Encouragements from the Ascension of Christ our Lord

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 Sunday after the Ascension June 1. Hebrews 4:14-5:10 ( Ev.Prayer 1928 BCP)

Fit in between the end of Easter celebration and  Pentecost June 8 is the dramatic festival of the Ascension of our Lord into heaven after His Resurrection , seen by many for 40 days.  ( last Thursday May 29)

" Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." Hebrews 4:14-16

1.  All of the Jewish sacraments and ordinances are now fulfilled in Christ, our High Priest.  His High Priesthood is eternal as shown in Heb 5, after Melchizedek, the high Priest in Genesis. 

In other words there is no need for any other sacrifices .  His eternal sacrifice presented to God is His blood applied to our hearts by faith when we trust in Him for eternal life.

He as the High Priest too entered the Holy of Holies , but He presents His own blood which is an eternal sacrifice.  Therefore no other sacrifices are necessary.  

This is a great thing and encouraging to all believers that Christ's ascension into heaven through His Resurretion shows His great love and power to help all who come to Him in faith.

" Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." Hebrews 4:14

2.  What I noted this Ascension is some of the other things associated with His glorious Ascension.

Because of this, " let us hold firmly our confession" ( say the same thing in original language ...we say the same thing about God that He says about Himself)

4:15 encourages us because He sympathizes with our weaknesses as He has also been tempted in all points as we are yet He is without sin.

Sympathetic people are not always around are they?  Instead we find the world to be critical, blaming and unable to be in our shoes.  This is the ultimate appeal of Christianity.  We do not have to worry as He has gone through these things in the world, yet He triumphed over them on our behalf.

3. Because we have such a High Priest we should come boldly unto the throne of grace to receive mercy and grace in our time of need.  This is not a gospel of works and earning our way into His presence at all.  Our inability is His grace and mercy applied to our lives and needs when we feel all is lost. Hebrews 4:16 : " Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

This  is the good news and encouragement that lifts up our hearts.  Most religions show a path.  Christ shows us His mercy, compassion and sympathy and opens a door for us.  We do not have to open it .  It is opened by Him, and He is the way, the Truth and the Life.

The prayers of the Season of the Ascension encourage us and cause us to rejoice in our Risen, Ascended and gracious Christ. 


"GRANT, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen."

< > This Collect is to be said daily throughout the Octave ( till next Thursday in June). as it should be!

Todays's prayer is comforting and forward-looking to next week when we celebrate Pentecost, the giving of the Holy Spirit to His Church on earth.

"O GOD, the King of glory, who hast exalted thine only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph unto thy kingdom in heaven; We beseech thee, leave us not comfortless; but send to us thine Holy Ghost to comfort us, and exalt us unto the same place whither our Saviour Christ is gone before, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the same Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen."

And all of God's people said Amen!

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