27 Apr Ascent of the King

Read: Luke 24:36-53

Last Sunday Pastor Ken preached the message, “God’s Unlikely Plan of Redemption Was Promised in the Old Testament,” from Luke 24:13-35. This Sunday he will continue in Luke 24:36-53, where we will consider Jesus’ appearing to his disciples and blessing them as he ascended to be with the Father. As you prepare your heart for our corporate gathering, let these words from John Piper encourage you to persevere in your faith, trusting and resting in the fact that Jesus Christ is the king of the universe.

Heart Preparation

You remember that Paul said our struggle in this life is not really against visible, physical opposition, but against principalities and powers and spiritual hosts of wickedness (Ephesians 6:12). It is precisely these that Jesus has conquered by his death and over which he now reigns by his ascension. And all this is for our sake, for the church as Paul says in Ephesians 1:20–23:

“God raised him from the dead and made him sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come; and he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church.”

Jesus Christ is the king of the universe, and there is nothing Satan can do about it. But he can do this: he can try to put a veil over your mind so that a hundred things, which will all pass away, seem to shine more brightly than the kingship of Jesus. Resist him firm in your faith! Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. He will take the veil away that you might see the ascension of Jesus for what it really is: the homecoming and coronation of the Son of God, the validation of the sufficiency of his sacrifice for sin, the inauguration of his eternal intercessory work, and his installation as the sovereign God-man over all the enemies of the church.

O, that we might always be a people who worship Jesus and make our way obediently to Jerusalem rejoicing and saying continually:

Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And all that is within me bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul;
And forget not all the benefits of his ascension!”

Excerpt from the sermon, “The Ascent of Joy,” by John Piper

Song List for Sunday

1. “God Is Able,” by Hillsong Live
2. “Raise Up the Crown (All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name),” by Chris Tomlin
3. “Christ Is Risen,” by Matt Maher
4. “This I Believe,” Arr. by Shane and Shane