Ep. 38 - Sermon - Ephesians 4:7-16 - Jesus' Brilliant End Game

Isn't the ascension of Jesus a hard one to get excited about? Yes, we are happy Jesus is being recognized and exalted for what he did. He deserves it, no question. Yes, we want him to be with His Father and siting in authority. But those facts don't lessen the hardships of this life. They don't take away the strong desire to have Jesus right here, visibly, standing next to us and comforting us with beautiful words face to face. We long for that. We miss him. However, there is a very good reason why it is not yet time for that. Jesus declared that he had to go SO THAT he could send the counselor who would teach them to understand and believe all that he had done and said for all people. This is what Pentecost would be the dramatic beginning of, a new era of God's kingdom work through Jesus' body, the Church. Listen in to learn more about why the Ascension is such a critical piece to God's plan for our salvation. Ephesians 4:7-16 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: “When he ascended on high,     he took many captives     and gave gifts to his people.” (What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.     Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. This sermon was delivered on Ascension Day, May 9th, 2024, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Helenville, WI.