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SERVICE VIDEO (link)TEXT: Acts 1:4-11\n\n\n\nToday we recognize a very important event that happened only a few weeks after the resurrection of Jesus; actually, 40 days to be precise. Did you guess Pentecost??\xa0 No\u2026. that\u2019s 10 days later \u2013 we\u2019ll celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost next Sunday.\xa0 It\u2019s the Ascension.\xa0 When Jesus appeared to Mary on Easter morning (John 20:17) he said, \u201cI have not yet ascended to the Father.\u201d\xa0 Well this is it \u2013 Jesus ascends\u2026 he goes up into Heaven to be with God the Father.\n\n\n\nSo what\u2019s important about the Ascension of Jesus? It\u2019s not as big a deal as the \u201cbiggies\u201d is it?\n\n\n\n\nIncarnation: Jesus\u2019 birth and God\u2019s putting-on of human flesh to live among us\n\n\n\nCrucifixion: Jesus\u2019 death, which atoned for our sin and \u201cmade right with God\u201d all who believe\n\n\n\nResurrection: Jesus\u2019 victory over death, which we now share through faith in him\n\n\n\n\nI\u2019ll admit that for most of my life I\u2019ve just thought the Ascension was Jesus\u2019 \u201ctrip back to Heaven\u201d \u2013 that\u2019s it, end of story.\xa0 But there\u2019s so much more! And this isn\u2019t just a random excursion into an obscure theological area: it has everything to do with God\u2019s power and purpose that we\u2019ve been talking about for the last few weeks.\n\n\n\nThe Ascension Narrative (Acts 1)\n\n\n\nSo let\u2019s start with the narrative \u2013 the account of Jesus\u2019 Ascension.\xa0 It\u2019s short and sweet and it\u2019s there in Acts 1, and the actual Ascension is only one verse long.\xa0 After speaking to his followers, Jesus \u201cwas lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.\u201d (v. 9) That\u2019s about it.\xa0 As you can imagine, they just stood and stared, \u201cgazing intently into the sky while He was going.\u201d (v. 10) But what else can we get from the context here?\n\n\n\nWe have two main pieces of information: what Jesus said before he left and what the angel messengers said after he left.\n\n\n\nBefore leaving, Jesus final words had to do with the promise of the Holy Spirit, which would come to empower his followers to be witnesses far and near.\xa0 This was in contrast to their question of \u201crestoring the kingdom to Israel.\u201d\xa0 Instead, Jesus taught (as he had always taught), God\u2019s Kingdom was not of this world. He had frequently made that point through miraculous and supernatural signs and he was about to demonstrate that with one last miraculous sign: his Ascension into the heavens.\xa0 I will also simply note for now the very close connection between the promise and work of the Holy Spirit and Jesus\u2019 Ascension. More on that later!\n\n\n\nAfter he left, two \u201cmen in white clothing\u201d appeared and the basic content of their message signaled that Jesus would one day return in the same manner as his leaving. (v. 11) But what does it all mean?!\n\n\n\nThe Meaning of the Ascension\n\n\n\nLet me mention several benefits of Jesus\u2019 Ascension to the believer, and you will see these outlined in the confession of faith we\u2019ll use later in the service.\xa0 You can also see the scripture referenced there on the back of the bulletin.\xa0 There are at least four benefits of the Ascension for those who believe.\xa0\n\n\n\n1. A Heavenly Advocate\n\n\n\nOne of the important realities of Jesus being at the right hand of the Father is that Jesus took our humanity with him.\xa0 He is our advocate, and our righteous one at that.\xa0 Romans 8:34 tells us that Jesus is not only the one who died, but is the one who was raised and is at the right hand of God, and is the one \u201cwho also intercedes for us.\u201d\xa0 That is why we pray \u201cin Jesus\u2019 name,\u201d because he is our representative, our advocate, our intercessor.\xa0 It is as if Jesus tacks on to our every prayer, \u201c\u2026and this prayer is from Sarah, the one I love, the one I died for, the one who I have made a place for with us; listen to her!\u201d\xa0 Can you imagine having such an advocate, because you do!\n\n\n\nBut that verse from Romans goes even beyond that.\xa0 As one who intercedes for us, Jesus prays and presents our needs to the Father even when we can\u2019t!\xa0 Have you ever felt like your prayers go nowhere or that you simply don