For Real, Good News

Kongsvinger Lutheran Church

Subscribe

Download

Share

00

00:10

Welcome to the teaching ministry of Kungsvinger Lutheran Church. Kungsvinger is a beacon for the gospel of Jesus Christ and is located on the plains of northwestern,

00:18

Minnesota. We proclaim Christ and Him crucified for our sins and salvation by grace through faith alone.

00:25

And now here's a message from Pastor Chris Roseberg. The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke chapter 24 verses 44 through 53.

00:34

Then Jesus said to them, These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you.

00:40

That everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures and he said to them,

00:49

Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead and that repentance and the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem.

01:01

You are witnesses of these things and behold I am sending the promise of my father upon you but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.

01:11

And then he led them out as far as Bethany and lifting up his hands he blessed them and while he blessed them he parted from them and was carried up into heaven and they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy and they were continually in the temple blessing

01:28

God. This is the gospel of the Lord in the name of Jesus.

01:35

Just a quick note of blessing. You who are mothers in our congregation and those even who haven't given birth.

01:43

Blessings to you in this great vocation of caring for God's little ones. Now with all that being said,

01:50

I don't know if it's just me. Have you all noticed that when you watch the news on television? The news is always bad.

01:58

It's it's the weirdest thing. I mean, it's like you pay attention to the news. You hear stories of tornadoes of earthquakes of lions and tigers and bears.

02:08

Oh my. Yeah, and then you know, there's drug labs and drug addicts and police officers shooting people police officers being shot.

02:19

Presidents being accused of nefarious things. People accusing the president of nefarious things being accused of nefarious things.

02:28

It's just one big never -ending drama of well bad news and so today as we consider the

02:38

Ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ have you considered this fact that this story of Christ's Ascension is just chock -full of good news and I mean

02:54

Really good news. I don't think there could be a television station that could put on a whole

03:00

Program or 24 -hour news cycle of nothing but good news. No one would watch this because our sinful nature we want to hear about death and destruction, but today's text really tell us a lot of good news and So what we're gonna do today

03:13

It's just if you want a little bit of a roadmap so you can work it out in your Bible ahead of time We're gonna start in our gospel text.

03:19

We'll work partway through it and then we're gonna go all the way back to 2nd Kings chapter 2

03:25

Then we'll come forward into the gospel and we'll end with our epistle text So if you want to kind of work that out you can do that ahead of time

03:32

But consider what Luke writes for us in our gospel text in Luke chapter 24 starting in verse 44

03:38

Jesus said to them These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you That everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the

03:48

Psalms must be fulfilled I've said it once I've said it a thousand times.

03:55

I sound like my mother when I say that I've told you once I've told you a thousand times to clean your room.

04:00

Why can't you do this? Because I'm a sinner, but that's a different story. I digress but I've said it before and Scripture says it in Jesus teaches us this wonderful fact

04:12

The Bible all of it from Genesis 1 1 all the way to the book of Maps And yes,

04:19

I know maps is inspired. It is all the way everything in between. It's really all about Jesus and we must read these texts when we stick ourselves in them.

04:30

We don't belong there They are all about him And so Jesus is reminding his apostles here the ones he's about to send out in power with the power of the

04:39

Holy Spirit to go and proclaim actual good news that The scriptures themselves from the

04:47

Torah to the prophets to the Psalms That's shorthand for everything in there.

04:52

It's all about him and We've said this before scripture over and again You can see pictures of Jesus these wonderful little snippets of the life of Christ in Type and in shadow in the story of the

05:05

Old Testament And so let's take a look at one of them. In fact one that relates to our text today

05:11

Let's turn back if you would then to 2nd Kings chapter 2 2nd

05:16

Kings chapter 2 We all know the story of Elijah on Mount Carmel and Elijah is one of these fellows who well

05:23

He never died. That's a little awkward be kind of cool never die, but he's still quite alive and well

05:30

He never died and listen to the details of his ascension Because that's what it is

05:38

He ascended into heaven Type and shadow prefiguring Christ 2nd

05:44

Kings chapter 2 verse 1 Yahweh was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind

05:52

Elijah and Elisha were on their way from Gilgal and Elijah said to Elisha Please stay here for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel Bethel the house of God but Elisha said as Yahweh lives and as you yourself live,

06:07

I Will not leave you so they went down to Bethlehem To Bethel the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel came to Elisha and said to him

06:17

Do you know that today Yahweh will take your master from? From over you and he said yes,

06:23

I know it'd be quiet. It's kind of How that works out, you know, it's just like yeah, I'm already aware of this.

06:29

Thanks guys So Elijah said to him Elisha, please stay here For Yahweh has sent me to Jericho, but he said as Yahweh lives and as you yourself live

06:39

I will not leave you So they came to Jericho and the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him

06:45

Do you know that today Yahweh will take your master from over you and he answered?

