Today is the feast of the Ascension of our Lord Christ. Today, we celebrate the Man's Victory, for God became man and is now seated at the Right Hand of the Father, ruling over all as the victor over the grave. Jesus ascended into the heavens and by appearance, it looks like Jesus is gone for good and won't be coming to our house any time soon. It looks like we will have to go to Him. With this thought, we pray, "Almighty God, as Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ascended into the heavens, so may we also ascend in heart and mind and continually dwell there with Him" (Collect for Ascension). For some reason, Lutherans pray this prayer on the feast of the Ascension and drop their confession of the means of grace and become a bunch of spiritualist reformed theologians. Our comfort in the Ascension of our Lord is not that in heart and mind we ascend to be with Him, but rather than in His Ascension, He sends us the Comforter to bring us the spoils of Jesus' victory. The only way we ascend for eternity, not just in heart and mind, but in body and soul as well, the only way we ascend is by the Comforter descending down to us and bringing us the gifts of our Ascended Lord, Jesus the Christ.

Outside of the means of grace, the means by which the Holy Spirit delivers Jesus to us, the Ascension would be a terrible blow to the church. The Ascension is the victory day for the Church, but when you look around at the world and look at our own sinful condition, it doesn't look like that much of a victory. The world still rejects Jesus, and we continue to abound in transgressions. We don't see Jesus walking around anymore, so the Old Adam is tempting us daily to doubt that Jesus is truly victorious and risen. The Ascension is a historical event, but because we are sinners and we doubt naturally, we need to be reminded of our Ascended Lord's love for us and that He reigns in order to save us from sin, death, and the devil. Our Lord Christ Jesus doesn't ascend into heaven and leave us to fend for ourselves. No. He sends us the Holy Spirit who preaches the Gospel and distributed the sacraments that we may receive the benefits of Jesus' Ascension and ascend as well to be with the Triune God forever.

So, what's the best way to celebrate the Ascension of our Lord? Is it to look up into the heavens for the day and contemplate how Jesus is up there watching us and looking out for us? Is it by looking into our hearts and by transcendental meditation going up into heaven? No, the way in which we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord is by receiving Him in Word and Sacrament, not by looking up, but by looking to where Jesus promises to be delivered for our forgiveness. So, my friends, go to Church tonight where the gifts are handed over from the pulpit and the altar and receive the gifts of your Ascended Lord Jesus.

Peace be with you. May the devil be silenced, the world be hushed, and the Old Adam be drowned anew so that you hear only the voice of your Savior Jesus who says, "Yes, I am ascended, but take heart, I have not abandoned you, but am with you always even to the end of the age," Amen.

Jesus' Sheepdog,

Pastor Hull