[Charles Henrickson]

Luke 24:44-53 (ESV)

Then Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Acts 1:1-11 (ESV)

In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To them he presented himself alive after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

[Charles Henrickson]

[lightman]

Any Lutheran congregation that keeps Holy-day on Ascension Thursday and any Lutheran Pastor bold enough to post that day's sermon is worthy of a

Lutheran Ping!

Alleluia! Christ ascends to shouts of joy!

[lightman]

[lightman]

But with the decline of Christian culture and with the “wussification” of the church, it’s pretty hard to find churches that are having service today, and where you do, usually it’s only the hardy few who turn out. You see, Ascension always comes forty days after Easter, which means it always falls on a Thursday, and it’s hard enough these days getting people to come to church on a Sunday, let alone on a Thursday.

My experience is that Ascension and Epiphany (on a weekday) run about 25% of Sunday.

Now for a real swim upstream try adding Candlemass (Feburary 2) and Annunciation (March 25 or Second Monday after Easter). 15% of Sunday is a victory on those days!

[xone]

Good sermon.

[old-ager]

Thank you Pastor. “Proud” to be a Lutheran tonight.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Don't forget the Pentecost is celebrated 49 days after Easter, is a day of Obligation.

Back to the Ascension. Some of the greatest works of the painter Caravaggio dealt with events prior to the Ascension: Supper at Emmaus, Doubting Thomas among the many.