06:50

Yes, I know it be quiet So then Elijah said to him, please stay here for the Lord has sent me to the

06:56

Jordan But he said as Yahweh lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you So the two of them went on 50 men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from them as they were both standing by the

07:09

Jordan and Then Elisha took his cloak Rolled it up Struck the water and the water was parted to the one side and to the other to the two of them could go over on dry ground

07:21

Hmm, where have we seen that before? That's strange. I seem to recall Red Sea stuff.

07:27

Yes, this happened when the Israelites crossed the Red Sea Oh and when the children of Israel crossed into the promised land the

07:35

Jordan did this as well So a recreation if you would of this Baptismal typology a little baptism stuff going on here.

07:42

So when they had crossed Elijah said to Elisha Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you and Elisha said please let there be a double portion of your spirit on me

07:55

That's interesting By what spirit did Elisha Elijah? Do the things that he did?

08:03

By whose spirit did he prophesy? By whose spirit was he emboldened to stand against the prophets of all?

08:12

Well, that would be the holy spirit So notice if we properly understand this the thing that Elisha is asking for He'd like a double portion of the holy spirit, please

08:23

It's an interesting thing to ask for so he said you've asked a hard thing Yet if you see me as I'm being taken from you, it shall be so for you

08:32

But if you do not see me, it shall not be so and as they still went on and talked behold chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven

08:46

And Elisha saw it and he cried My father my father And chariots of israel and its horsemen and he saw him no more

08:56

And then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces Which would be what you do when you're mourning the death of somebody and yet Elijah is not dead

09:07

He took the cloak of elijah that had fallen from him And went back and stood on the bank of the jordan and then he took the cloak of elijah

09:16

That had fallen from him and struck the water saying Where is yahweh the god of elijah and when he had struck the water the water was parted on one side to the other

09:28

And elisha went over A little baptismal work going on there So when the sons of the prophets who were at jericho saw him opposite of them

09:36

They said the spirit of elijah rests on elisha And they came to meet him and bowed to the ground before him and they said to him behold now

09:47

There are with you 50 servants 50 strong men 50 Pentecost 50 you see there's little types and shadows pointing even to pentecost here

09:56

Please let them go and seek your master that it may be that the spirit of yahweh has caught him up and cast him

10:02

Upon some mountain or into some valley and he said you shall not send But when they urged him till he was ashamed he said send

10:09

And then they sent therefore 50 men and for three days they sought him but did not find him 50 men three days spirit of elijah

10:19

An ascension if you would all of this if you would prefiguring what christ would be doing in our text today jesus himself is the ultimate one who has ascended into heaven and Unlike elijah we hear in this text that when elijah ascended

10:38

That he was now at rest But have you ever stopped to ask yourself the question after jesus ascended?

10:45

What's he doing? What's he up there doing? Is he twiddling his thumbs going down?

10:52

I was kind of hoping i'd have something to do up here What's jesus doing? Is he at rest right now?

10:58

Has he been playing golf for 2 000 years? I'm sure he can give tiger woods or the younger tiger woods a run for his money if that's the case

11:06

What has he been doing I assure you he's not resting and this same spirit that fell on elijah

11:14

Next sunday, we will hear how he's given that same spirit to the church And so you'll see if you would type in shadow the ascended christ sends his spirit and then the work continues

11:27

Continues in that same spirit That's the whole point of the story of the ascension the taking up to heaven of elijah

11:35

But let's return now to our gospel text and we consider more of what's happening here so Jesus opened up their minds so that they can understand the scriptures

11:46

I almost feel like I'd do a whole sermon on that little sentence because the reality is this we must understand this

11:52

That the scriptures are a locked book unless god the holy spirit helps us understand Who it's about what it's about And so they said to them he said to them thus it is written that the messiah the christ

12:04

Should suffer and on that third day rise from the dead and that repentance

12:09

And your translation may have the word and and wonderful thing New manuscripts of the new testament have been found that are really old

12:18

And some of these oldest manuscripts that we now have of the gospel of luke the word is a little bit different It's not repentance and it's repentance for Repentance for Thus is written that the christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins

12:40

Should be proclaimed in his name to all nations beginning from Jerusalem This is luke's version of the great commission if you would and you take matthew's great commission

12:54

Squish it together with this and then you get this wonderful picture of what it is that we are to do And we'll even tie in some of matthew's words from his gospel in just a minute, but think of it this way

13:06

We the church because we are the ones now who've been Given this message we've inherited it from those who were fathers in the faith before us

13:16

Who heard this message from their fathers in the faith before them going all the way back to the original disciples and apostles?

