We're going to begin our service singing to God's praise in Psalm 98.
!
He has remembered well the covenant he made with him, the house of Israel.
And all the nations of the earth have seen what God has done, our God who brings deliverance
by his right hand alone.
Acclaim the Lord of all the earth, shout loudly and rejoice.
Make music and be jubilant to him, lift up your voice.
With harp make music to the Lord, with harp his praises sing.
With trumpet and with horn rejoice.
Before the Lord, the King.
Let earth, the sea and all in them rejoice triumphantly.
Let streams clap hands and mountains sing together joyfully.
Now let them sing before the Lord who comes to judge the earth.
He'll judge the world in righteousness, the peoples in his truth.
Verses 3 to the end of Psalm 98 and sing psalms.
His steadfast love and faithfulness he has remembered well.
Amen.
His steadfast love and faithfulness he has remembered well.
The covenant he made within the house of Israel.
And all the nations of the earth have seen what God has done.
His steadfast love and faithfulness he has remembered well.
Our God who brings deliverance by his right hand alone.
Acclaim the Lord, O all the earth.
Shout loudly and rejoice.
Make music and be jubilant.
To him lift up your voice.
With harp make music to the Lord.
With harp his praises sing.
With trumpet and with horn rejoice.
Before the Lord, the King.
Let earth, the sea, and all in them rejoice triumphantly.
Let streams clap hands and mountains sing together joyfully.
Now let them sing before the Lord who comes to judge the earth.
He'll judge the world in righteousness, the peoples in his truth.
Let us bow in prayer.
O Lord, as we bow in your presence tonight, we pray for the grace to worship you in a right way.
We give thanks, O Lord, that we're able to sing your word and to be reminded of your steadfast love towards us.
We give thanks that your word reinforces that you are an unchanging God.
You are unchanging in your character.
Unchanging in your purposes.
And we give thanks for that great truth.
It's often hard for us to understand what that is because we are always changing.
Our attitudes change.
Our thoughts change.
The very plans that we make change.
Sometimes, not out of our own making, but we realize that we are constantly in a world of change.
But you are the God who never changes, and we're thankful for that.
Because it means that your promises are absolute guaranteed that what you have said you will do.
It is impossible for God to lie.
And so tonight we rest in these promises, assured that you are faithful to every single one of them.
We pray, Lord, that you will lift up our hearts, lift up our mind beyond ourselves,
because we are so tied to who we are and what we are.
And help us as we are here tonight to focus upon you and to realize that ultimately life is not so much about ourselves,
but it is about you and your glory in this world.
And we pray that we might have the great end in view that we are reminded of,
that our chief end or chief purpose is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
And we pray that that enjoyment might be discovered by each and every one of us.
And help us to realize that it is only in and through the Lord Jesus Christ
that we are able to find this fulfillment and this enjoyment.
So we pray for the faith.
Pray for the faith for maybe some in here who might not already have come to faith.
We pray that they will.
And pray for those who have come to faith,
that they will come to a greater enjoyment of you.
And that every day will be a day where they will come to a greater knowledge of you.
We pray that you will help us in our worship.
And that you will deliver us from the temptations which so often flood our minds as we seek to worship you.
Because the evil one is never far away trying to distract us.
And to take our mind off the truth.
And to think of other things.
And to bring tempting thoughts before us.
And even to cast doubt upon who you are and what you are.
And so we pray Lord that you will grant us that focus as we wait upon you.
We pray to bless this congregation.
We give thanks for its witness and testimony over the years.
And we pray that you will continue to bless us.
That you will do in us and for us more than we could ask or think.
That you will grant your people a greater confidence in you.
A greater strength in the Lord.
We pray that we might have a greater focus upon you.
And a greater understanding of our responsibilities to you and to one another.
We pray Lord that you will bless this congregation particularly at a time of vacancy.
We pray your leading and guiding.
We give thanks oh Lord that you have done so in the past.
And we are persuaded that you will continue to do so.
So grant us the patience to wait upon you.
And grant us the wisdom that only you can give.
We pray your blessing upon Colin who is the intermoderator.
Pray your blessing upon Colin Murdo and Joanne.
And we give thanks for his ministry here.
And the encouragement that he is to us.
And pray to bless them and their family.
Pray for all the office bearers and all their differing responsibilities.
We pray for all who do so much in this congregation.
And we see that week in, week out.
That there are so many things happening.
Good things happening.
And so much work is on behind the scenes.
And so we pray to encourage all your people.
Reminding us that no labour in the Lord is ever in vain.
