Thursday, May 13, 2010
Ascension Day
Psalm 22:23 You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you descendants of Jacob, honor him! Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
STAND IN AWE OF HIM
The phrase "Stand in awe of Him" (fear him) shows us the wide vista of our Lord's work, from creation to His glorious return on the clouds of glory with all His holy angels -- more than twelve legions of angels. For He is Creator, Redeemer, Prince of Peace, Savior, Counselor, Shepherd, Risen, Living, King of all kings, Lord of all lords.
He was made under the law to redeem us who were under the law so that we might receive the adoption as sons. He was, as the first 21 verses of this psalm recount, to suffer crucifixion and to be punished in our place for our sins. He rose again the third day ascended to heaven from whence He came, glorified. There He is seated at the right hand of the Father, to be given all power in heaven and on earth, to rule the nations with the might of the sword of His Word. He will return again to judge the souls of all people and tribes and tongues. He is the everlasting God, the Living Redeemer, by whose name alone any soul is saved.
How can one not be in awe of the Lord Jesus? How can we not stand in amazed humility before Him? Or how can our lips be silent at the portion that was given and is given to our Lord Jesus Christ? All other things fade away before Him. For what have we done? Only what is our duty to do and even then we are unprofitable servants.
But because Jesus took up His portion and drank to the glorious end of the cup that was set before Him, and by the working of the Holy Spirit through the Word, we have been given faith. By reason of that faith, His portion is our portion. For we have been baptized into His death, dying to sin and rising again to the new and living hope that is in Christ Jesus.
As Luther so well stated, "For all of which it is our duty to thank and to praise, to serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true. Amen."
