Bethany Bullet Sermon Message - Week of June 2, 2019

When we return to the sanctuary (later this summer) we will be greeted by the stained glass window of Jesus’ Ascension with the words of St. Luke that chronicled the event, “At Bethany He Blessed Them.”

Indeed the Lord has, is and shall continue blessing at Bethany.  The Ascension of our Lord promises multiple blessings. 

First, Jesus’ Ascension enables Him to make and keep His promise to be with us always.  Wherever we are, He is there!  Had Jesus remained on earth and continued His earthly ministry His presence would have been, as it was, found in one place.  Like the Greeks in John 12 we would need to seek Jesus out in order to come into His company.  However, as the Ascended Lord, Jesus is now with His own wherever they are.  Of course Jesus is not only with us, He is also with His Father, serving as our defender and commend’er. 

The second blessing of His Ascension is His service before the Father on our behalf as our advocate, great high priest and the One through whom our prayers are heard and for whose sake they are answered; in accordance with God’s wisdom and will. 

The third blessing of Jesus’ Ascension is His sending of the Spirit (the 3^rd person of the Trinity).  Jesus promised this gift prior to His return to the Father, “I will not leave you as orphans…if I go I will send the counselor.”   The Ascended Lord, who is ever with us, sends us His Spirit as well; to lead and guide, empower and enable us to continue our Lord’s work and carry out His Gospel mission till He returns again.

-Pr. Kevin Kritzer