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. 11 They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

We see Jesus ascend today, and this is a key, biblical doctrine for the universal church.  But why?  Why does this matter?  Why is it important that Jesus ascended into heaven?  I’d like to share with you two reasons today why this doctrine matters for us today.

First, when Jesus ascended to the right hand of the Father, He began continued to intercede for us to the Father and granted us direct access to the Father (1 John 2:1).  Jesus prayed for us upon the Eather (John 17). God now sits at His Father’s right hand, praying for us.  Think about that for one moment.  Jesus Christ, right now, at this point, is at the right hand of the Father.  Praying for.  Interceding for your needs.  Your fears.  Your doubts.  Your very life. Of all the folks that you could have praying for you, you have Jesus.  His ascension made His intercession at the right hand of the Father possible. Just stop for a moment right now and consider all that it means that Jesus intercedes for your constantly to His (and our) Father.

Another key reason for the ascension is that now, He reigns over all of creation. (1 Peter 3:22).  We think about the Lordship of Jesus a future thing, not a present thing.  It’s not that Jesus, may, one day, possibly, perhaps may be king.  He is king now.  At this moment.  At this time.  He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And we should live with the confidence that our Savior is King, but also live with the clarity of mission that He has given us.  He reigns.  He is King.  Now.  Live in that confidence.  Live with that purpose.  He’s ascended to the throne.  He is Lord.  He is King.  And one day, He will return and make all things right.

Live in that confidence now.

These are some of the reasons why the ascension matters.

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