The Ascension of Our Lord | 14 May 2026 | Luke 24:44-53 | Timothy Eichler |

Luke 24:44-53 English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles

44 Then he 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 Psalms must be fulfilled.”45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance forthe forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 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.”

50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God.

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

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen

On the fortieth day since the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead he ascends to heaven. How do we know it was on the fortieth day? We know it was the fortieth day because Luke tells us in Acts 1:3 “After his [Jesus’] suffering, he showed himself to these men 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.” For forty days the resurrected Jesus physically showed himself and provided convincing proofs that he was alive.

Why forty days? Why did Jesus take forty days to convince his disciples that he was risen from the dead?

There is nothing mystical or secret about the number forty. What is known about the number forty is that it represents a complete season of formation of one’s spiritual breakthrough obedience or transformation with God. The time of formation can be the forty days of the flood with Noah or Israel in the Wilderness for forty years or Jesus’ temptation following his baptism. Forty represents that period of time in which one’s behavior, one’s thought process is transformed into God’s way.

How were the disciples’ behavior, thought process, and way of life transformed during the forty days with Jesus?

We do not have any evidence of transformation of the disciples other than that went out after Pentecost preaching and teaching Jesus Christ suffered and was risen from the dead on the third day. The core element of their preaching and teaching regarding Jesus Christ was repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations in the name of Jesus Christ.

For the past forty days, forty days of Easter, forty days of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead we have journeyed like the disciples confronted with the testimony of Scripture that Jesus rose from the dead. It is a transformative experience. How is it transformative? How does Jesus rising from the dead and then ascending into heaven make any difference in our lives here and now?

What is one of the most transformative experiences you have ever experienced?

Personally, it was when I was hired to be a laboratory technician in the Anatomy Bequest Program at the University of Minnesota my sophomore year. It was transformative as my role was to prepare donations for anatomical study and maintain the anatomy labs. In working with another student in the same role we handled over 300 human remains a year. This has a definite formative impact upon a 20 year old when first hired. For 2 years I worked in the program becoming more and more amazed at the workmanship of our Creator. This was transformative in how I think about creation and hold a faith in the triune God. It is not the most transformative part.

The most transformative part was my direct supervisor Dave. When I was hired Dave told me that after he completes the three interviews for the position, he took home his notes and our applications on Friday. He spent the weekend in prayer over the applicants. On Monday he notified me that I had the position. He said that my name was placed upon his heart and so I was hired. Throughout my tenure in the program Dave was a mentor, a confidant, and a teacher. He witnessed the love of Jesus Christ to a young, inexperienced, and immature adult male with the Holy Spirit transforming me into a large part who I am today.

What does any of this transformation talk have to do with the ascension of Jesus Christ?

The ascension of Jesus Christ begins with the incarnation. When God transforms His divinity into taking on of human or created form. When there are two natures in Jesus: divine and human.

Throughout the preaching, teaching, healing, and casting out of demons, Jesus Christ in His divinity exercised His creative powers by transforming, that is, recreating creation. By recreating you and me. By leading us back to the Creator. This is transformative.

Throughout his passion Jesus Christ took upon himself all of our sins, that is, our human way of living where we think we are “God” or “gods” and buries it in the grave. Our sins are forgiven. This is transformative. Not that we are sinless, rather that we are forgiven.

The ascension of Jesus brings humanity into God’s heavenly kingdom. Returning humanity back to the Creator from which humanity was created. This is transformative.

Timothy Richard Eichler

pastoreichler@gmail.com

Resurrection Lutheran Church

Coronado, CA, USA