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The Ascension: Maybe one of the most overlooked aspects of the gospel is the ascension of Jesus back into heaven. Why is this significant? Because the ascension of Jesus reveals both his kingly power and authority over all of creation and the wonderful comfort of his promise to return and take us to be with him. Recorded on Mar 20, 2022, on Acts 1:1-11, by Pastor David Parks. This message is part of The Supremacy of Christ sermon series. The Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But is that how Jesus is today? Absolutely not. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Today, Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and will one day return in glory to judge the living and the dead. Sermon Transcript All year, we’re focusing on, The Greatness of God. And today, we’re continuing a sermon series called The Supremacy of Christ. The Christian gospel claims that Jesus is far greater than anyone or anything. And it’s true that his first coming was marked by humility, suffering, and even death on a cross. But is that how Jesus is today? Absolutely not. Jesus has risen from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God. Today, Jesus reigns and rules over all of creation and will one day return in glory to judge the living and the dead. But if we fail to get this vision of Jesus, high and lifted up, supreme over all, we’ll have all sorts of problems in our life and faith. We’ve considered the transfiguration of Jesus and also the exclusivity of a relationship with God through Jesus. That no one comes to the Father except through Jesus. Today, we’ll consider the ascension of Jesus back into heaven. This is one of the most under-appreciated aspects of the gospel. But the ascension of Jesus reveals both his kingly authority over the kingdom of God and the wonderful comfort of the promise of his return. So we dare not miss this. If you have a Bible/app, please open to Acts 1:1. Acts 1:1–11 (NIV), “1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” Two weeks ago, we considered the story of the transfiguration of Jesus from Luke’s gospel. There, I said that Luke was the first of a two-part work in the Bible. The book called Acts is the second part of Luke’s work. Let’s go back to the start of this passage and work through it together. v.1. Acts 1:1-3 (NIV), “In my former book, Theophilus,