Thy Kingdom Come

Festival of the Ascension

May 29, 2014

Ephesians 1:20-21

Thy Kingdom Come

In the name of Jesus.

I.

Jesus rising up into the heavens wasn't unprecedented. Others have had it happen to them. Moses recorded that Enoch walked with God and was taken into heaven alive and well (Genesis 5). The prophet Elijah was taken up into heaven alive and well in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2).

But completely unlike Jesus, they hadn't died first and come back to life.

Jesus had died to buy you back from death. Because of your wickedness—up to and including the stubborn idea that your wickedness isn't that bad—the only direction you were headed was down, not up. So He had to bleed to forgive unforgivable sinners like us.

In Him we have been redeemed [we have been bought back] through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace (Ephesians 1:7)

And His blood shed for us pleased His Father in heaven. And it was the Father's good pleasure to

[raise Christ] from the dead and [seat] Him at His right hand in the heavens—far above every ruler and authority, power and dominion, and every title given, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:20-21)

Many saw Jesus' suffering under Pontius Pilate. Many saw His crucifixion, His death, and His burial. Many saw the humiliating and shameful death of God's Son.

On the other hand, no one saw His glorious resurrection. Only a relative few talked and ate with Him during His final 40 days on earth, and among even those few, some still doubted Him.

But did He let them see His glorious rising into the sky. And they looked intently upon this astonishing spectacle. They stared with unblinking eyes upon the One who returning to His Father's right hand to rule His kingdom.

II.

In heaven now Enoch and Elijah see God's glorious kingdom with their eyes.

But for us now His kingdom is hidden. Jesus rules the world and is over every kingdom and state and home, but He doesn't rule directly. He sends us lawmakers, governors, and parents to rule for Him. Naturally we wonder if this is true. The world is a mess, some of politicians are corrupt, many lawmakers believe that their constituents have the divine right to be happy, and all of them are tempted to do whatever takes to make the voters like them right away.

Many of our families are broken, our churches in disarray, our personal lives just hanging on, day to day. Our eyes fight against the promised Word, “Thy kingdom comes.”

But His Word gouges out our old eyes and pops in clean eyes that we can see the coming of His kingdom. Our new eyes grasp that our hidden Savior, who sits at the Father's right hand in heaven, is also standing over that new rebellious and wicked baby as she is brought up to His holy sink. And there in that holy sink Christ through His pastor kills that little rebel with the Word and water, and lifts up a new clean and holy baby.

Thy kingdom comes through the Word, which is brought to us by the Holy Spirit. Sainted Dr. Luther wrote in the Catechism,

God's kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead a godly life now on earth and forever in heaven.

Leading a godly life begins and ends with receiving His gifts of forgiveness. As you pray every day the words that Christ has given to His body, the Church, you are receiving His kingdom.

III.

Adam was still alive for almost 300 years after Enoch was born. What do you think Adam talked to his great-great-great-great grandson about? About the coming Savior from sin. Thy kingdom come and it came to Enoch.

Elijah lived by himself and even thought he was the only believer left. How did he survive? Through the promise of the coming Savior. Thy kingdom come and it came to Elijah.

Thy kingdom come and it has come to you. And because it has, when He descends in glory, it will be to take you home to join Enoch and Elijah and all the saints.

In the name of the Father

and of the † Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.