There are times we think it is.
There are times we can become discouraged.
But your word assures us that it is not in vain.
And that it will all receive its reward.
All that is done in faith in due time.
So we pray that you will bless.
As we say your witness here.
And we pray that for all the congregations in our town and throughout our island.
And indeed throughout our land.
We pray Lord that you will give a gospel boldness to preachers.
And that you will give a gospel boldness to your people.
Because there are so many who do not know who you are.
They don't know the first thing about you.
And we pray particularly at this time of year.
That people who might have for the first time since maybe this time last year any thoughts about you.
That they may indeed have stronger and greater thoughts.
And that your truth might be opened up here and there.
And that people will come to know and to believe.
We pray for those who are struggling in life.
And we pray for those who face health battles.
We pray that you will help them and undertake for them.
Pray for those who are experienced or have experienced the loss of loved ones.
Whether of recent times or in times gone by.
But there is particularly at this time of year an emptiness.
And an empty soreness within the heart.
And we pray that you will give them comfort.
Give them strength.
And give them a sense of your love towards them.
We pray for all our young people.
We give thanks for them.
And we pray that in the young years of their life.
That they will come to know you and to serve you.
And we give thanks Lord for every effort that is made.
To teach our young in the way of the Lord.
Pray for all our different families.
And ask Lord that you will be with them.
And pray Lord for where there may be difficulties within the home.
That maybe others aren't aware of.
That you will come and that you will help.
We pray for the elderly.
And those who are no longer able to get out.
Those who suffer pain in their bodies.
And weakness in their limbs.
And maybe weakness in their mind.
Pray for those who have mental health issues.
We ask Lord that you will give them strengthening in their mind.
And we pray Lord for our hospitals.
For our NH staff.
For all our emergency services.
And our chaplains.
And we pray for our armed forces.
And our chaplains there.
And we pray for order within our land.
Because we live in times where there is so much chaos.
And we pray Lord for wisdom to our leaders.
To those in authority over us.
All grant them Lord.
The wisdom that is from above.
That they will lead us in the right way.
Help us then as we wait upon you.
And to do us good.
And watch over each and every one of us.
Be with the fellowship this evening.
And pray your blessing upon it.
And all those who are prepared for it.
We ask your blessing upon them.
And grant us your grace.
And have mercy upon us.
Cleansing us from each and every sin.
In Jesus name we ask God.
Amen.
I'm going to sing again from Psalm 89.
And this is from the Scottish Psalter.
Psalm number 89.
And we're going to sing from verse 13.
It's on page 3, 4, 5.
Thou hast an arm that's full of power.
Thy hand is great in might.
And thy right hand exceedingly exalted is in height.
Justice and judgment of thy throne are made the dwelling place.
Mercy accompanied with truth shall go before thy face.
O greatly blessed the people are.
The joyful sound that know.
In brightness of thy face, O Lord, they ever on shall go.
They in thy name shall all the day rejoice exceedingly.
And in thy righteousness shall they exalted be on high.
Because the glory of their strength doth only stand in thee.
And in thy favor shall our horn and power exalted be.
For God is our defense.
And he to us doth safety bring.
The Holy One of Israel is our Almighty King.
13 to 18, Psalm 89.
Thou hast an arm that's full of power.
Thy hand is great in might.
And thy right hand exceedingly exalted is in height.
Justice and judgment of thy throne are made the dwelling place.
Mercy accompany the need with truth shall go before thy face.
O greatly blessed the people are.
The joyful sound that know.
In brightness of thy face, O Lord, they ever on shall go.
They in thy name shall all the day rejoice exceedingly.
And in thy righteousness shall be exalted be on high.
Because the glory of their strength doth only stand in thee.
And in thy favor shall our horn and power exalted be.
For God is our defense.
And he to us doth safety bring.
The Holy One of Israel is our Almighty King.
Let's turn now to read God's word in the gospel of Luke.
Luke's gospel.
Chapter 24, the last chapter.
And we pick up a reading at verse 25.
We know, of course, that this is
where Jesus has joined the two on the road to Emmaus.
And so we pick up on what Jesus is saying at verse 25.
And he, that's Jesus, said to them,
O foolish ones and slow of heart,
to believe all that the prophets have spoken.
Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things
and enter into his glory?
And beginning with Moses and all the prophets,
he interpreted to them in all the scriptures
the things concerning himself.
So they drew near to the village to which they were going.
He acted as if he were going further,
but they urged him strongly, saying,
Stay with us, for it is two or three evening,
and the day is now far spent.
