Sermon by Martin Luther for --
THE DAY OF CHRIST’S ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN.
This sermon, which is not found in edition c, dates
from the year 1523 and appeared in three pamphlet editions in the same year
under the title: “A sermon by Dr. Martin Luther on the last chapter of St.
Mark. While the eleven were sitting at meat Christ manifested himself and
reproved them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, 1523.”
German text: Erlangen Edition, 12:169; Walch Edition,
11:1256; St. Louis Walch, 11:931.
Text: Mark 16:14-20 (KJV)
II. CHRIST’S ASCENSION INTO HEAVEN.
23. Now we must consider the ascension of the Lord
Jesus Christ. In the first place, it is easily said and understood that the
Lord ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God. But they are dead
words to the understanding if they are not grasped with the heart.
24. We must, therefore, conceive of his ascension and
Lordship as something active, energetic and continuous, and must not imagine
that he sits above while we hold the reins of government down here. Nay, he
ascended up thither for the reason that there he can best do his work and
exercise dominion. Had he remained upon earth in visible form, before the
people, he could not have wrought so effectually, for all the people could not
have been with him and heard him. Therefore, he inaugurated an expedient which
made it possible for him to be in touch with all and reign in all, to preach to
all and be heard by all, and to be with all. Therefore, beware lest you imagine
within yourself that he has gone, and now is, far away from us. The very
opposite is true: While he was on earth, he was far away from us; now he is
very near.
25. Reason cannot comprehend how this can be.
Therefore it is an article of faith. Here one must close his eyes and not follow
his reason, but lay hold of all by faith. For how can reason grasp the thought
that there should be a being like ourselves, who is all-seeing and knows all
hearts and gives all men faith and the Spirit; or that he sits above in heaven,
and yet is present with us and in us and rules over us? Therefore, strive not
to comprehend, but say: This is Scripture and this is God’s Word, which is
immeasurably higher than all understanding and reason. Cease your reasoning and
lay hold of the Scriptures, which testify of this being — how he ascended to
heaven and sits at the right hand of God and exercises dominion. Let us examine
some Scripture bearing upon this matter.
26. In the first place, Psalm 8:4-6 says of Christ:
“What is man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him but little lower
than God, and crownest him with glory and honor. Thou makest him to have
dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet.”
Here the prophet speaks to God concerning a man and marvels that God humbled,
for a time, that man, when he suffered him to die, humbled him to the extent
that it seemed as if God were not with him. But after a little while God
exalted him, so that all things must obey him, both in heaven and on earth. To
these words we must hold, to these words we must cling, in these words we must
believe; for reason will not submit nor adapt itself to them, but says they are
lies. Now, if all things are to be subject to this being and to fall at his
feet, he must sit where he can look into the whole world, into heaven and hell
and every heart; where he can see all sin and all righteousness, and can not
only see all things, But can rule accordingly.
27. Hence, these are majestic and powerful words. They
afford the heart great comfort, so that they who believe this are filled with
joy and courage and defiantly say: My Lord Jesus Christ is Lord over death,
Satan, sin, righteousness, body, life, foes and friends. What shall I fear? For
while my enemies stand before my very door and plan to slay me, my faith
reasons thus: Christ is ascended into heaven and become Lord over all
creatures, hence my enemies, too, must be subject to him and thus it is not in
their power to do me harm. I challenge them to raise a finger against me or to
injure a hair of my head against the will of my Lord Jesus Christ. When faith
grasps and stands upon this article, it stands firm and waxes bold and defiant,
so as even to say: If my Lord so wills that they, mine enemies, slay me,
blessed am I; I gladly depart. Thus you will see that he is ascended into
heaven, not to remain in indifference, but to exercise dominion; and all for
our good, to afford us comfort and joy. This is one passage.
28. Furthermore, in the second Psalm, verses 7 and 8,
we read that God says to Christ: “Thou art my son; this day have I begotten
thee. Ask of me and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the
uttermost parts of the earth for thy possessions.” Here you see again that
Christ is appointed of God a Lord over all the earth. Now, if he is my friend
and I am persuaded that he died for me and gave me all things and for my sake
sits in heaven and watches over me, who then can do ought to me? Or if any man
should do ought, what harm can come of it?
