The Comfort of Christ Jesus' Ascension 2 Kings 2

The Ascension Of Our Lord                                29-May-2025
Sermon Text: 2 Kings 5:5-15
Sermon Theme: “The Comfort of Jesus’ Ascension” I. He Ascends Accompanying Us Always! (Vs.5-7) II. He Ascends Showering Us With His Gifts! (Vs.8-10) III. He Ascends Clothing Us With His Victory!(11-13). IV. He Ascends Pouring His Spirit Upon Us!(14-15) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. “Alleluia! Christ is risen!” “Alleluia! Christ Jesus ascended!”... How do we respond? Maybe ...just forget it. Why rejoice that Jesus has left us to ascend? Many reformed Christians teach that in the ascension Jesus’ physical body is now locked far away from us at the Father’s right hand in the highest heavens. What comfort is that? We are left to struggle on through this world on our own, without our Brother Shepherd to sympathize with us in all our weaknesses.
      If Jesus’ human nature is now torn away from us in the highest heavens - He cannot be present in baptism or the Lord’s Supper. Instead of gracious gifts the sacraments become something we do to remember Jesus, or to show our obedience and dedication to Him - they bring us no comfort in our struggles with temptation and sin.
     If Jesus is only now present among us according to His Divine nature as the Holy God - His drawing near means terror for us sinners. Instead of calling upon Him in prayer we seek the help of fellow human beings - saints - to pray for us before Him - far away in heaven. If Jesus is no longer with His Church on earth as True God and True Man - then we imagine we need to elect and appoint one man - to be a vicar of Christ - heading up His Church on earth.
    If Jesus is far removed from our world, then we image that the battle is all ours to fight. We despair as the world parades in pride marching to hell. We wrongly imagine He left us a puzzle to predict the day of His return in glory. We vainly assume that we can bring Christ’s Kingdom upon earth if we rebuild a third temple, elect the right leaders, seize worldly power and wealth.
     False teaching robs us of all comfort driving us to despair. False teaching puffs us up in pride trusting in our plans to win the world for Jesus. Repent! Stop standing staring at the clouds wondering, “Why did Jesus abandon us?” Repent! Jesus - the God/Man - will come again soon in glory to judge all who ever lived in this creation. Repent! Jesus, your Brother - your Lord promises you: “Matthew 28:20 .... lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
   Learn from Elijah’s last day on earth: “The Comfort of Jesus’ Ascension” I. He Ascends Accompanying Us Always! (Vs.5-7) II. He Ascends Showering Us With His Gifts! (Vs.8-10) III. He Ascends Clothing Us With His Victory!(11-13). IV. He Ascends Pouring His Spirit Upon Us!(14-15)
I. In the historically accurate account of the Holy Bible there are only two men who never died. Do you remember them? The obvious one in our text is the prophet Elijah, whom the Lord God took home body and soul to heaven by a whirlwind. Who was the other? In Genesis five we read, Genesis 5:21-24 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah. (22) After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters. (23) So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. (24) And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.” Enoch, the seventh from Adam never died. The ancient Christian commentator, Ephrem the Syrian wrote, “Some say that while Adam was looking [at Enoch] God transported him to paradise lest Adam think that Enoch was killed as was Abel and so be grieved. This was so that Adam might also be comforted by this just son of his and that he might know that for all who were like this one, whether before death or after the resurrection, paradise would be their meeting place. “
      What do their assumption into heaven mean for us? Our God and Creator has not rejected His human creatures. The defect isn’t our bodies, they are still created by our God. Original sin has corrupted body and soul, but it has not wretched it out of the saving hand of our Creator. Salvation isn’t escaping from our bodies, our creature-ness. It is to be reclaimed and redeemed by our Creator.
       Second to Moses, Elijah was the greatest prophet of the Old Testament. He was called by God and sent to preach to the northern kingdom of Israel as wicked king Ahab and queen Jezebel ruled. Satan’ lies and false spirituality always follow the same pathways of destructive sinful pride. Israel worship fertility idols to prevent climate change. Turning away from the Creator, they gave themselves over to sexual perversion, prostitution, homosexuality, and child sacrifice to serve their climate saving spirituality. Elijah prayed to the only true and living God and it didn’t rain for over three years - man’s ideas do not control climate - only our Creator does.
        Facing the 450 false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Elijah called the people to choose if they’d serve the Lie or the only True God of Israel. Fire fell from heaven proving our God lives. Elijah prayed - rain came. Queen Jezebel issued a death warrant for the prophet. He ran to the wilderness begging God to die - he was certain the church was reduced only to him. The Lord sent him back to anoint Elisha his successor. Elijah, whose name means “God is Jahweh” teaches Elisha, whose name means “God Is Salvation.”