So he went in to stay with them.
When he was at table with them,
he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him,
and he vanished from their sight.
They said to each other,
Did not our hearts burn within us
while he talked to us on the road,
while he opened to us the scriptures?
And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem.
And they found the eleven,
and those who were with them gathered together,
saying,
The Lord has risen indeed,
and has appeared to Simon.
Then they told what had happened on the road,
and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
As they were talking about these things,
Jesus himself stood among them,
and said to them,
Peace to you.
But they were startled and frightened,
and thought they saw a spirit.
And he said to them,
Why are you troubled?
And why do doubts arise in your heart?
See my hands and my feet,
that it is I myself.
Touch me and see.
For a spirit does not have flesh and bones,
as you see that I have.
And when he had said this,
he showed them his hands and his feet.
And while they still believed for joy and were marvelling,
he said to them,
Have you anything here to eat?
They gave him a piece of broiled fish,
and he took it and ate before them.
Then he said to them,
These are my words that I spoke to you
while I was still with you,
that everything written about me
in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms
must be fulfilled.
Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures,
and said to them,
Thus it is written,
that the Christ should suffer
and on the third day rise from the dead,
and repentance and forgiveness of sins
should be proclaimed in his name
to all nations,
beginning from Jerusalem.
You are witnesses of these things.
And behold,
I am sending the promise of my Father upon you,
but stay in the city
until you are clothed with power from on high.
Then he led them out as far as Bethany,
and lifting up his hands,
he blessed them.
While he blessed them,
he parted from them
and was carried up into heaven.
And they worshipped him
and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
and were continually in the temple,
blessing God.
Amen,
and may God bless to us
this reading of his own holy word.
We're going to sing again
and sing Psalms in Psalm number 24.
It's on page 28,
Psalm 24,
from the beginning,
verses 1 to 8.
The world and all in it are gods,
all peoples of the earth,
for it was founded by the Lord
upon the seas beneath.
Who may ascend the hill of God
or in his temple stand?
The one who shuns false gods and lies,
who's pure in heart and hand.
He will find favour from the Lord
and from his Saviour grace.
Thus are they blessed,
O Jacob's God,
who truly seek your face.
You engine gates,
lift up your heads.
You doors be opened wide.
So may the King of glory come
forever to abide.
But who is this exalted King?
What glorious King is he?
It is the Lord of strength and might,
the Lord of victory.
1 to 8, Psalm 24,
the world and all in it are gods.
Amen.
The world and all in it are gods,
all peoples of the earth,
for it was founded by the Lord
upon the seas beneath.
Who may ascend the hill of God
or in his temple stand?
The one who shuns false gods and lies,
who's pure in heart and hand.
He will find favour from the Lord
and from his Saviour grace.
Thus are they blessed,
O Jacob's God,
who truly seek your face.
You ancient gates,
lift up your heads.
You doors be opened wide.
So may the King of glory come
forever to abide.
But who is this exalted King?
What glorious King is he?
It is the Lord of strength and might,
the Lord of victory.
Amen.
Let's turn again for a little
to the chapter we read
in Luke's Gospel,
Luke chapter 24.
And at verse 50.
Then he led them out as far as Bethany
and lifting up his hands,
he blessed them.
While he blessed them,
he parted from them
and was carried up into heaven.
And they worshipped him
and returned to Jerusalem
with great joy
and were continually in the temple
blessing God.
Now as we know at this time of year,
there is great focus
upon the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ
and this morning,
Calamurda was looking
at the return
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
his second coming into this world.
And tonight,
I want to focus
on Jesus's leaving this world.
This which happened between
his coming first time into the world
and also between his return again.
Now as we know,
at a human level,
partings are never easy.
Whether the parting
is just for a short time
or whether the parting
is going to be forever.
Partings are always difficult
and it doesn't matter.
Of course,
we know that final partings
are things that we never really get over.
But even parting for a short time
is never an easy thing.
And usually,
we find the reaction
is a very heavy heart
and people are sad
and down.
But we find the very opposite here
because this parting
has brought in the disciples
of Jesus
great joy.
That's what we find,
that they return to Jerusalem
with great joy.
And at one level,
we might find that very strange
because here they are
parting from the person,
the one who filled them
with the greatest delight,
the one that they loved
above all others in this world.
And so,
we might say to ourselves,
it's a kind of a strange reaction.
But they are filled with joy
because what they had experienced
and what they were told
produced joy within their heart.
Now,
there was such a contrast
between Jesus' coming
into this world
and his leaving this world.