29. Furthermore, David says again in the 110th Psalm,
Psalm 110:1: “Jehovah saith unto my lord, sit thou at my right hand, until I
make thine enemies thy footstool.” And further on, in Psalm 110:5,6,7: “The
Lord at thy right hand will strike through kings in the day of his wrath. He will
judge among the nations, he will fill the places with dead bodies; he will
strike through the head in many countries. He will drink of the brook in the
way; therefore will he lift up the head.”
30. Again in still another Psalm, David says ( Psalm
68:18): “Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led away captives; thou hast
received gifts among men, yea among the rebellious also, that Jehovah God might
dwell with them.” And all the prophets took great pains to describe Christ’s
ascension and his kingdom. For, as his sufferings and death are deeply founded
in the Scriptures, so are also his kingdom, his resurrection and ascension. In
this manner we must view the ascension of Christ. Otherwise it will afford us
neither pleasure nor profit. For what good will it do you if you merely preach
that he ascended up to heaven and sits there with folded hands? This is what
the prophet would say in the Psalm Christ is ascended on high and has led
captivity captive. That is to say, not only does he sit up there but he is also
down here. And for this purpose did he ascend up thither, that he might be down
here, that he might fill all things and be everywhere present; which thing he
could not do had he remained on earth, for here in the body he could not have
been present with all. He ascended to heaven, where all hearts can see him,
where he can deal with all men, that he might fill all creation. He is present
everywhere and all things are filled with his fullness. Nothing is so great, be
it in heaven or on earth, but he has power over it, and it must be in perfect
obedience to him. He not only governs and fills all creation (that would not
help my faith any nor take away my sins), but also has led captivity captive.
31. This captivity some have interpreted to mean that
he delivered the sainted patriarchs out of the stronghold of hell; but that
interpretation does not benefit our faith any either, for it is not
particularly edifying to faith.
Therefore, we must simply understand the matter thus:
that he means that captivity which captures us and holds us captive. I am
Adam’s child, full of sin and foully besmirched; therefore, the law has taken
me captive, so that I am lettered in conscience and sentenced to death.
32. From this captivity no one can free himself, save
only that one man Christ. What did he do? He made sin, death, and Satan his
debtors. Sin fell upon him as though it would vanquish him, but it lost the
day; he devoured sin. And Satan, death, and hell fared the same way. But we are
unable to do this unless he be present to aid us. Alone, we must needs perish,
But he, since he had done no sin and was full of righteousness, trod under foot
Satan, death and hell, and devoured them, and took everything captive that fain
would capture us, so that sin and death no longer can do harm.
33. This, then, is the power he causes to be preached,
that all who believe in him are released from captivity. I believe in him by
whom sin, death, and all things that afflict us, were led captive. It is a
pleasing discourse, and full of comfort, when we are told that death is taken
away and slain, so that it is no longer felt. However, it affords pleasure and
comfort only to those who believe it. You will not find release from captivity
in your works, fastings, prayers, castigations, tonsures, and gowns, and
whatever more things you may do; but only in the place where Christ sits,
whither he ascended and whither he led captivity with him. Hence, he who would
be freed from sin and delivered from Satan and death, must come thither where
Christ is. Now, where is he? He is here with us, and for this purpose did he
sit down in heaven, that he might be near unto us. Thus, we are with him up
there and he is with us down here. Through the word he comes down and through
faith we ascend up.
34. So, we see everywhere in the Scriptures that faith
is such an unspeakably great thing that we can never preach about it
sufficiently nor reach it with words. It cannot be heard and seen, therefore it
must be believed. Such is the nature of faith that it feels nothing at all, but
merely follows the words which it hears, and clings to them. If you believe,
you have; if you believe not, you have not. In this wise must we understand
this article of faith, that Christ is ascended into heaven and sitteth
at the right hand of God.
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