WEBVTT STYLE ::cue { color: #ffffff; } 00:00:00.890 --> 00:00:02.750 In Jesus name. Amen. 00:00:04.850 --> 00:00:07.310 We had a new experience in the 00:00:07.380 --> 00:00:08.974 Clayton household this 00:00:09.012 --> 00:00:09.962 past weekend. 00:00:10.106 --> 00:00:12.586 Our oldest son graduated 00:00:12.698 --> 00:00:13.600 from college. 00:00:14.610 --> 00:00:16.922 He's had several job interviews 00:00:17.066 --> 00:00:18.106 recently, 00:00:18.298 --> 00:00:20.398 and so we are aware that 00:00:20.484 --> 00:00:21.706 probably over the summer 00:00:21.738 --> 00:00:23.630 he will be moving away. 00:00:23.700 --> 00:00:24.934 There's a possibility for 00:00:25.012 --> 00:00:26.806 job in the Detroit area, 00:00:26.988 --> 00:00:28.674 but he just had a job interview 00:00:28.722 --> 00:00:29.686 for the St. Louis area. 00:00:29.708 --> 00:00:30.246 And we're really, 00:00:30.268 --> 00:00:31.462 really hoping that one comes 00:00:31.516 --> 00:00:34.566 through because we like to have 00:00:34.668 --> 00:00:36.214 our children close to us. 00:00:36.252 --> 00:00:38.514 And as we think about our oldest 00:00:38.562 --> 00:00:40.694 son maybe moving out to 00:00:40.732 --> 00:00:43.110 a job over the summer, 00:00:43.770 --> 00:00:47.030 I think back four years to when 00:00:47.180 --> 00:00:50.040 we took that son off to college 00:00:50.690 --> 00:00:52.080 for the first time. 00:00:52.770 --> 00:00:53.518 Now, 00:00:53.684 --> 00:00:55.374 I need to explain two 00:00:55.412 --> 00:00:56.766 things here. First, 00:00:56.948 --> 00:00:59.198 I like to keep careful account 00:00:59.284 --> 00:00:59.660 of everything. 00:01:01.130 --> 00:01:02.814 And we re blessed with 00:01:02.852 --> 00:01:03.550 six children. 00:01:03.620 --> 00:01:04.586 So along with my wife 00:01:04.617 --> 00:01:04.989 and myself, 00:01:05.060 --> 00:01:05.726 that makes eight of 00:01:05.748 --> 00:01:06.430 us in the family. 00:01:06.500 --> 00:01:08.522 So I m routinely counting 00:01:08.666 --> 00:01:10.766 anywhere we go to make sure that 00:01:10.788 --> 00:01:14.094 we have everybody 1234-5678. 00:01:14.132 --> 00:01:15.086 Yep, we re all here. 00:01:15.188 --> 00:01:16.160 We re good. 00:01:17.490 --> 00:01:18.640 And I remember 00:01:20.210 --> 00:01:22.638 dropping my son off at college 00:01:22.724 --> 00:01:24.720 that first time four years ago. 00:01:27.530 --> 00:01:29.590 And we went back out to the van 00:01:31.050 --> 00:01:33.000 and I said, Is everybody here? 00:01:33.930 --> 00:01:36.200 And accounted to seven? 00:01:38.490 --> 00:01:41.122 And I said much more quietly, 00:01:41.186 --> 00:01:41.800 no, 00:01:42.810 --> 00:01:45.160 not everybody is here. 00:01:47.210 --> 00:01:48.680 And we drove away. 00:01:49.610 --> 00:01:52.509 In separation, 00:01:53.490 --> 00:01:55.033 there's great sorrow. 00:01:55.162 --> 00:01:58.222 We love being together with 00:01:58.276 --> 00:02:00.640 those that we love. 00:02:02.690 --> 00:02:03.614 With that in mind, 00:02:03.652 --> 00:02:04.480 I wonder 00:02:05.970 --> 00:02:07.360 what was it like 00:02:08.610 --> 00:02:11.840 in Bethany on that day recorded 00:02:12.290 --> 00:02:14.320 in Luke, chapter 24. 00:02:15.730 --> 00:02:16.814 I wonder, 00:02:17.012 --> 00:02:19.470 did the disciples have somebody 00:02:19.540 --> 00:02:21.630 like me who's always trying to 00:02:21.700 --> 00:02:22.910 keep count on everything? 