And yet,
in some ways,
there was also similarity
because
only very,
very few
witnessed
the arrival of Jesus
into this world
when he was born.
Very few.
And again,
it was only a handful
that witnessed
his actual ascension.
And
of course,
when Jesus returns,
it couldn't be more different.
His first time
coming into the world,
as we said,
very few
were witnessed
to his actual birth.
To his leaving this world,
only his disciples
saw him leave.
But when he returns,
everybody
is going to see him.
There won't be one
person alive
when the Lord Jesus Christ
returns
that will have
the slightest bit of doubt
that this is
the Son of God,
that this is
the Lord Jesus Christ.
On that day,
there will be no scoffers,
there will be no mockers,
there will be no agnostics,
there will be no atheists.
Every single person
will be
absolutely
convinced
that this is
the returning
Son of God.
And that
couldn't have been
more different
to how it was
at the beginning
because,
as we know,
when Jesus was born
into this world,
he was born
in an outhouse.
There was no
room in the inn.
There was no place
for Jesus
in the world.
It's very symbolic
in many ways
of how it was.
There was no room
in the inn
because,
from the very start,
this world
had no place
for Jesus.
From the very start,
the world
didn't want
Jesus.
And nothing has changed
because there's no
creed
and there's no faith
that has
suffered more
mocking
and persecution
than the Christian faith.
and down
throughout the centuries
right to this
very day.
And you remember
that, I suppose,
where you see
the focus
more than
anywhere else
is when the crowd
were offered
to choose
between the most
loving,
caring,
tolerant
person
that ever lived
in this world
or else
the riotous
terrorist
who struck
fear in every
heart,
Barabbas.
They chose
Barabbas.
At a human level,
you see,
it's utterly mad
that they chose
a man
who was a terrorist,
a man who caused
total unrest
within the community
over against
the most caring,
generous,
loving person
ever to walk
this world.
their choice
was basically
anybody
but Jesus.
And sadly,
that's still
the way it is.
Get rid of Jesus,
crucify him.
But the ascension
of Jesus
was really
quite a remarkable
thing.
And the disciples
had become used
to seeing
remarkable things
in the life
of Jesus Christ.
They had seen
him walk
on the water,
they had seen
him feed
the 5,000
from five loaves
and two fish.
They had seen
him heal
the paralyzed
and the deaf
and the mute
and the blind.
They had seen
him cast out
demons,
they had seen
him even
raise the dead.
They had seen
him walk
on,
as we say,
walk on the water
and they had seen
him just by the word
calm the water.
Three of them
had seen
him transfigured
and they had
seen him
crucified
and they had
seen him
reappear before
them.
And so,
in many ways,
what happened
was very fitting
for the life
of Jesus.
What they were
able to witness
this extraordinary
departure
out from this
world.
Now,
we know
that there was
a 40-day period
where Jesus,
before this
final ascension,
was appearing
and reappearing
to his
disciples.
And it wasn't
just to the
immediate 11.
He also
appeared to
Mary.
He appeared
to,
as we saw,
the two on
the Emmaus Road.
He appeared
to many
of the other
women as well.
And Paul tells
us that he
appeared to
500.
And it is
often believed
that in that
40-day period
that Jesus
was returning
over,
back and
forward,
to the
Father,
but returning
again to
the world
until his
final ascension.
And in this
period of
these 40
days,
he used
that period
to encourage
the church,
to teach
the church,
to restore,
like, for
instance,
Peter,
and to prepare
them for the
future.
And Luke
tells us,
in fact,
in Acts
chapter 3,
he presented
himself alive
to them after
his sufferings,
by many
proofs,
appearing to
them during
40 days
and speaking
to them
about the
kingdom.
You see,
the early
church had
to be
witnesses
to the
ascension
of the
Lord Jesus
Christ.
They had
to be
witnesses
to the
real fact
that Jesus
is a
living
saviour.
saved.
Because if
Jesus is
a dead
saviour,
he's not
a saviour
at all.
If Jesus
didn't rise
from the
dead,
Paul tells
us we're
still dead
in our
sins.
If Jesus
didn't rise
from the
dead,
there is
no gospel
message.
And that's
one of the
great
distinctions.
There are
many distinctions
between the
Christian faith
and the
other faiths.
But when you
look at the
leaders of the
others,
they died
and they're
buried and
they remain
buried.
But our
saviour
died,
was buried
and defeated
death and
rose again.
And so the
church has to
be witness to
this fact
that we have
a risen
ascended
saviour.
