Sermon -- Ascension of our Lord, transferred (May 17, 2026)

JESUS IS EXALTED TO EXALT YOU.

EPHESIANS 1:15-23

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

Cong:  He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

     Every Sunday, we confess about Jesus, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty” (Apostles’ Creed).  Jesus Christ is exalted above all things, just as St. Paul wrote: “(God) raised (Jesus) from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, authority, power, and dominion, and above every name that is given, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:20-21).  There is no one who is greater, more powerful, more sovereign than Jesus.  He is exalted above all things and all people.

     During his life, Jesus was not exalted.  Rather, we speak of his humiliation.  In this case, humiliation is not embarrassment.  God the Son was not embarrassed to become a man.  But God the Son humbled himself to take the form of a servant—subservient to the demands of God’s Law and subservient to the trials, temptations, and troubles of a sinful world.  Jesus made himself subservient to his enemies who slandered him, seized him, and sentenced him.  God the Son humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross.  Jesus humbled himself so that he could exalt you.

     You and I have every reason to humble ourselves.  Consider what St. Paul wrote to the Philippians: “In humility consider one another better than yourselves” (Philippians 2:3).  How are you doing with that?  How many people do you consider better than yourself?  Who knows your sins better than you do?  You might see some sins in other people, but you know all of yours.  Despite our sins, we don’t humble ourselves as we ought.  If you believe that your sins deserve God’s righteous judgment, then how could you boast that you deserve honor?  And how could you exalt yourself over others?  This is what the Lord says, “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled” (Matthew 23:12).  If you will not humble yourself before the Lord, he will humble you at the final judgment.  Repent.

     God the Son humbled himself to die on a cross.  More than that, God the Son humbled himself to be cursed for us.  Jesus willingly took the lowest place, dying as THE sinner on behalf of all sinners.  Jesus humbled himself in order to exalt you.  His humility atones for your exalting yourself over others.  He died in shame to secure eternal glory for you.  He has pulled you up from an eternity of hellfire so that you will receive the everlasting peace and joy of heaven.  Jesus was humbled to exalt you.

     We think of Jesus’ crucifixion as a beautiful thing.  We have adorned our sanctuary with a processional crucifix.  For, it is not the bare cross that paid for the sins of the world, but it was the God who suffered and died on that cross which pays for the sins of all.  Faith sees the crucified Lord as something beautiful and glorious, but there was never any beauty in crucifixion.  There was never intended to be.  The Romans carried out this sentence publicly so that no one else would be emboldened to attempt what the condemned man had done.  They stripped their victims to die naked.  They made this death as shameful as they could.  In many cases, the bodies were also left on the cross to rot, left for birds of prey.  If this disgusts you, that’s what was intended.  There was no glory in crucifixion. 

     We are not scandalized by the cross because we know that was the payment for our sins.  Just as we are not scandalized by Jesus’ humble sufferings and death, neither are we astounded by Jesus’ exaltation and ascension into heaven.  Who is surprised to hear that God rules over everything?  Even though God the Son humbled himself to be our Savior, he never stopped being God.  He never lost his power, glory, or majesty.  So, it’s not like he was given back glory that was taken from him.  That God, who humbled himself, is now again exalted does not come as a shock.  The shock is that a man has been exalted.  Jesus did not shed his humanity when he rose from the dead and ascended into heaven.  This man now possesses all power, glory, and majesty.  The hosts of heaven proclaim his praise: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).  Now, a man has all things under his feet.  Now, a man holds all authority in heaven and on earth.  Now, a man has ascended to reign in heaven, equal to the Father and the Holy Spirit.  This is what it means that Jesus is exalted.  This is certainly worthy of praise. 

     On June 10, 1945, there was a parade in New York City.  General Dwight D. Eisenhower was honored with a ticker-tape parade.  It is estimated that over 5,000 tons of paper, confetti, and cloth were thrown from the buildings.  An estimated four million people were there to celebrate General Eisenhower.  Now, if the celebration were just to honor Eisenhower for being a general or for coming to New York, the celebration would have served no purpose except to stroke his ego.  But the people celebrated because Eisenhower commanded the Allied troops to defeat Nazi Germany and save thousands, if not millions, of lives.  So, the people celebrated not just because of Eisenhower’s victory, but because Eisenhower’s victory benefited them.  He conquered the enemy for them!

