This document discusses the ascension of Jesus Christ based on passages from Luke and Acts. It argues that the ascension does not lead to Christ's absence, but rather his presence everywhere as he fills all things. We are called to live in a way that acknowledges our tension between heaven and earth, extends grace to others, and trusts Christ's lordship over all things. The ascension means Christ has been exalted to God's right hand with all authority, and that he remains present with believers until the end of the age.

1. A Prayer For The People of God
Risen and ascended Christ,
you surround us with witnesses
and send us the Counselor
who opens our minds
to understand your teaching.
Bless us with such grace
that our lives may become
a blessing for the world,
now and in the age to come.
Amen.

3. Luke 24:44-53 & Acts 1:1-11
ASCENSION Sunday (one week early)

4. “Too often we seem to regard
the Ascension of Christ as a kind
of awkward explanation for the
absence of Christ. Well, after his
resurrection, Jesus lifted off for
outer space and is now hanging
out with God in heaven until
he comes back. No.
The Ascension is not
about the absence of Christ,
but about (his) ascendancy…”
BRIAN
ZAHND

5. “The ascension of Christ to the right
hand of God is the…promotion
of Christ to the position of all
authority in heaven and on earth.
The right hand of God is not
a cosmological location,
but a poetic way of saying that
God has now given all authority
to Christ. The ascension…
does not lead to the absence
of Christ, but to his cosmic
BRIAN
ZAHND

6. “This is why the risen Christ says,
‘Behold, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age.’
In the Ascension Christ now
‘fills all things everywhere
with himself.’ (Ephesians 1:23)
There is now no place
where Christ is not,
and there is no domain
over which Jesus is not Lord.” BRIAN
ZAHND

7. Luke 24:44-53 & Acts 1:1-11
ASCENSION Sunday (one week early)

8. Then he took them out
as far as Bethany,
and lifted his hands
and blessed them.
As he was blessing them,
he was separated from them
and carried into heaven.
They worshipped him,
and went back to Jerusalem
in great joy. They spent all their
time in the Temple, praising God.
LUKE
24:50-53
(KNT)

9. “Just as the Gospel of Luke
began with the ministry
of the priest Zechariah,
the last picture of Jesus Christ
in this Gospel is of the priest
giving his blessing…”

10. As Jesus said this, he was lifted up while
they were watching, and a cloud took him
out of their sight. They were gazing into
heaven as he disappeared. Then, lo and
behold, two men appeared, dressed in
white, standing beside them. “Galileans,”
they said, “why are you standing and
staring into heaven? This Jesus, who
has been taken from you into heaven,
will come back in the same way you
saw him go into heaven.”
ACTS
1:9-11
(KNT)

11. Luke 24:44-53 & Acts 1:1-11
ASCENSION Sunday (one week early)

14. The
INCARNATION

18. And the church
is his body;
it is made full
and complete
by Christ,
who fills all things
everywhere
with himself.EPHESIANS
1:23
(NLT)

19. in terms of
THE ASCENSION
in terms of
OUR EXPERIENCE

20. - Acknowledges the tension we all live with
IT MEANS WE ARE CALLED
TO LIVE/LOVE IN A WAY THAT:
WHAT does all this MEAN for US?!

21. - Acknowledges the tension we all live with
- Extends grace to all people as a result
WHAT does all this MEAN for US?!
IT MEANS WE ARE CALLED
TO LIVE/LOVE IN A WAY THAT:

22. - Acknowledges the tension we all live with
- Extends grace to all people as a result
- Trusts the Lordship of the Ascended Christ…
WHAT does all this MEAN for US?!
IT MEANS WE ARE CALLED
TO LIVE/LOVE IN A WAY THAT:

23. Be still and know that I am God
Be still and know that I am…
Be still and know that I…
Be still and know that…
Be still and know…
Be still and…
Be still…
Be…
…Be
…Be still
…Be still and
…Be still and know
…Be still and know that
…Be still and know that I
…Be still and know that I am
Be still and know that I am God
PSALM
46:10
(NIV)

24. Benediction
May the Lord bless you and keep you;
May the Lord make God’s face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
May the Lord turn God’s face toward you
and give you the peace
of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit
In the name of the Three who is One…
Amen.