Read Luke 24:44–53
Stay in one place. The disciples of Jesus were not ordered by their local leaders to shelter in place. They had every freedom to come and go without fear of consequence or punishment. They could have stayed at home, gone out fishing on the lake, or even, as strange as that thought sounds today, gone out and traveled the world. But when they could have been anywhere, they chose to be “continually at the temple.” Verse 53
The temple was their house of worship, the place they felt closer to God. It was a place that glorified God with art and architecture, with ceremony and sacrifice. Think of it like the way you decorate and gather items in your home that remind you of the people you love, celebrate the joys in your life, and warm you with a sense of belonging. The temple, or as we experience it as the church, is that kind of place. Sure there were enemies of Jesus still lingering about, hypocrites who say or do the right things but have a double-minded heart. But we don’t go to church to point out the weeds among the wheat. We go to church to praise God. This is our house of worship. And if you could choose one place to be at continually, why not stay in constant worship?
The disciples had gathered at the temple for constant worship for a very important reason. It’s the reason we are here today and the focus of our thoughts from these Scriptures. The reason for their constant worship was because Jesus was gone. Not just up to the mountains to pray for a day, he left. Not to leave Jerusalem until things cooled down and he could start preaching again, he was taken, taken up before their very eyes, ascended into heaven and out of sight. The clouds in the sky floated over that spot where he had been and he was never seen again.
For forty days Jesus had been seen. Time and again he appeared to his disciples, cast away their fear, poured over them with his peace, displayed himself fully alive after he had been fully dead. Multiple times to multiple people was more than enough to make the case for a full and certain resurrection to life. And what joy there was in those appearances. To hold the hands that took the nails. To kiss the feet that shed his blood. To be embraced by arms that defeated the most powerful forces of evil to ever exist for mankind. If there was ever one place to stay continually, it most certainly was in the presence of our risen Savior.
But I just said a minute ago that the disciples were in constant worship because Jesus was gone. Luke points out that their return to Jerusalem was “with great joy.” The fact that Jesus was not going to appear to them again until coming at the end of days gave them just as much joy as his embrace of them during those forty days.
And we wonder, how does that make any sense? We for our part are often sad and distressed when people we love are gone. Sadness is as natural to grieving as breathing is to life. If you’re not sad, there’s something wrong with you. Seriously. When a loved one is gone, grieve. When a piece that filled your heart breaks away, be sad. When you miss them, miss them. And if you’re not sad when someone leaves, then you probably didn’t love them. The people we are happy about being gone are often those we didn’t want around in the first place. I’m glad when the one who makes life miserable is gone, the one who was toxic to my well-being is gone, the one who I never got along with, got under my skin, pushed all my buttons. Good-bye and not a tear in my eye.
But I think we miss something if we only want to keep around us the people we love and only let go of the people we hate. There’s more to this. Much more. I can think of a few good times when someone who was here for good reason leaves for good reason leaving me with great joy. And I think if you understand these examples, you will understand and share the great joy of the disciples. There’s the case of the protector. The good reason they were there was to guard against an enemy. The even better reason he leaves is that the threat is over, there is peace. There’s the case of the doctor. The good reason they were there was to diagnose and treat a sickness. The even better reason he leaves is that the treatment worked and there is a cure. There’s also the case of the contractor. The good reason they were there was to build or renovate. The even better reason he leaves is that the project is done. And still there is the case of a friend. The good reason they are there is to strengthen their bond and relationship with you, be there for you. The even better reason he leaves is that your connection is secure, you’re stable enough to make it on your own. I could even use the case of a parent. The good reason they are there is to guide and counsel and advise. The even better reason they leave is that they now trust you to make right choices. In each of these cases, in their presence there is great joy. In their absence also there is great joy.
Jesus was here for good reason. His was the work of a protector, a healer, a counselor, and a friend all wrapped up into one. We needed him to step between us and certain hell. A perfect life without sin would fill that spot. An innocent death would fill that spot. We needed him to remove our sin and give us life. A glorious resurrection would secure that for us. Without the time he was here we have no good reason to have any kind of joy. But he was here for good reason and it brings us great joy. Here is what Jesus told his disciples verses 46-48, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
But Jesus also left for good reason. Our deliverance, our cure, our security, and guide for making right choices, these all need no more attention than Jesus already gave. He ascended to prove that fact. Leaving no doubt to wonder, “Maybe I still need him here.” You don’t. If you know why he came, you understand why he left. If you only think he came to walk with me and talk with me, then he’d still be here. If he came to restore the nation of Israel, as some disciples thought, then he’d still be here. If he came to cure diseases and other miracles, then he’d still be here. If he came to bring heaven to us instead of bringing us to heaven, then he’d still be here. But he’s not here. He did what he came to do.
And not only that but also he’s gone to do what still needs doing. A place for you needs preparing; he’s gone to do that. The universe needs filling so he can rule over all things for the good of his people; he’s gone to do that. Our prayers and presence in the unblemished holiness of God needs interceding; he’s gone to do that. Our lives need gifts to carry on the work and carry out the witness he gives to each and every one of us, just as he promised his disciples in these special words, verse 49, “I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” That same Holy Spirit, the gift on Pentecost, is the same power present with the same individual gifts for each part of Christ’s body, each with a part to play, each with a witness to proclaim. Jesus has gone to do what still needs doing and that too brings us great joy.
The disciples “returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.” If they were going to choose one place to be, it was in the house of God. If they were going to choose one act, it was going to be praising God. And if there was going to be one thing to define their lives, It was going to be that great joy of Jesus, who was here for good reason and who left here to go to heaven for good reason.
It is the ascension of Jesus that gives us reason to celebrate our future home in heaven. Soon our house of worship will be at God’s glorious throne. Soon our every impulse and desire will be to praise and thank our God. Soon our joy, our great joy, will be unending. So today with great joy, we worship our Ascended Lord.
Amen.
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