     If Jesus’ ascension is only about his glory and honor, then we might think, “Well, good for him.”  But St. Paul reminds you that Jesus’ ascension is not for his exaltation alone.  “God placed all things under his feet and made him head over everything for the church” (Ephesians 1:22, emphasis added).  Jesus lives and reigns over all things for you!  This man went into death to redeem you from damnation.  This man conquered the grave so that death and the grave would not hold mankind.  This man ascended into heaven, paving the way for mankind to enter the glories of heaven and to dwell with the Father in peace.  This man now lives and reigns over all things for you.  Jesus is exalted to exalt you!

     God the Son became a man to redeem mankind.  Upon completing this mission, Jesus is exalted to the highest place.  But he did not stop being a man.  Instead, Jesus exalts our humanity.  He shows us what God intends us to be.  And at the resurrection, you will not be changed into another person or become something completely different.  You will be raised up perfect people—with whole bodies, sound minds, pure thoughts, and godly attitudes.  God first created mankind to be holy and he called them good.  Jesus will exalt you back to such glory.  Jesus is exalted to exalt you.

     “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty” (Apostles’ Creed).  “God placed all things under his feet and made him head over everything for the church” (Ephesians 1:22, emphasis added).  Here is where we still need to practice our humility.  If Jesus is ruling over all things for the good of his Church, we might ask, “Then why isn’t everything good?  Why do I have to endure weaknesses?  Why must I bear a cross?  Why do I still endure a troubled world?  Why do I still struggle with sin and temptation?” 

     Dear Christians, Jesus is ruling all things for your good.  But understand that Jesus’ goal is not just to make life easy so that you can coast through it.  If he did, you would conclude that you don’t need Jesus.  But he lets you suffer weaknesses so that you will call upon him for strength.  He makes you bear a cross so you will put to death desires for a perfect world when your desires should be for the Paradise to come.  He leaves you in a troubled world so that you can bear witness to many troubled souls that Jesus is the remedy for all troubles. 

     He humbles you for the time being so that he will finally exalt you forever.  After all, this is the pattern Jesus himself followed when he walked the earth.  On the earth, Jesus dwelt in a state of humiliation.  It was not until his resurrection that Jesus was exalted to glory.  And so it is with you.  In this world, you are humbled, but at the resurrection, you will be exalted to glory.  That is the good that Jesus intends for you, and it is the good that he is working in you and for you.  Jesus is exalted to exalt you.

     This is the prayer that St. Paul prayed for the Ephesian Christians, and it is still the prayer for Christians today.  Paul wrote, “I keep praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, will give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Christ fully.  I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope to which he has called you, just how rich his glorious inheritance among the saints is, and just how surpassingly great his power is for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:17-19). 

     The prayer of the Church is that we get to know Christ more fully and to benefit from the gifts that he gives.  We not only get to know him more fully, we also become more like him.  He became one of us so that we could become more like him—pure in thoughts and speech, devoted to godliness and good works, waiting to be exalted and welcomed into heavenly glory.

     But do not lose sight of this: Jesus has exalted you already.  You are children of the Most High God.  You may not feel like it.  It does not look like it, but it is true.  You have God’s own word on it.  When Jesus walked the earth, he did not look like God the Son.  He did not radiate with glory.  He did not appear in dazzling splendor, with one exception (his transfiguration).  Nevertheless, Jesus is and always was God the Son.  It’s just that his divinity was hidden in his humble state under frail flesh.

     So also, you are children of the Most High God.  You are heirs of heavenly riches.  You are saints destined for endless glory.  Jesus has told you so.  And since his word is supreme, you can be sure that it is true.  It is as St. John wrote in his first epistle, “See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are!  The world does not know us, because it did not know him.  Dear friends, we are children of God now, but what we will be has not yet been revealed.  We know that when he is revealed we will be like him” (1 John 3:1-2). 

     Jesus is exalted to exalt you.  And Jesus will lead you through the path he has set—humility, then glory.  Death, then resurrection, then ascension to the glorious kingdom.  “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty” (Apostles’ Creed)—and all for you.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.