00:02:22.980 --> 00:02:24.042 Maybe Matthew, 00:02:24.106 --> 00:02:25.702 from his former as a tax 00:02:25.756 --> 00:02:27.398 collector was the numbers guy 00:02:27.484 --> 00:02:28.341 who did the count 00:02:28.396 --> 00:02:28.918 for everything. 00:02:29.004 --> 00:02:30.726 Maybe it was Peter or James or 00:02:30.748 --> 00:02:32.114 John with their accounting 00:02:32.162 --> 00:02:32.966 experience from their 00:02:32.988 --> 00:02:33.670 fishing business. 00:02:33.740 --> 00:02:34.886 I wonder if one of 00:02:34.908 --> 00:02:35.474 the disciples, 00:02:35.522 --> 00:02:36.374 as they were heading out, 00:02:36.412 --> 00:02:37.446 would count and make sure 00:02:37.468 --> 00:02:38.406 everybody was there 00:02:38.508 --> 00:02:39.910 before they left. 00:02:39.980 --> 00:02:42.066 And so they left Jerusalem 00:02:42.098 --> 00:02:42.840 with twelve. 00:02:45.570 --> 00:02:47.150 They got to Bethany 00:02:48.450 --> 00:02:49.870 and there were eleven. 00:02:50.770 --> 00:02:53.862 And that brings us to our text 00:02:53.916 --> 00:02:56.646 from Luke, chapter 24, 00:02:56.748 --> 00:02:58.520 verses 50 and 51. 00:02:59.450 --> 00:02:59.860 And He 00:03:00.090 --> 00:03:01.466 led them out as far as Bethany, 00:03:01.498 --> 00:03:02.542 and lifting up his hands, 00:03:02.596 --> 00:03:03.934 he blessed them. 00:03:04.132 --> 00:03:05.214 While he blessed them, 00:03:05.252 --> 00:03:07.486 he parted from them and was 00:03:07.508 --> 00:03:08.910 carried up into heaven. 00:03:11.330 --> 00:03:14.190 Can you see the apostles 00:03:14.530 --> 00:03:16.622 thinking, is everybody here? 00:03:16.676 --> 00:03:18.829 One, two, 3,4,11. 00:03:19.890 --> 00:03:20.640 No, 00:03:22.210 --> 00:03:23.760 not everybody's here. 00:03:24.610 --> 00:03:27.160 Separation is hard. 00:03:28.730 --> 00:03:30.566 I think we might see that in a 00:03:30.588 --> 00:03:32.578 way in the reading from Luke, 00:03:32.594 --> 00:03:33.826 chapter one. From Acts, 00:03:33.858 --> 00:03:34.840 chapter one. 00:03:35.770 --> 00:03:37.254 When Jesus said these things, 00:03:37.292 --> 00:03:38.086 as they were looking on, 00:03:38.108 --> 00:03:39.222 he was lifted up and a cloud 00:03:39.276 --> 00:03:40.630 took him out of their sight, 00:03:41.210 --> 00:03:42.258 and they were gazing 00:03:42.274 --> 00:03:43.270 into heaven. 00:03:43.610 --> 00:03:45.366 I wonder if that's because there 00:03:45.388 --> 00:03:46.774 was some sorrow at 00:03:46.812 --> 00:03:47.826 that separation. 00:03:47.938 --> 00:03:48.978 And as they were gazing 00:03:48.994 --> 00:03:50.010 into heaven, behold, 00:03:50.050 --> 00:03:51.353 two men came and stood beside 00:03:51.402 --> 00:03:52.526 them in white robes and said, 00:03:52.548 --> 00:03:53.434 men of Galilee, 00:03:53.482 --> 00:03:54.494 why do you stand looking 00:03:54.531 --> 00:03:55.630 up into heaven? 00:03:56.290 --> 00:03:58.206 This Jesus who is taken up from 00:03:58.228 --> 00:03:59.660 you into heaven will come. 00:04:00.250 --> 00:04:01.294 In the same way you saw 00:04:01.332 --> 00:04:03.390 him go into heaven. 00:04:04.370 --> 00:04:06.862 Was there some sorrow at that 00:04:06.916 --> 00:04:09.294 separation as Jesus was 00:04:09.332 --> 00:04:10.186 taken up into heaven? 