Sunday after the Ascension – Monday
He ascended up on high; He led captivity captive. – Ephesians 4:8.
This text speaks of a triumph, a triumphal procession. Christ’s ascension was a triumphal procession. Christ ascended up on high and triumphantly led captivity captive. What was our captivity? Surely, sin, death, damnation, the power of the devil. Was not this the prison that held us with restraints we could not tear, with lock and bolt which we could not break? But, our Savior bore and atoned for our sins, suffered our death and conquered it for us, tasted and destroyed our damnation, and bruised the head of the devil, in whose power we were. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same, that, through death, He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver them who, through fear of death, were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Hebrews 2:14-15). St. Paul writes, “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the Law” (I Corinthians 15:56).
By perfectly fulfilling the Law, both in His sinless life and in His ignominious death, Christ made satisfaction to God for all sins. By bearing away the sins of the world, Christ removed the sting of death. And, without death’s sting, he who had the power of death, that is the devil, was left powerless. Now, as the triumphant Prince of Life who had overcome the power of the grave, Christ was raised from the dead to manifest this victory to the world for our Easter joy. In fact, in the early morning of Easter Sunday, He descended into hell as the living and risen Conqueror, and preached of His victory and of their vanquishment to “the spirits in prison” (I Peter 3:19). That was a triumph in itself. And now He ascended into heaven, and, in triumphal procession, He carried with Him our sins atoned, our death vanquished, our damnation destroyed, our evil foe trampled under foot. Verily, He despoiled our prison and all the hostile powers that were arrayed against us, stripped them of their power, and made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in Himself, in His glorious exaltation. Will you not sing and say: “This is a sight that gladdens” (Hymn 192, st. 3; TLH –See below).
In the name of Jesus, do you hear? Trusting in Him, you may deride sin, laugh at death, defy damnation, and tauntingly fly in the face of Satan. Through faith in Christ, we are no longer in bondage to them. No prison can hold you, no foe can harm you. He, your Savior, “has ascended up on high; He led captivity captive.”
PRAYER – O Jesus, wondrous, conquering Hero, I trust in Thee, in the work Thou hast accomplished for me, and in the merit which Thou givest to me by Thy Word, Thy blessed Gospel. My captivity is ended and I am now free. Though foes gather around me on all sides, assure me again and again of Thy victory, and thus of mine through Thee. Continue to give to me, O Jesus, the bold assurance of victory in Thy name. Amen.
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing, my great Redeemer’s praise;
the glories of my God and King, the triumphs of His grace!
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He breaks the power of canceled sin; He sets the prisoner free;
His blood can make the foulest clean; His blood avails for me.
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Glory to God and praise and love, be ever, ever given;
by saints below and saints above, the Church in earth and heaven.
(Hymn 360, st. 1, 4, 7; TLH)
"Awake, My Heart, with Gladness"
by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
Text From:
THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
(St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)
1. Awake, my heart, with gladness,
See what today is done,
Now after gloom and sadness
Comes forth the glorious Sun!
My Savior there was laid
Where our bed must be made
When to the realms of light
Our spirit wings its flight.
2. The Foe in triumph shouted
When Christ lay in the tomb,
But, lo, he now is routed,
His boast is turned to gloom.
For Christ again is free;
In glorious victory
He who is strong to save
Has triumphed o'er the grave.
3. This is a sight that gladdens;
What peace it doth impart!
Now nothing ever saddens
The joy within my heart;
No gloom shall ever shake,
No foe shall ever take,
The hope which God's own Son
In love for me hath won.
4. Now hell, its prince, the devil,
Of all their power are shorn;
Now I am safe from evil,
And sin I laugh to scorn.
Grim death with all his might
Cannot my soul affright;
He is a powerless form,
Howe'er he rave and storm.
5. The world against me rageth,
Its fury I disdain;
Though bitter war it wageth,
Its work is all in vain.
My heart from care is free,
No trouble troubles me.
Misfortune now is play,
And night is bright as day.
6. Now I will cling forever
To Christ, my Savior true;
My Lord will leave me never,
Whate'er He passes through.
He rends Death's iron chain,
He breaks through sin and pain,
He shatters hell's dark thrall,-
I follow through it all.
7. To halls of heavenly splendor
With Him I penetrate;
And trouble ne'er may hinder
Nor make me hesitate.
Let tempests rage at will,
My Savior shields me still;
He grants abiding peace
And bids all tumult cease.
8. He brings me to the portal
That leads to bliss untold
Whereon this rime immortal
Is found in script of gold:
"Who there My cross hath shared
Finds here a crown prepared;
Who there with Me has died
Shall here be glorified."
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Notes:
Hymn #192 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
Text: Col. 2:15
Author: Paul Gerhardt
Translated by: John Kelly, 1867, alt.
Titled: "Auf, auf, mein Herz, mit Freuden"
Composer: Johann Crueger, 1648
Tune: "Auf, auf, mein Herz"
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