The Ascension of the Lord-C

I Reading: Acts 1:1-11: He was lifted up while they looked on.

II Reading: Ephesians 1:17-23:He made Him sit at his right hand in heaven.

Gospel: Luke 24:46-53: As he blessed them he was carried up to heaven.

Jesus’ Appearance to the Disciples:

The Great Statements of the Christian Faith, Lk 24:36-49

This was the first appearance of Jesus to all the disciples at once. He shared the two great statements (explanations) of the Christian faith.

1. Statement 1: Jesus is risen (v.36-43)

a. Jesus’ first word: Peace

b. Jesus’ impact

  1) The disciples startled and frightened

  2) The disciples were troubled and questioning

c. Jesus’ proof

  1) He is flesh and bones

  2) He shows them his wounds

  3) He talks

2. Statement 2: All prophetic Scripture must be fulfilled (v.44-49)

a. The forewarning

b. The utter necessity

c. The spiritual insight needed

d. The particular prophecies

  1) Christ must suffer and arise

  2) Repentance and forgiveness must be preached

  3) The Holy Spirit and power must be sent

Jesus’ Last Appearance: The Ascension, Lk 24:50-53

Luke closes his gospel with the ascension of Christ and begins Acts with the ascension of Christ (Acts 1:9-11). The ascension closes the Lord’s earthly ministry, His mission to save the world. On the other hand, the ascension opens the Lord’s heavenly ministry. Therefore the ascension is the beginning of his journey into heaven as the Lord and the Saviour of the world to judge the living and the dead.

1. The purpose of the ascension (v.50-51)

a. To bless

b. To provide a witness and give great assurance

2. The disciples’ response to the ascension (v.52-53)

a. Worshipped Him

b. Were filled with joy

c. Worshipped in the temple-continually

Thought: The Lord ascended to the right hand of God, that is, to the position of sovereignty and power (Mk 16:19; Lk 22:69; Acts 1:9-11;2:36;5:31;Eph 1:20; Ph 2:9-11;Rev 5:12). The ascension assures (proves, confirms) that seven things are absolutely certain.

1. The ascension assures that God is, that He is alive and does exist. The fact that Christ was raised up from the dead and taken up into heaven proves that God is. Only God could do such things.

2. The ascension assures that Christ is God’s Son.

3. The ascension assures that heaven is real (Ph 3:20-31).

4. The ascension assures that the gospel is true.

5. The ascension assures that the Great commission is the call and mission of believers.

6. The ascension assures that power is available to carry out the Great Commission (Mt 28:18; Mk 16:20).

7. The ascension assures that we have a very special Helper in heaven, One who really loves and cares for us.

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6^th SUNDAY OF EASTER-C

I Reading: Acts 15:1-2.22-29: It has been decided by the Holy Spirit and by ourselves not to saddle you with any burden beyond these essentials.

II Reading: Apocalypse 21:10-14.22-23: He showed me the holy city coming down out of heaven.

Gospel: John 14:23-29: The Holy Spirit will remind you of all I have said to you.

The Holy Spirit: Who He is, 14:15-26

There are three great Scriptures that deal with the doctrine of the Holy Spirit at length.

1. The Identity of the Holy Spirit or who He is (Jn 14:15-26)

2. The work of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:7-15)

3. The Power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:1-17)

The greatest help the believers are to receive is the very presence of God Himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. It is this that Jesus now reveals. He reveals the Holy Spirit, His identity, who He is (Jn 16:7-15 where Jesus reveals the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of the Holy Spirit in Rom 8:1-17).

1. Fact: If a person loves Jesus, he will keep His commandments (v.15)

2. He is the Counselor, the Comforter, the other Helper (v.16)

3. He is the Spirit of truth (v.17)

a. The world cannot accept Him

b. The believer does receive Him and know Him

4. He is the personal presence of Christ (v.18-20)

a. A spiritual presence not a physical one

b. A living and eternal presence

c. A living union between God, Christ and the believer

5. He is the very special manifestation of Christ within the believer (v.21-22)

a. The special presence is conditional: Must obey and love Christ

b. The special presence is questioned

6. He is the abiding presence of the Trinity (v.23-24)

a. Is conditional: Must love and obey Jesus

b. Is the love and presence of God and Christ

c. Is not given to those who do not love and obey Christ

d. Is assured by God Himself

7. He is the Holy Spirit, the Teacher (v.25-26)

a. The facts

  1) He is promised

  2) He is given by the Father in the name of Jesus

b. His purpose

  1) To teach the believer all things: both the words and life of Christ, both the truth and the life, both the  Word and how to live the Word, both the theory and practice, both the principles and conduct, both the morality and behaviour.