Now the
thing is that
nobody saw
the risen
Jesus
apart from
his followers.
Nobody of
the world,
no unbeliever
was witness
to the
risen
saviour.
He only
appeared to
his people.
And in a
sense,
that's almost
how it still
is.
Because
until
naturally,
we cannot,
I know it's
by faith,
but naturally,
we cannot
see Jesus
as we are.
We hear
about him,
we know
about him,
but we've
never seen
him in a
way where
we're able
to lay
hold upon
him and
believe in
what he has
done,
that he
has done
it for
us,
and that
he has
by his
work saved
us from
our sins.
It's only
by faith
that we're
able to
see him.
Naturally,
we can't,
and
naturally,
we don't
even want
him.
We don't
think about
him too
much.
We might
think a
wee bit,
but we
don't have
this desire
to have
him as
our Lord.
as I
said,
they saw
no beauty
in him
that they
should
desire
him.
So it
is by
faith,
and by
faith alone,
that we're
able to
see Jesus.
And the
thing is
that I
think every
believer
wishes that
they could
see Jesus
better.
If you're a
believer here
tonight,
I'm sure
deep down
in your
heart,
that's what
you say,
oh Lord,
help me to
see you
better.
And I'm
sure you
think that
everybody in
this church
has a
clearer sight
of Jesus,
that they're
able to
love him
more than
you,
that they're
able to
see more
clearly than
you.
It's a
thing you
long for,
but I
think it's
something that
plagues us
all.
We see,
we're told,
but through
a glass
darkly.
It's a
very dim
vision we
have,
but we
have seen
enough to
accept
and to
believe.
And I
would go
as far
as to
say that
it's only
somebody who
has the
Lord Jesus
Christ in
their heart
that is
troubled by
these thoughts.
Because a
person who
doesn't have
Christ
isn't
troubled by
the fact that
they're not
able to see
him clearly,
that they're
not able to
love him in
the way that
they do.
It's an
evidence of
the very fact
that Christ
is within
you,
that you
have this
desire to
see him
more clearly
and to
love him
more clearly.
Now,
Jesus,
as we see
here,
he spoke
to them
and he
taught them
and he
opened their
minds to
understand
things that
they hadn't
been able to
understand before.
This, in a
sense, was
kind of their
finishing school
where Jesus
was opening
their mind
to understand
truths that
he had taught
them before,
but they
hadn't
grasped.
And in
many ways,
it's similar
to ourselves
as we go
along in
life.
There are
many things
when we
start out
in the
faith that
we don't
properly
understand.
In fact,
even as we
go on in
the faith,
there are
things that
we don't
understand.
But I'm
sure along
the way,
often you've
said,
I get it
now.
I'm beginning
to see
this now.
Well, this
was a
dawning
moment for
the disciples
because they
were able to
understand.
We know how
limited their
understanding was.
They hadn't,
even Peter,
James,
and John
hadn't
grasped the
significance of
Christ's mission.
Yes, they
believed in him
as the son of
God.
They believed
completely in him
as the Messiah,
but they
hadn't grasped
that he had to
die.
Peter, in fact,
tried to talk him
out of going
to the cross.
He's saying,
put these
thoughts away
from you.
We've said it
often enough
before,
Mary of Bethany
was the one
who fully
understood the
mission of
Christ.
Remember
where it
tells us
that when
Peter and
John went
to the
grave,
it tells
us Peter
ran into
the grave,
but John
stood at
the grave
and he
believed.
It was
like there
was a
dawning of
how this,
yeah,
I understand
now,
all Jesus
is teaching.
It's all
coming together.
You know,
it's often
like that
for us.
Well,
here was
a special
moment for
the disciples
as Jesus
was teaching
them about,
this was
kind of like
their finishing
school.
And those,
we all have
to be taught
because we're
all serving
the Lord.
Wherever you
are as a
believer,
you're serving
the Lord.
And we all
have to have
a level of
understanding
and a level
of teaching,
a level of
knowledge,
because we
have to impart
to others.
But those
who are
sent out,
they have
to be
taught.
Moses
had his
time of
learning.
Paul had
his time
of learning.
The disciples
had three
years with
Jesus,
but here it
is,
here now,
Jesus is
teaching them.
And that's
what we read
about there
from verses
44,
45.
then he
opened
their minds
to understand
the scriptures
and so on.
And what a
wonderful insight
was given
then.
And then we
find Jesus
heading out
as far as
Bethany.
And this
was,
Bethany was
on the
slopes of
the Mount
of Olives.
