Why Did Jesus Go Away :: Acts 1:1-11

As the disciples stood there watching Jesus ascend into heaven, they must have wondered, “Why?” After all that he had done ... after all he had started ... Why was Jesus going away?

Maybe that question has crossed your mind from time to time: Why did Jesus ascend into heaven? Wouldn’t it be nice ... wouldn’t it be better ... if Jesus were still walking around among us? I mean, in person, in the flesh. He could answer all our questions, solve all our problems, settle all our disputes, and heal all our divisions, convince the doubting, comforting the weak, bringing back the lost, personally leading his church forward in proclaiming the Gospel? 

WHY DID JESUS GO AWAY?

It’s a good question to pursue today. 

And it’s a good theme as we talk about the Ascension of Our Lord. Fortunately, the Bible gives us some good answers ... answers that can help us understand what a blessing it is for us that our Lord did not stay but went away on Ascension Day.

I.

First of all, Scripture tells us that Jesus went away into heaven in order to reclaim his rightful position as king of kings and lord of lords. In Ephesians 1, Paul says that Jesus sat down at the right hand of God into the heavens, far above every ruler and authority and power and lordship, and every name that is named, not only in this age but in the ensuing one. And all things were out under his feet (1:20–22a). 

We might think sometimes, in our limited wisdom, that it’d be nice to have Jesus still walking around like he did a couple thousand years ago. But the Bible says that the best thing for us is to have Jesus right where he’s at ... enthroned in all majesty and power at the right hand of God. That doesn’t mean that Jesus is literally sitting in some particular spot in heaven. It means that he has authority over everything and is in complete control of everything ... in the world, in the church, and in our own lives. The right hand is the hand of power. The right hand of God is literally the ultimate picture of power. The right hand has all power. There, he can be everywhere at the same time, notably where two or three are gathered in his name. 

All of us have probably had days when everything just seems to go wrong. And sometimes it may seem as if everything everywhere is going wrong ... in our homes, in our church, in our nation, in the world. Sometimes, you get the feeling that things are just spinning chaotically out of control. When they do, remember Ascension Day. 

The Ascension of Our Lord reminds us that God actually is in control. Our Lord who created us in the beginning and redeemed us by living, dying, and rising from the dead on Easter ... he ascended into the heavens, where he sat down in all power at the right hand of God. All authority in heaven and upon the earth has been given to me (Mt 28:18), Jesus said shortly before he ascended. Therefore, we can be sure that nothing happens without our ascended Lord’s knowledge and permission. He has all authority. We can also be sure that everything that does happen will ultimately be used by God to bring blessing into the lives of those who put their trust in him (Rm 8:28). 

So when it looks like things are coming apart at the seams ... in the world, in the church, or in your own life ... remember why Jesus ascended. Jesus is on his throne. Jesus has the whole world in his hands. And no matter how things look, Jesus is in control.

II.

The Bible gives us another reason Jesus went away, and I would encourage you to listen carefully to this second reason. Jesus went away so that he could be with us always (Mt 28:20). Rationally, that doesn’t make much sense, but that’s exactly what the Bible says. Behold, I am with you all the days until the culmination of the age (Mt 28:20).

Remember that always. 

Now ponder, if you will, how things might be if Jesus had not gone away. If Jesus were still on earth in the flesh, with an office set up somewhere in St. Louis ... imagine the line of people who would be waiting just to see Jesus, to talk to him, to ask him a question, to get his help in solving some problem. How long would the waiting list be?

Now remember what Jesus said to his disciples in John 16. He said, I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I depart. For if I don’t depart, the Paraclete [that is, the Holy Spirit, the advocate, the comforter] will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you (16:7). 

You see, Jesus went away so that the Holy Spirit could come. And now, through the work of the Sanctifying Holy Spirit, Jesus is with us always, and he will be to the very end of the age. 

The Holy Spirit is calling, gathering, enlightening the whole Christian church on earth and keeping it in the one true faith. In this Christian church, he daily and richly forgives all sins (SC II 3). More than that, on account of the Holy Spirit, we can meet with Jesus anytime we want ... we can all be with Jesus simply by opening the scriptures and reading the word of God that the Holy Spirit some to the apostles and prophets. By the power of the Spirit working through this Word (whether preached, read, or taught), Jesus himself answers our questions, gives us solutions to our problems, comforts us, warns us, encourages us, forgives us, and strengthens our faith. 

The Holy Spirit brings Jesus to us through the Sacraments ... first in baptism, then through the word of absolution, and finally through the Supper. The Spirit of the Truth guides us to this truth, nurturing and sustaining the saving, God-given faith. As we therefore live in our Baptism every day ... as we confess our sins ... as we receive God’s forgiveness through his body and blood given to you ... we draw on his power to fight against sin and temptation. Yes, though, Jesus has gone away, amen, amen, he can now see and hear the evidence that he is most certainly with us always.

III.

And that brings us to the final point of today’s sermon, yet another reason that Jesus went away, as Jesus urges us in John 14 (1–2): Stop letting your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God; and have faith in me. In the house of my Father are many abodes, many houses, many mansions; if not, would I have said to you that I go to prepare a place for you. 

Jesus went away to prepare a place for you in paradise. As promises go, there aren’t many that are greater! Remember, you couldn’t go to the Father. God has no part with sin. Our sin and trespasses separated us from God as far as the west is from the east. Our sin leaves us in darkness, hiding in shame, hiding in our proverbial closets ... the opposite of mansions ... hiding from God. We are constantly trying to cover that shame, deny our sin, make it something it is not. 

But thanks be to God, Jesus was born without sin, and lived without sin. Thanks be to God, he died for our sin. The Father poured out all of his wrath upon Jesus on the cross.

Though you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you once walking in accord with the age of this world, in accord with the prince of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the sons of disobedience, in whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the passions of our flesh, accomplishing the will of the flesh and mind, we were by nature children of wrath, like the rest. But God being rich in mercy, because of his great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in trespassed, he made us alive together with Christ (Eph 2:1-5). Hear the ending of Ephesians 2:5 again .... He made us alive together with Christ. With redemption complete, he went away so that he could sanctify us and come to us. 

Though he went away, now Jesus is always with us. It is finished (Jn 19:30). Jesus has completed all things for us. He lived for you, died for you, and gave you rest. And now he is risen! He is risen, indeed! Hallelujah! And ascended so that he will always be with us. Even more than that, he has promised to come again. Men of Galilee, why do you stand continuing to look into the heavens. This Jesus who was taken up from you into the heavens ... in the same way, he will come (Acts 1:11). 

On the last day, sin and death have no dominion over you on account of all that Jesus has done. Jesus has united you with him in his death and resurrection through baptism, sanctifying you, making you holy just as he is holy (Lev 19:2), preparing a place for us at his table, his feast of forgiveness, the Lord's supper. As Jesus says, If I go and prepare a place for you, again, I will come and take you to myself in order that where I am, you may be also (Jn 14:3).

So on this Ascension Day, brothers and sisters in Christ, thank God that Jesus went away to assume his rightful place in power and majesty at the right hand of God ... to send the Holy Spirit to bring his saving gifts to us through Word and Sacrament ... and to prepare a place in heaven for us, with reservations guaranteed in his name because of his life, death, resurrection, and ascension ... in Jesus’ name.