  2) To help the believer to remember all that has been taught in the Word of God, to help especially in the moments of trail when the truth is needed (1Cor 10:13, 2:13; Lk 12:12; Jn 14:26, 16:13; 1Jn 2:27).

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5^th SUNDAY OF EASTER-C

I Reading: Acts 14:21-27: They gave an account to the Church of all that God had done with them.

II Reading: Apocalypse 21:1-5: God will wipe away all tears from their eyes.

Gospel: John 13:31-35: I give you a new commandment: love one another.

The Departure of Jesus From This World, 13:31-38

What kind of Christian community does the Risen Lord wants us to be? How can we love God and our neighbours?

Jesus told his disciples after the washing of feet in the last supper, “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just I have loved you. You also love one another.” Jn 13:34

What kind of love is Jesus talking about?

It is a serving love: I did not come to be served but serve people.

It is a merciful love: Jesus had compassion and mercy seeing the crowd who were without food and drink. Jesus had mercy and compassion to the poor, sick, suffering, widow, sinners, tax collectors etc.

It is a total commitment and dedication love: I (the good shepherd) lay down my life for my sheep at any cost to save the life of each sheep.

It is an agape love(selfless, total love, the highest love): Jesus loved the people selflessly without any expectation from people.

It is a forgiving love: Jesus on the cross said, “Father, forgive them, they do not know what are they doing?”

By your love, they will come to know that you are my disciples.

The risen Christ calls us to be faithful to the covenant we signed with him at Baptism, to proclaim the Good News to the people, to be committed to love one another whatever the cost, to share the joys and sorrows of our Christian brothers and sisters and finally to go through life joyfully with God to our permanent home heaven. Jesus as our good leader himself leads us on our way home. Let us experience the love of Jesus and love our brothers and sisters unconditionally as God loved us.

The death and departure of Jesus from the world was most significant.

1. Jesus’ death brought a threefold glory (v.31-32)

a. The Son of Man’s glory: The Cross

b. God’s glory: Jesus’ obedience

c. Jesus’ glory: The Resurrection

2. Jesus’ death demanded a new commandment (v.33-35)

a. The reason: His departure from the earth

b. The new commandment: To love as Jesus loved

c. The mark of a true discipleship: Love

3. Jesus’ death revealed stumbling loyalty (v.36-38)

a. Cause 1: Misunderstanding Jesus’ death

b. Cause 2: Carnal commitment

Thought: How many make the same mistake about the cross? Misunderstanding the cross and Jesus as the exalted Lord (as opposed to His being just as a great teacher) causes stumbling and faltering faith. (1Cor 1:18, 23; 2Cor 4:3-5)

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4^th SUNDAY OF EASTER-C

I Reading: Acts 13:14.43-52: We must turn to the pagans.

II Reading: Apocalypse 7:9.14-17: The Lamb will be their shepherd and will lead them to springs of living water.

Gospel: John 10:27-30: I give eternal life to the sheep that belong to me.

The Great Shepherd’s Claims, 10:22-42

Jesus Christ is the great shepherd-great because of who He is. Note the phenomenal claims He made. Jesus Christ claimed to be “the Good Shepherd.” He is not a bad or a false shepherd.

1. Jesus was in Jerusalem at the Feast of Dedication (v.22-24)

a. It was a winter

b. He was walking in Solomon’s colonnade

c. The religionists approached and questioned Him

2. Claim 1: He is the Messiah (v.25-29)

a. Religionists did not believe

  1) His clear claim

  2) His works are proof

  3) Reason: The religionists were not of His sheep

b. His sheep believe

  1) Are receptive

  2) Are known

  3) Do follow v.27

  4) Are given life

  5) Are kept from perishing

  6) Are secure

  7) Are assured a double security in God Himself

3. Claims 2: He is one God, that is, He is God Himself (v.30-33)

a. The religionists reacted

b. Jesus questioned their reaction

c. The religionists admitted that His works were good

d. The religionists understood His claim, but they rejected Him

4. Claim 3: He is the Son of God (v.34-36)

a. Jesus showed man’s inconsistency

b. Jesus’ claim

  1) The Father sacrificed Him, set Him apart

  2) The Father sent Him

  3) He is the Son of God

5. Claim 4: God is in Him and He is in God-absolutely (v.37-39).

a. His works prove

b. He was still rejected

6. Conclusion: Jesus retired (v.40-42)

a. Jesus went to the area of John the Baptist

b. John’s crowds began to follow Jesus

c. Many believed in Jesus

Thought: Who is Jesus for us today? How many of us/missionaries work and die knowingly, willingly and voluntarily for the people of God as a good shepherd in our Church?

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