And as
we know,
it's often
been suggested
that Jesus
rose,
ascended
from Bethany,
from the
vicinity of
Bethany,
as a
mark of
the devotion
of Mary
of Bethany.
Jesus didn't
ascend from
Jerusalem.
They had
put him
to death.
He didn't
ascend from
Nazareth,
where his
home was.
They'd
rejected him.
He didn't
ascend from
Capernaum,
where he
did many
mighty works.
They again
rejected him.
But he
ascended from
Bethany,
which was
the home
that he
loved,
the family
that he
loved,
Mary,
Martha,
and Lazarus.
Many have
suggested it
is as a
token
to that
home that
it is from
this vicinity
that he
ascended.
Now,
of course,
many of the
significant
events in
Jesus'
life took
place on
hills or
on mountains.
His famous
sermon,
we find in
Matthew,
termed the
Sermon on
the Mount,
still termed
that to
this very
day.
It was
on a
mountain
that he
was
transfigured.
It was
on a
hill that
he was
crucified.
We find,
in fact,
that there
were many
times we
find Jesus
going up
into the
mountain to
pray.
We find
many of the
Old Testament
saints that
the mountains
were significant
to them.
We find that
the Lord
appearing to
Abraham on
the mountain.
We find
Moses spending
40 days and
40 nights with
the Lord on
the mountain
when the
table of
the law was
written out
by God's
hand.
We find
that Elijah
was recommissioned,
as it were,
and again
it was on
the mountain
to go
back to
work for
the Lord.
So here
is Jesus
with this
little group
and it
tells us
in verse
50,
and he
and lifting
up his
hands,
he blessed
them.
And while
he blessed
them,
he parted
from them
and was
carried up
into heaven.
Lifting up
his hands.
These are the
hands that
fed the
thousands,
sins,
the hands
that had
blessed
the children,
the hands
that had
healed the
sick,
the hands
that had
been stretched
out in
invitation to
sinners to
come to
him,
the hands
that had
been nailed
to the
cross.
These are
the hands
that are
lifted up
and stretched
out over
them.
And many
people think
that this is
simply the
benediction,
like we have
in parting.
You know
how we pronounce
a benediction
in parting.
And while
definitely that
is true,
I think there's
more involved
than simply
a benediction.
Because the
whole of
scripture and
the Old
Testament has
been described
as God's
picture book
where we
see in
type and
in symbolic
way the
life of
Jesus fulfilled.
And when we
go to
Leviticus,
we read
in chapter
8 of
how Aaron
was set
apart to
be the
high priest.
He was
to be
over all
with regard
to the
whole
sacrificial
system.
And in
chapter 9
we find
his first
official
duty was
to present
the offerings
on behalf
of the
people before
the Lord.
And we
find him
presenting the
sin offering
and the
burnt offering
and the
peace offering
the different
animals.
And then it
tells us when
he had done
all that
that he
lifted up
his hands
to bless
the people.
And as he
did that,
that fire
from the
Lord devoured
all the
sacrifice
and the
glory of
the Lord
appeared.
Because the
Lord was
at this
very moment
bearing
testimony to
the fact
that he
was accepting
the sacrifice
that the
high priest
Aaron had
made on
behalf of
the people.
And is
that not a
picture exactly
of what we
have here?
Because Jesus
is the
great high
priest and
he has
come to do
everything that
the father
gave him
to do.
And he
isn't just
the high
priest offering
the sacrifice,
he is a
sacrifice.
He is a
burnt offering,
he is a
sin offering,
he is a
peace offering,
and through
his offering
the wrath
of God
has been
removed.
And God
is declaring
over all,
I am well
pleased,
fully satisfied.
And so
there is a
sense of
the completion
and the
acceptance of
God in
the raising
of the
hands of
Jesus.
But we
mustn't also
lose sight of
indeed that
benediction
blessing.
Yes, it
is all
finished.
God and
man are
reconciled
together.
The veil of
the temple
that separated
the glory of
God was
torn from
top to
bottom.
God and
man are
now
reconciled
together.
And so
Jesus,
he raises
up his
hands and
as he
blesses
them,
we find
this
extraordinary
thing that
he's
carried up
into heaven.
That's what
we're told,
that he
parted from
them and
was carried
into heaven.
And you
know, it's a
beautiful picture,
the idea,
the picture of
Jesus rising
up with
his hands
in blessing
over the
church.
In Acts
chapter 1
verse 9,
it tells us,
as they were
looking on,
he was lifted
up and a
cloud took
him out of
their sight.