00:04:10.218 --> 00:04:11.374 I suspect there might have been. 00:04:11.412 --> 00:04:13.166 I suspect that might have been 00:04:13.268 --> 00:04:15.182 why the disciples spent that 00:04:15.236 --> 00:04:17.834 time gazing up into heaven 00:04:17.882 --> 00:04:20.862 realizing that one of the ones 00:04:20.916 --> 00:04:23.694 that they loved so dearly was 00:04:23.732 --> 00:04:25.046 not with them in the same 00:04:25.108 --> 00:04:26.280 way he had been. 00:04:28.650 --> 00:04:29.014 Well, 00:04:29.052 --> 00:04:30.898 after we had dropped our oldest 00:04:30.914 --> 00:04:32.406 son off at college and then a 00:04:32.428 --> 00:04:34.150 second son two years later, 00:04:34.220 --> 00:04:37.254 we noticed that our late night 00:04:37.292 --> 00:04:39.122 telephone call quotient 00:04:39.266 --> 00:04:41.590 went up significantly. 00:04:42.090 --> 00:04:43.462 Because when do college students 00:04:43.516 --> 00:04:45.398 have time to talk after all the 00:04:45.404 --> 00:04:46.774 other day's activities are done? 00:04:46.812 --> 00:04:48.738 So it wouldn't be unusual. 00:04:48.834 --> 00:04:50.174 Several times a week, 00:04:50.332 --> 00:04:51.994 often around midnight 00:04:52.042 --> 00:04:52.846 or a little after, 00:04:52.948 --> 00:04:55.358 either my wife and I would text 00:04:55.444 --> 00:04:57.086 or our sons in college would 00:04:57.108 --> 00:04:57.726 text and say, hey, 00:04:57.748 --> 00:04:58.366 you want to talk for 00:04:58.388 --> 00:04:58.830 a little bit? 00:04:58.900 --> 00:04:59.850 And even though it was late. 00:05:00.170 --> 00:05:03.214 It was a joy to be able to 00:05:03.252 --> 00:05:04.910 talk with our children. 00:05:04.980 --> 00:05:06.400 We couldn't see them, 00:05:06.930 --> 00:05:09.646 but just knowing that we could 00:05:09.668 --> 00:05:12.618 hear their voice brought 00:05:12.714 --> 00:05:14.270 great joy. 00:05:14.930 --> 00:05:16.766 And even though I suspect there 00:05:16.788 --> 00:05:18.926 was probably some sorrow in the 00:05:18.948 --> 00:05:20.494 disciples at Jesus being 00:05:20.532 --> 00:05:21.438 taken from them, 00:05:21.524 --> 00:05:23.018 we're also told in Luke Chapter 00:05:23.034 --> 00:05:24.218 24 that they were filled 00:05:24.234 --> 00:05:26.470 with great joy. 00:05:27.370 --> 00:05:29.778 So Jesus was taken into heaven. 00:05:29.954 --> 00:05:31.766 And what do the disciples do? 00:05:31.868 --> 00:05:33.334 Where the disciples go is 00:05:33.372 --> 00:05:34.902 recorded in Luke chapter 24. 00:05:34.956 --> 00:05:37.409 We're told they were continually 00:05:37.570 --> 00:05:41.734 in the temple praising God. 00:05:41.852 --> 00:05:42.520 Why? 00:05:43.690 --> 00:05:46.902 Because the temple is where God 00:05:47.036 --> 00:05:49.606 had promised his people that he 00:05:49.628 --> 00:05:51.920 would be present with them. 00:05:52.690 --> 00:05:55.822 The temple is the location of 00:05:55.876 --> 00:05:58.570 the glory of God dwelling 00:05:58.650 --> 00:05:59.820 among his people. The. 00:06:00.090 --> 00:06:01.562 Temple is the presence 00:06:01.626 --> 00:06:02.826 of the kavod Yahweh. 00:06:02.858 --> 00:06:04.318 That is where God had said he 00:06:04.324 --> 00:06:05.230 would be with his people. 00:06:05.300 --> 00:06:07.102 The disciples had just seen God 00:06:07.156 --> 00:06:08.398 go into heaven so they went to 00:06:08.404 --> 00:06:09.774 the temple where God was 00:06:09.812 --> 00:06:10.800 with his people. 00:06:13.010 --> 00:06:14.462 The disciples had just seen 00:06:14.516 --> 00:06:16.574 God leave them in a way. 00:06:16.612 --> 00:06:18.142 So they went to the place where 00:06:18.196 --> 00:06:21.200 God had promised to be present 00:06:21.650 --> 00:06:24.270 into his temple. 