Ascension Sunday6Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.8But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” 9After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:6-11)

The ascension of Jesus is the exaltation & enthronement of Jesus

Acts 2:32-33 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. 33Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. 

Eph 1:20-23…when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Jesus’ Journey into Kingship

The Kingship of Jesus: What does it mean for us today?

The Challenge of the “Kingship / Monarchical” Language & Concept for Us Today

The Person

The Realm /Domain/State /Kingdom /Governance

People = “Subject” of the Sovereign

How does a person obtain the title “King”?

Inherited Self-Appointment Popular Demand

“Kingship” as a Way of “Order” (Governance)

The Kingship of Jesus

1. The Person of Jesus, the King2. The Way of Jesus’ Kingship 3. The Subject of King Jesus

The Person of the King: Jesus could have been “King” by…

Accepting Satan’s Offer

Accepting the crowd’s demand

(John 6:15)

Listening to the disciple’s

suggestion on use of His power

The Journey Jesus took into His Kingship Reveals His Worthiness of the Honour

Made himself nothing…made in human likeness

Humbled himself…Taking the nature of servant

Becoming obedient

Even death on the cross

The Way (Rule & Realm) of the King: The “Good Shepherd” Model

11“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 

14“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15just as the Father knows me and I know the Father…

 16I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.

John 10:11-16

The Challenge: Being “the Subject” of King Jesus Today

“Knowing the King” : Having Insight & Convictionof Jesus as the “good” King

Living & Growing under King’s (Policy) Rule / the Way or Order of the Kingdom

Responding to the King’s Call for Service