13:24

And their words and this is what we proclaim to the whole world repentance for the forgiveness of sins

13:33

This we learn from first corinthians 15 is the actual gospel itself Gospel euangelion means good news

13:44

This is truly good news You see all the suffering that you see around you all the suffering that you experience in your own life

13:51

Every broken relationship every bad result every car that breaks down in fargo

14:00

A little personal stuff there All of the things in the travail that we experience it's because of our collective sin

14:09

And each and every one of us crying out to god god. Where are you? Where are you?

14:16

How could I be suffering in this way? You see the scriptures teach us that all of the suffering that we experience is because of our rebellion against god that we have sinned

14:27

Terribly against god and we have sinned terribly against each other and all of the misery that we experience in our life well

14:37

We have earned that and more And yet the good news that we are to proclaim is that jesus christ has bled and died for all of these sins

14:49

And that he's calling each and every one of us to repent To be forgiven bear fruit in keeping with repentance

14:55

And this is the good news that we are to send to the whole world to proclaim to all nations

15:01

Beginning from jerusalem and so it did begin from jerusalem And these apostles they were eyewitnesses of all the things that jesus did and they documented them for us

15:10

In the new testament, which became part of the overall bible combined with the law

15:16

Of moses the prophets and the psalms and now all scripture being fulfilled

15:22

In that sense is pointing us and telling us of a day that is coming when all things will be made new where?

15:29

Cars won't break down in fargo and relationships won't fall apart in a world where We will truly love each other and be loved

15:40

And all of this because of this good news that we are forgiven in christ

15:45

And see he says behold. I am sending you the promise of my father upon you the promised Holy spirit the mantle of elijah if you would he's promised to give that to all of us

15:55

And he tells the disciples to stay in the city until you're clothed with power from on high And then jesus led them out as far as bethany and lifting up his hands

16:04

He blessed them and while he blessed them he parted from them and was carried up into heaven now

16:13

People say If you've ever listened to people who kind of pay attention to prophecy in the in the new testament

16:19

That when jesus returns just like it says here the way he goes up is the way he's going to come down People say that jesus when he returns he's going to return to the mount of olives in this same way fascinating idea if you think about it combined with our

16:34

Text from acts and if you've ever been to jerusalem, I haven't i've traveled there using other people's vacation photos

16:41

Cheap way to go by the way cheap way to go But from the mount of olives from the mount of olives

16:46

You can see one of the walls of the old city and it's up on the temple mount right there

16:52

Now there's a gate that has been closed up And it's called the golden gate

16:58

And this is a gate that jesus himself had once traveled through And so what's really fascinating is is that it is currently blocked up You can't travel in or out of the golden gate anymore

17:12

And some people actually think that the reason why it is closed up is so that when jesus returns

17:18

He can't walk through that gate. They're trying to stop him. And in fact in front of that gate is a muslim cemetery

17:25

So full of dead men's bones if you would and even there was a little excavation that was done about 100 years ago

17:31

Into the insides of the golden gate and it's filled with bones And so you're thinking will these bones be able to stop jesus when he returns?

17:40

Not at all not at all and see Think of it this way. There is a day truly coming and this is our great hope being forgiven our king our god

17:51

Our jesus the son of david The same way he ascended he will descend again

17:59

And this time he will call us home He will call us out of our graves and we will come from our graves if we're dead at the time

18:09

And we will join him in a new creation in new heavens in a new earth in the new

18:15

Jerusalem, you see all of this is exactly what he's promised. This is also the good news that we have to proclaim that all of this misery and suffering and Meaninglessness of this life will give way to a life without end where we will no longer cry out god

18:32

Where are you? instead We will see jesus face to face and we will know him for who he is

18:42

We will see the love in his eyes We will see the nail prints in his hands the scars in his feet and the scar in his side

18:51

All of these the tokens of the cost that he paid in order to ransom us from slavery

18:56

To transfer us from the dominion of darkness into the kingdom of his light And so where is he now is the question we were asking

19:05

So jesus he returned To the father, but take a look with me now at our epistle text as we wrap up our meditation on our text today

19:16

Paul writes in ephesians chapter one Starting at verse 15 these wonderful words that tell us what jesus is up to and what this ascension means for this reason

19:28

Because I have heard of your faith in the lord. Jesus and your love toward the saints

19:35

I hope you don't consider it beating a dead horse, but don't you see how faith and love go to work go together?

19:41

You can't have one without the other Faith in christ for the forgiveness of our sins and because of his great love for us that love now pouring

19:50

Through us to other people, especially the saints. So paul says I do not cease to give.

19:56

Thanks for you remembering you in my prayers And I would say we would be wise

20:03

To remember each other in our prayers as well as we sojourn together through the valley of the shadow of death

20:10

So that god the god of our lord. Jesus christ the father of glory may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him having the eyes of your hearts enlightened so that you may know what is

20:26

The hope to which he has called you and what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints?