    The Lord God answers Elijah’s prayer to die by promising to take him alive to heaven. History records, (vs.5-7) The sons of the prophets were like our seminarians - studying God’s Word to assume the prophetic preaching office. The Lord revealed to them also that Elijah was about to be assumed into paradise. Elijah tries to leave Elisha behind, but he will not - he vows, “As the Lord lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you!” He walks with Elijah to the water of the Jordan.
      Elisha couldn’t keep his promise to Elijah. Soon a chariot of fire would separate them and a whirlwind would take Elijah to heaven. Crucified for our sins as the God/Man in our flesh. Raised again to life as the God/Man in our flesh - Jesus keeps the promise He makes us in baptismal water - “I will not leave you!” Mark testifies, Mark 16:19-20 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. (20) And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen. King Jesus the God/Man is with us always working through the Word/Water sign of baptism. Assuring you that you never walk alone!
II. The barrier of the Jordan River appeared insurmountable. History records (vs.8) The Lord God opens a dry path through the midst of the river for His children to safely cross. (Vs.9-10) Elisha wants the blessing of the first born - a double portion of the inheritance as Elijah’s successor. It is a hard thing - a cross to bear to be a prophet, a preacher of God’s Word in any age. If Elisha sees Elijah taken up that blessing will fall upon him.  
     After Jesus physically rose from the dead, Thomas refused to believe unless he saw the same physical evidence the others saw. Jesus appeared to him the next Sunday as the Church gathered. Thomas confesses Jesus is “my Lord and my God.” Remember what Jesus said? John 20:29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
      Jesus’ ascension into heaven is to fill all things as God and Man - that He might pour out the sevenfold gift of the Holy Spirit upon you. Listen! Ephesians 4:8-12 Therefore He says: "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVITY CAPTIVE, AND GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." (9) (Now this, "HE ASCENDED"—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? (10) He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) (11) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, (12) for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
     King Jesus now rules His Church to pour out His cross won - empty tomb certified gifts upon us sinners. Forgiveness of all our sins. Life eternal. Sure and certain salvation. These are His gifts that He showers upon His Church by the Holy Spirit. He marches triumphantly through this world by preachers proclaiming His Gospel. He brings the spiritually dead to life in baptism. He comforts crushed sinners with forgiving words of absolution. He strengthens the weary with His living flesh and blood at His feast of victory. We are blessed - not because we have seen, but by King Jesus’ rule pouring out His gifts the Holy Spirit has called, gathered, enlightened, and keeps us in this one True Faith in Christ Jesus alone!
III. Suddenly the prophets are separated. (Vs. 11-12) A fiery chariot - a whirlwind - Elijah is gone torn from his student. It wasn’t so forty days after Easter. Jesus had shown Himself alive in our flesh by many infallible medical proofs. Leading His disciples out to the Mount of Olives - Jesus slowly rose - of His own power and will - to step into the cloud of God’s presence - to be with us always. Jesus takes our humanity into the very presence of God the Father and God the Holy Spirit - we are reunited perfectly with our Creator in Jesus’ ascension.
       Elisha saw Elijah no more. He tears his clothes in grief.(vs.13) New clothing is given him, the mantle of Elijah. So we stand by the water and Jesus clothes us with His mantle - Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. His perfect human life is credited to your account. His Home in heaven- His place at the Father’s right hand is your home and place - for now the Father loves you - calls you His child!
       Jesus’ ascension is our comfort in all trials. When Satan, the world, and our own conscience accuses us - we look to King Jesus - He has taken our rags and put His royal robe upon us. No longer can sin claim our bodies - we belong to Him - now we fight against sin - for He clothes us in His victory!
IV.  At the water the sons of the prophet make a confession. (Vs.14-15). Where is the Lord God of Elijah? He was present honoring His Word and Promise! Where is Jesus - He is present and ruling where He has promised to be - in His Church through His Word preached. He rescues us in holy baptism. His Holy Spirit comforts us through daily and richly forgiving all our sins within His Church. The Holy Spirit that descended and remained on Jesus’ physical body - descends on you in baptism- He renews you to be His temple - as you glorify God in your mind and in your body. King Jesus serves you at His table. You are blessed by the Holy Spirit - for you have not seen - yet you believe through His Gospel proclaimed! Alleluia! Christ Jesus Is Ascended! Amen.