00:06:24.610 --> 00:06:26.326 And they may not have been able 00:06:26.348 --> 00:06:29.074 to see the presence or the glory 00:06:29.122 --> 00:06:30.902 of God in the temple but God 00:06:30.956 --> 00:06:33.159 had promised to be there. 00:06:34.250 --> 00:06:36.422 And so the disciples went where 00:06:36.476 --> 00:06:39.926 God had placed himself and they 00:06:39.948 --> 00:06:42.806 were filled with joy even if 00:06:42.828 --> 00:06:44.120 they couldn't see him. 00:06:45.930 --> 00:06:47.094 But we know how much better 00:06:47.132 --> 00:06:49.800 it is when we can see. 00:06:50.850 --> 00:06:53.454 And so phone calls with our 00:06:53.492 --> 00:06:56.174 college kids were good. 00:06:56.372 --> 00:06:59.180 They filled us with joy. 00:07:00.250 --> 00:07:02.400 But how much better it is 00:07:03.650 --> 00:07:06.702 when our college students would 00:07:06.756 --> 00:07:09.322 come home for breaks 00:07:09.466 --> 00:07:10.590 for a visit. 00:07:12.450 --> 00:07:14.510 Both of our sons in college 00:07:14.580 --> 00:07:15.502 are at colleges 00:07:15.556 --> 00:07:17.200 about 5 hours away. 00:07:18.610 --> 00:07:20.158 And they would usually leave 00:07:20.244 --> 00:07:21.754 from college after their classes 00:07:21.802 --> 00:07:22.954 ended on a Friday afternoon, 00:07:23.002 --> 00:07:24.314 maybe 03:00 05:00. 00:07:24.362 --> 00:07:25.542 Add 5 hours to that, 00:07:25.596 --> 00:07:26.566 they would be getting back 00:07:26.588 --> 00:07:28.354 to our house about 08:00, 00:07:28.402 --> 00:07:29.960 maybe 10:00 at night. 00:07:30.330 --> 00:07:33.686 But being college students and 00:07:33.788 --> 00:07:36.310 being on the move all the time, 00:07:36.380 --> 00:07:39.186 they wouldn't stop for supper 00:07:39.298 --> 00:07:40.182 during that time. 00:07:40.236 --> 00:07:41.394 They would leave immediately 00:07:41.442 --> 00:07:42.294 after class, 00:07:42.412 --> 00:07:43.686 and by the time they got to our 00:07:43.707 --> 00:07:45.382 place at 08:00 10:00 at night, 00:07:45.436 --> 00:07:46.582 they hadn't had supper yet. 00:07:46.636 --> 00:07:49.062 So immediately we set 00:07:49.116 --> 00:07:49.882 out the table, 00:07:49.986 --> 00:07:51.194 we took the leftovers 00:07:51.242 --> 00:07:51.866 out of the fridge, 00:07:51.898 --> 00:07:52.970 put them in the microwave, 00:07:53.050 --> 00:07:56.250 and we sat down to enjoy a meal 00:07:56.409 --> 00:07:58.622 with our sons home from 00:07:58.676 --> 00:07:59.420 college and those 00:08:00.330 --> 00:08:02.720 are joyful times. 00:08:04.130 --> 00:08:06.302 Sharing a meal with those 00:08:06.356 --> 00:08:07.262 that you love, 00:08:07.396 --> 00:08:09.120 who are there with you. 00:08:10.690 --> 00:08:11.840 To this day 00:08:13.410 --> 00:08:15.086 It brings a smile to my face 00:08:15.188 --> 00:08:17.818 when I set eight plates 00:08:17.994 --> 00:08:20.030 out on the table. 00:08:21.090 --> 00:08:22.462 I set those plates around, 00:08:22.516 --> 00:08:23.600 I count them, 00:08:24.130 --> 00:08:27.030 and I get to you eight. 00:08:28.090 --> 00:08:29.734 Are we all here? Yes, 00:08:29.932 --> 00:08:31.240 we're all here. 00:08:31.610 --> 00:08:34.342 And a smile comes over my face, 00:08:34.395 --> 00:08:36.102 and I'm filled with joy because 00:08:36.236 --> 00:08:37.794 we're together and we're 00:08:37.842 --> 00:08:38.674 sharing a meal. 00:08:38.722 --> 00:08:41.254 And that is the very best way 00:08:41.452 --> 00:08:43.559 to be with Jesus, too, 00:08:44.010 --> 00:08:47.960 to share a meal with him. 00:08:49.050 --> 00:08:50.762 And that is what Jesus 00:08:50.826 --> 00:08:52.190 gives us today. 