A Perfect Parting

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.

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.

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.

Luke 24 · chapter mention

Luke chapter 24.

Luke 24 · chapter mention

Luke chapter 24.

Luke 24 · chapter mention

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

Acts 3 · chapter mention

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

Acts 1:9

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.

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,