“He Ascended into Heaven”
Luke 24:36-53
Pastor Deb Troester, STHPC, May 17, 2026
For forty days after Easter, Jesus appeared to his followers and imparted his final wisdom and blessing to them. Then, as the Apostles’ Creed states, “He ascended into heaven.” This Sunday we observe the Ascension of Christ, even though the actual holiday falls on a Thursday. As a matter of fact, it was this past Thursday. Although it isn’t a holiday in the U.S., Ascension is still observed in many European countries, as unsuspecting tourists may find out, to their chagrin. Joe and I once tried to buy gas for a rental car in France on Ascension Day, only to find out that nearly all the gas stations were closed. Of course, it took us a while to figure out why they were closed.
The word, “ascension,” isn’t used much. “Ascend,” yes, “Ascension,” not as much. In looking for jokes for today, Joe found humorous stories related to King Charles III’s Ascension to the throne. Of course you don’t have too look very far for a joke for today if you know German: The word for Ascension is “Christi Himmelfahrtstag,” or just “Himmelfahrt” for short.
As my high school German teacher said, “get the giggling over with so we can conjugate the verb fahren,” meaning to travel, or in this case, to travel up toward heaven.
The passage we read today is Luke’s account of the Ascension of Christ. There is a similar passage in Acts, Chapter 1, which adds that, “After Christ’s suffering he presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.” I have preached from the Acts passage before, but this morning I wanted to focus on Luke 24 because it seems to me to summarize the purpose of Jesus’ post-Resurrection appearances, kind of a “Farewell Address”: he wanted to reassure them, to help them understand the purpose of his death and resurrection, and give them a job to do – marching orders, so to speak. He also reminded them that they would not be alone – that he would send the Holy Spirit, and then he blessed them, before ascending into heaven.
First, Jesus calms their doubts and fears. He reassures them that it really is him, not a ghost or an apparition, and that he is indeed alive.
He says, “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see.” For further proof, he asks them for some food. They give him a piece of broiled fish, which he ate. The disciples were fearful and disoriented by the events of the crucifixion. They weren’t sure they could believe in the resurrection, but Jesus knew how to restore their faith and take away their doubts. Jesus’ can still calm our doubts and anxieties. As Peter wrote in 1 Peter, “Cast all your cares on him, because he cares for you.” Reach out to the Risen Christ. He is near. He hears your prayers. He will appear when you least expect it, saying, “Peace be with you.”
One way Jesus calms our fears is through reading and meditating on scripture. The disciples did not comprehend why Jesus had to die, or the meaning of the resurrection, but as they listened to him, he opened their minds to understand all that had happened. They could see the grand pattern of salvation that God had planned from before the world began; the theme of “God so loved the world,” that ran throughout the Hebrew scriptures, through the lives of the patriarchs and the prophets, and they glimpsed what their part might be in building the Kingdom of God. As we meditate on scripture, God will show us God’s plan for our lives and give us wisdom to deal with the difficulties we are facing. Just as Jesus opened the minds of the disciples long ago, he will open our minds as well, to understand and implement his teachings.
Then Jesus gave them a task to do. He sent them out as witnesses – witnesses of his sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection; witnesses of what he had done in their lives, and how Jesus had changed them. He commissioned them to go and preach repentance for the forgiveness of sins, beginning in Jerusalem – starting right where they were. God gives each of us this task as well – to witness to others what God has done in our lives – how knowing Christ has changed us, and telling others that they, too, can experience forgiveness of sin and new life – beginning right where we are. We can share Christ’s love through words, actions, or both – but share we must; Christ has sent us.
Jesus reminded his followers that in this task they would not be alone – in a few short days, at Pentecost, he would send the Holy Spirit. This promise is repeated in Acts 1:8, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The last thing Jesus does before he leaves his disciples is to bless them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. The last earthly image we have of Jesus is that of him raising his hands in blessing. Perhaps as he ascended the blessing extended wider and wider until it covered the whole earth.
Jesus blessed us also. In John 20:29, he said, “Blessed are those who have not seen [me] and yet have come to believe.” Take just a moment to let that sink in. Jesus has blessed you, and is blessing you, even now. (pause) What blessing would you like to receive from him? Open your heart and mind to receive Christ’s blessing.
How did those first disciples respond to this amazing, supernatural encounter, in which they see Christ, risen from the dead, ascend into the clouds? They were filled with awe, and worshiped him.
But not only awe filled their hearts, but great joy as well, and they praised God. A scene that opens with fear and doubt ends with joy and praising. This is what an encounter with Jesus does – it takes all our misgivings, anxieties, worries, and cares, and wipes them away, filling us with praise and joy. Our sadness and confusion, anger and pain, anxiety and doubt can also be transformed into joy and hope. Through Jesus’ calming words, “Peace be with you,” through the presence of the promised Holy Spirit, our teacher and guide, through words of comfort in the scriptures, as we read and meditate upon them, and through the work God gives us to do here on earth, in sharing his love with others, our lives, too can be transformed, as we join together with those first believers in worship, joy, and praise. Amen.
Sermon @Deborah Troester, 2026