And this
word lifted
up indicates
that the
ascension is
actually the
work of the
Father.
And then
Luke 24,
51 tells us
they worshipped
him.
You know,
I think it's
one of the
most beautiful
scenes.
There's a lot
of scenes in
the life of
Jesus I would
love to have
been witness
to, to have
been there.
But I think
this is as
good or as
wonderful as
any.
that moment
where the
Lord Jesus
lifts up
his hand
in blessing
over his
people.
And he's
carried on
up into
heaven.
And we
find that the
church in
response to
this falls
down before
him and
worships him.
And that
has always
got to be
the response
of the
church.
It's this
worship as
the Lord
continues to
bless.
and it
tells us
that a
cloud
took him
out of
their
sight.
So some
people ask
why had
there to
be this
ascension
like this?
Well I think
very simply
Jesus is
showing,
having appeared
over this
40 day
period,
that he
is now
finally,
that's him,
that he's
gone to
glory.
day.
And the
cloud,
the presence
of the
cloud,
of course
again is
also symbolic
because we
find so
often in
the Bible
the presence
of the
Lord is
accompanied
by the
cloud.
In the
journey of
the Israelites
through the
wilderness,
you remember
there was
the cloud
by day
and the
pillar of
cloud by
day and
the pillar
of fire
by night,
which spoke
of the
presence of
the Lord.
The fire
to give
them light
and the
cloud there
to protect
them and
the cloud
there as
a guidance.
When the
cloud stopped,
they stopped.
When the
cloud moved,
they moved.
This was
indicating the
presence of
the Lord.
You remember
again at the
dedication of
the temple
when Solomon
had built
the temple
and dedicated
that it
tells us
that the
temple was
filled with
a cloud
which spoke
of the
glory of
God.
When Jesus
returns,
it tells us
in Revelation
he will
come in
the clouds
of heaven.
So
Jesus,
as he
disappears
into the
cloud,
we find
again in
Acts that
tells us
that two
angels appear
and tell the
disciples something
wonderful.
This
Jesus taken
up to
heaven will
come in
the same
way as
you saw
him go
into
heaven.
And what a
moment that's
going to be.
It tells us
that Jesus
will descend
from heaven.
And it
won't be a
private
descending
like the
ascension was
private only
for the
immediate
few.
But we're
told in
scripture that
this is going
to be the
most public
event that
the world
has ever
witnessed.
Now we
know that
nowadays
through the
way that
things are
able to be
broadcast,
that there
are sometimes
things are
broadcast all
over the
world.
but here
is something
and I
don't know
how it's
going to
happen.
But it's
going to
happen that
Jesus is
going to
descend from
heaven and
every eye
will see
him.
Everyone.
And there's
going to be
two distinct
reactions to
the return of
the Lord
Jesus Christ.
We're told
that those
who have
rejected him
will call
upon the
rocks and
to the
hills to
cover them,
to fall,
to hide
them from
the glare,
from the
face of
Jesus.
But his
people are
going to
say,
even so
come Lord
Jesus.
That's going
to be the
reaction.
There's going
to be
delight,
anticipation,
thrill in
the hearts of
his people as
they see the
descending Jesus
arrive back
into this
world.
That's why the
church does
say,
even so
come Lord
Jesus.
Christ.
So what
does the
ascension of
Christ mean
for us
tonight?
Well,
very simply
as we
conclude,
as we
said earlier,
the
ascension is
proof that
everything that
Christ was
given to do,
he did.
The
ascension is
proof that
all the
enemies Christ
came to
defeat were
defeated.
The enemy
of sin.
When you
think of all
that sin is,
it's twistedness,
it's deceit,
it's guilt,
all these
things,
Christ took
all that
upon himself.
He has
come and
he's defeated
the enemy
of death
with all
its fears
and with
all its
darkness,
with all
its separation
because he's
taken the
sting out
of death.
We know
unless the
Lord returns
first that we
will die.
But while
it is natural
to fear,
death,
we know
that the
sting of
death has
been removed.
He has
defeated
Satan,
that
malicious,
ferocious
enemy that
we have.
He has
defeated
him.
He has
defeated
hell,
that place
of outer
darkness
and eternal
separation,
so that
all who
trust in
Jesus are
delivered.
And he's
also ascended
into heaven
to make
continual
intercession
for us.
We've
said it
before,
the intercession
of Jesus
is not
Jesus at
the right
hand of the
Father pleading
on our
behalf saying,
Father,
forgive them,
they can't
help it.