20:33

And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power? Towards us who believe according to the working of his great might

20:42

And oftentimes when we hear about god's great power and great might Those are words and concepts that evoke in us actually more fear than comfort when we think of god's power and might you think of The book of job or you think of other portions of the scripture where god is described in his presence coming to earth

21:03

And the mountains melting and the sea giving way and the clouds rolling back

21:09

Like the ultimate cosmic train hurling down the track coming right at you I bet you if that were happening to you and I know for a fact if it were happening to me my knees would buckle from the shaking

21:24

And yet listen to the way paul is describing this power And might of god that he worked in christ when he raised him from the dead

21:33

And seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places and there it is jesus the god man is currently seated at the right hand of the father think of Matthew's gospel where he says all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me

21:53

All authority he sits at the right hand of the father presently now and all far above all rule authority power and dominion

22:06

And above every name that is named not only in this age But also in the one to come

22:13

Now think about it this in these terms We've all had the experience

22:18

Where the fellow we voted for for president of the united states lost And the other guy who we didn't want to be president of the united states one

22:30

Am I the only one who's experienced this I think you all experienced this right? And it doesn't matter who you vote for or who's king or who's president or who isn't or who sits on the supreme court

22:40

This text is telling us that jesus currently is above all of that And he has an eternal life

22:50

He is raised from the grave And he doesn't change And so regardless of who's in power above us in the government

22:59

There's one even greater than all of them and he's currently ruling and reigning at the right hand of the father, but it's even more

23:06

Amazing than that and he put all things under his feet gave him his head over all things to the church

23:13

Which is his body the fullness of him who fills all and all

23:18

And so here we see a picture of jesus in his ruling might but in the book of hebrews

23:24

We hear about jesus who is our priest who prays on our behalf

23:29

Who is the mediator between the father and us? Who has bled and died for us and we learn now that when christ has ascended he fills all things

23:42

And now consider the words of matthew Where he says all authority in heaven on earth has been given to me

23:50

Go therefore make disciples of all nations Baptizing them in the name of the father and the son and the holy spirit and last words of christ before he sends

23:59

And lo I am with you always even to the end of the age

24:07

And we remember back in the beginning portion of matthew's gospel where jesus is announced

24:14

His birth is announced by the angel gabriel that he would come and that this would be a fulfillment of the prophecies

24:21

That jesus the christ himself would be called emmanuel

24:27

God with us Have you ever had that really nagging feeling where you thought man?

24:34

The disciples lucked out they lucked out because they were able to see jesus and they got to experience god with us

24:43

But see this text is saying that because christ has ascended and sits at the right hand of the father that he now

24:50

Currently fills all things Jesus now is god with us

24:58

Did you not hear him speak to you this morning when he said to you not me?

25:04

I forgive you all of your sins last week We had the lord's supper

25:12

Did you not hear jesus's words that he spoke to you? Take eat.

25:18

This is my body broken for you for the forgiveness of your sins Take drink.

25:25

This is my blood shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins

25:30

Or have you not heard the words of christ where he says where two or more are gathered in my name there

25:37

I am among them You see jesus because he has ascended is now presently god with us

25:47

He is here now present To care for you to comfort you

25:54

To convict you of your sins To exhort you to good works and love

26:01

And to assure you that he is again coming and he's going to make all things, right?

26:06

It doesn't matter if everybody in this congregation were to disappear Or die, or you found yourself stranded in the middle of the canadian wilderness alone

26:18

You are never alone ever Not even for a moment

26:24

And this is good news Because he loves us

26:30

He's died for us. He will never leave you. He will never forsake you

26:37

He is the faithful one And you will see him face to face

26:43

And he is with you now teaching you convicting you comforting you

26:50

Assuring you he fills all things for you And he is your good shepherd

26:57

Leading you through the valley of the shadow of death to the shores of the new jerusalem

27:04

The world that is coming You will see this king who currently reigns for you

27:10

Who hears your prayers? And is your go between? between you and the father

27:17

And all of this is happening right now Elijah when he ascended entered his rest

27:24

Jesus when he ascended got busy It started really doing the real work that he's still continuing to this day as he is building a kingdom

27:35

And filling it with mansions that he the carpenter of nazareth is personally overseeing the construction of What a great jesus we have

27:45

Who lives and reigns? for us So that we can be forgiven

27:51

Reconciled to the father and as promised have eternal life with him

27:58

Praise the lord For such amazing good news because that's what

28:03

I need to hear today And i'll pray for my car that gets fixed in fargo In the name of jesus.

28:10

Amen If you would like to support the teaching ministry of kungsvinger lutheran church

28:20

You can do so by sending a tax -free donation to kungsvinger lutheran church 15950 470th avenue northwest oslo minnesota 567 -44 and again that address is kungsvinger lutheran church 15950 470th avenue northwest oslo minnesota 567 -44

28:48

We thank you for your support All of our teaching messages may be freely distributed as long as you do not edit or change the content of the message