00:08:52.260 --> 00:08:53.742 It's better than being 00:08:53.796 --> 00:08:54.830 in the temple. 00:08:55.490 --> 00:08:57.742 Being in God's house today 00:08:57.876 --> 00:08:59.820 is better than just 00:09:00.090 --> 00:09:01.530 being where God has promised 00:09:01.610 --> 00:09:03.486 that his glory would dwell in a 00:09:03.508 --> 00:09:05.134 way that you couldn't see it or 00:09:05.172 --> 00:09:06.766 sense it, most of the time. 00:09:06.868 --> 00:09:08.366 We have the opportunity to come 00:09:08.388 --> 00:09:09.930 and share a meal with the Lord. 00:09:10.010 --> 00:09:12.122 Share a meal of the Lord. 00:09:12.266 --> 00:09:15.054 Jesus comes to be with us in the 00:09:15.092 --> 00:09:18.640 most precious way possible 00:09:19.010 --> 00:09:21.870 this side of eternity. 00:09:22.850 --> 00:09:25.430 As Jesus comes to be with us, 00:09:25.500 --> 00:09:26.470 in us, in, 00:09:26.540 --> 00:09:28.534 with and under the bread and 00:09:28.572 --> 00:09:31.554 wine of the Lord's Supper. 00:09:31.682 --> 00:09:32.962 Even after ascension, 00:09:33.026 --> 00:09:36.200 Jesus is with us. 00:09:37.690 --> 00:09:39.458 Jesus may have ascended, 00:09:39.634 --> 00:09:42.306 but Jesus is not absent 00:09:42.498 --> 00:09:43.800 from his people. 00:09:44.890 --> 00:09:48.470 Jesus remains with us, 00:09:48.620 --> 00:09:50.350 and we can be in His house, 00:09:50.420 --> 00:09:51.950 we can be in his presence. 00:09:52.850 --> 00:09:54.426 And being in his presence, 00:09:54.538 --> 00:09:55.438 we also, 00:09:55.524 --> 00:09:57.546 like the disciples in Luke 00:09:57.578 --> 00:09:59.820 Chapter 24, can be filled with 00:10:00.250 --> 00:10:05.854 Joy because a place is set 00:10:05.892 --> 00:10:08.640 at this table for you 00:10:10.450 --> 00:10:11.760 and with you 00:10:12.930 --> 00:10:14.510 and with our Lord. 00:10:14.930 --> 00:10:15.994 Being in His presence 00:10:16.042 --> 00:10:17.120 and being together. 00:10:18.370 --> 00:10:20.766 We can see that the 00:10:20.788 --> 00:10:22.000 table is full 00:10:23.250 --> 00:10:24.686 and we can have a smile on our 00:10:24.708 --> 00:10:27.890 face us and we can rejoice. 00:10:27.970 --> 00:10:29.046 We can be filled like the 00:10:29.068 --> 00:10:32.470 disciples with a great joy. 00:10:33.610 --> 00:10:35.394 Because while Jesus is ascended, 00:10:35.442 --> 00:10:37.750 He is not absent, 00:10:38.490 --> 00:10:42.280 He is with us. 00:10:43.530 --> 00:10:45.350 Separation is painful, 00:10:46.170 --> 00:10:47.590 but reunion, 00:10:48.810 --> 00:10:50.094 being together in each other 00:10:50.172 --> 00:10:52.830 presence is joyful. 00:10:53.410 --> 00:10:56.702 We are together and our Lord is 00:10:56.756 --> 00:10:59.210 with us like the disciples 00:10:59.290 --> 00:10:59.820 in his house. 00:11:00.330 --> 00:11:03.200 We also can be filled with great 00:11:03.810 --> 00:11:08.030 joy in Jesus name. Amen. 00:11:08.530 --> 00:11:10.474 The peace of God that passes 00:11:10.522 --> 00:11:11.578 all understanding. 00:11:11.674 --> 00:11:13.406 Keep your hearts and minds in 00:11:13.428 --> 00:11:15.002 true faith through Christ Jesus, 00:11:15.066 --> 00:11:17.230 our Lord. Amen.