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CHRIST OUR LORD IS ON THE THRONE (ASCENSION DAY)

SCRIPTURE READING
ACT 1:1-11
EPHESIANS 1:15-23
MARK 16:15-20

The theme for our reflection is “Christ our Lord is on the throne” The title Lord means one possessing, authority, power, and control. Christ our Lord is on the throne is a statement of hope and encouragement that Jesus reigns over heaven and earth. Beloved in the Lord, our theme ‘Christ our Lord is on the throne’ reveals three (3) facts which we shall deliberate on and as follows;
1. Christ will surely return to save us and take us to back himself.
2. We should be watchful and faithful stewards when He returns to save us.
3. Christ on the throne means He is all-powerful and worthy of our faith.

My brothers and sisters in the Lord, Mark who was one of the eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ascension into heaven recounts in the third scripture reading, “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. ²⁰ Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:19-20.” For the assurance of His return and final appearing, Luke another witness of His ascension also tells us in the first scripture reading, “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” (Act 11:9-11). My dear Christians, the Ascension Day gives us the hope that this world is not our place, Christ our Lord who is on the throne shall return to save us from this unpredictable and finite world. It is for this reason, before His ascension, Jesus assured us in John 14:1-4, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Paul will again remind us of Jesus’ second coming through his letter to the Philippians when he wrote that “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.” (Philippians 3:20 – 4:1). Let us be confident and have the assurance that Christ who is on the throne shall come back to save us. Hallelujah!

Dear friends, if Christ our Lord who is on the throne and will in the future return to save us then we must be faithful stewards who must allow the Holy Spirit to transform us and use us for God’s mission in the world. Before Jesus ascended into heaven “… he ordered them (the disciples) not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” (Acts 1:4-5). Why did Christ promise them the baptism of the Holy Spirit? So that they will be empowered to ““Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. ¹⁶ Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16). We must continue to operate under the power of the Holy Spirit as faithful stewards of the Gospel of Christ, preaching through all available means to the lost and perishing before Christ our Lord who is on the throne comes to judge the world. That is why Paul wrote to Timothy, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.” (2 Timothy 4:1-5). I encourage you my dear friend in Christ, to be a faithful steward of the Gospel even as we await the second coming of Christ our Lord who is on the throne.

Last but not least, as we embark on our stewardship role as soul-winners for Christ, let us be rest assured that Christ our Lord who is on the throne has dominion over all that is in heaven and on earth, therefore we should be courageous and have faith in Him when faced with challenges or hardship. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:16-23). Paul in our second Scripture reading deepens our faith and hope in our Lord and Master Jesus Christ when he wrote that God “… raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:20-23). Beloved in the Lord, we have an all-powerful King, Christ our hope is on the throne therefore fear not, be courageous in prayer and in faith for the Lord who is on the throne shall give us victory over all principalities and temptations as we embark on His mission. Paul again encourages us that because Christ our hope is on the throne “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.” (Ephesians 6:12-13)

In conclusion, my dear friends, our theme ‘Christ our Lord is on the throne’ means that He will surely return in the future to save His disciples or followers from this corrupt world; secondly, it means that we must be faithful stewards carrying out the mission of winning souls through the preaching of repentance and salvation in Jesus Christ to the world so that they may believe and be saved; and thirdly, ‘Christ our hope is on the throne’ means that He has dominion and power over everything, therefore we must put our hope in Him and courageously overcome persecutions, principalities and temptations with faith even as we embark on the soul-winning mission. May the peace and grace of God continue to abide with you. Amen.