Father,
forgive them,
they're
sinners and
they're unable
to break
these habits.
not
no,
he intercedes
by presenting
what he
has done
on our
behalf.
That the
Father is
looking on
the fulfilled
work of
Jesus which
is shown
by a
continual
intercession
on our
behalf.
He's also
gone to
prepare a
place for
us.
Now he
did that
when the
first part
of the
preparation
of that
place was
leaving
heaven,
coming into
this
world.
That
preparation
involved
living for
us in
this
world.
That
preparation
involved
dying for
us in
this
world.
Preparation
involved
rising from
the dead
and ascending
into heaven.
And all
the meantime
he is
preparing us
for that
place.
And one
day the
Lord is
going to
say,
it's time
to come
home.
Your place
is ready.
You don't
know when
it'll be,
I don't
know.
But if we
love the
Lord Jesus,
that call
will come
one day.
Time to
come home.
Your place
is ready.
Because Jesus
has gone to
heaven to
prepare that
place.
And it
tells us
the disciples
worshipped him
and returned
with great
joy.
And they
were continually
praising and
blessing God
in the
temple.
It's very
interesting that
the gospel
according to
Luke of
24 chapters,
Luke begins
in the
temple,
telling us
about
Zachariah.
Remember
John the
Baptist's
father?
Zachariah was
offering the
sacrifice when
the angel
came to
tell about
that Elizabeth
was to have
the baby.
That's where
it begins in
the temple.
And 24
chapters later,
it ends in
the temple
with the
Lord's people
praising God.
And in
between
chapter 1
and chapter
24,
24, we
have the
most remarkable
account of
the greatest
life that was
ever lived in
this world,
the life of
Jesus.
What does
the life of
Jesus mean to
you tonight?
Is the life of
Jesus a life
that has changed
you?
Is it a life
that you're so
thankful for?
Or does
the life of
Jesus just
simply interest
you?
Or does it
not really
mean much
at all?
Well, if
you've never
really thought
about it,
it's time you
started thinking
about it.
Because his
life is the
only life that
can change
you and
fulfill and
make your
life what
nobody else
and nothing
else.
can make
it.
Let us
pray.
Oh, Lord,
our God,
we give
thanks for
the transforming
power of
Jesus Christ.
We give
thanks for
the great
account of
his life,
of his
death,
of his
resurrection,
and of his
ascension.
And we
give thanks
that he
continues to
make intercession
for us.
And how
thankful we
are for
everything that
your word
reveals to
us of
him.
We pray
to bless
us in
each and
every one
of us.
Take us
to our
home safety
and grant
us your
grace in
all that
we're about.
Lord, we
pray your
blessing on
the fellowship
tonight and
again on
all those
who have,
as usual,
done so
much behind
the scenes.
Grant us
your grace in
all that we
do and
forgive us
our every
sin in
Jesus'
name.
Amen.
we're
going to
conclude
singing in
Psalm 68
from the
Scottish
Psalter.
Psalm number
68 from
the
Scottish
Psalter.
And we're
going to
sing verses
18 to
20.
Psalm 68
verses
18 to
20.
Thou hast,
O Lord,
most glorious,
ascended up
on high,
and in
triumph,
victorious,
led,
captive,
captivity.
Thou hast
received gifts
for men,
for such as
did rebel,
yea,
even for
them,
that God
the Lord
in midst
of them
might dwell.
blessed
be the
Lord,
who is
to us
of our
salvation
God,
who daily
with his
benefits
as
plenteously
doth load.
He of
salvation
is the
God,
who is
our
God
most
strong,
and unto
God
the
Lord
from
death
the
issues
do
belong.
18 to
20,
Psalm 68,
the
Scottish
Psalter.
Thou hast,
O Lord,
most
glorious.
Thou hast,
the Lord
most
glorious.
Ascended
upon
high,
and in
triumph
victorious
led
captive,
captivity.
thou hast
received
gifts
for men,
for such
as did
rebel,
yea,
in for
them
that
got
the
Lord,
in
midst
of
them
might
dwell.
Blessed
be
the
Lord,
who is
to
us
of
our
salvation
God,
who
daily
with
his
benefits
as
plentiously
doth
Lord,
he
of
salvation
is
the
God,
who
is
our
God
most
strong,
and
unto
God,
the
Lord
from
death,
he
is
to
belong.
Now,
may the
grace,
mercy,
and peace
of God,
the
Father,
Son,
and Holy
Spirit,
rest and
abide upon
each one
of you
now and
forevermore.
Amen.
I'll go to
the door
on my
left here.
Amen.