The Ascension of Our Lord

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May 16, 2021

The ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ into heaven is a pillar of the Christian faith, the faith in which we are baptized. Every time we profess the Apostles’ Creed we state unequivocally that we believe that Jesus Christ, the Son of God: “Suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.   He will come again to judge the living and the dead.”

Like everything else in Jesus’ earthly ministry, his ascension into heaven, his enthronement at the right hand of God and his return to judge, is a fulfillment of what is written about Jesus in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. (Luke 24:44) The Psalm which points to Jesus’ ascension, enthronement and appointment as judge is Psalm 110. The Psalm begins: The Lord says to my lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”(Psalm 110:1) These words are spoken by God to the Messiah. They describe a change in the Messiah’s position, specifically, from below God the Father’s throne to a position at the right hand of God in the heavenly realm. These words find their fulfillment in the following New Testament passages: Luke 24:50-51, Mark 16:19, and Acts 1:1-11.

Psalm 110 declares that the Messiah’s ascension sets in motion God’s judgement on all humanity, beginning with world’s leaders. God judges and punishes all of the Messiah’s enemies, thereby making them the Messiah’s footstool. The Psalm promises God’s ultimate victory over human arrogance, evil, rebelliousness, unbelief and abject sinfulness. Verses 2-3 describe God’s forces, on judgement day the Messiah’s troops will be ready for battle. The Messiah’s young men will be arrayed in holy splendor. Verses 5-7describe the destruction of God’s enemies, thereby rendering them the Messiah’s footstool. Between the description of God’s army and the description of final battle and victory, God made this declaration about the enthroned Messiah: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’”  (Psalm 110:4)

God’s words point to a king of Salem named Melchizedek (translated king of righteousness) revealed in Genesis 14:18-20. Abraham met Melchizedek just after Abraham had rescued his nephew Lot from the clutched of a cabal of kings who had taken his nephew prisoner. Unlike all prominent people in the Old Testament, no information on his pedigree or family history is given. He is a mystery. He has no lineage. Melchizedek is described as Priest of the God Most High (our God). It is the calling of a priest to intercede and to act as an intermediary between God and humanity, chiefly by proclaiming God’s word, pronouncing blessings and offering animal sacrifices. Acting as God’s priest, Melchizedek gave Abraham bread and wine and pronounced a blessing on Abraham in God’s name and place and blessed God for giving Abraham the victory. In response, Abraham gave Melchizedek a tenth or tithe of the plunder he had taken from the defeated kings.

Melchizedek puzzles biblical scholars. He is called a priest of God, and he speaks for God. Abraham recognized him as a superior and gave him an offering. The Gospel testifies that Melchizedek points to Jesus, and his priestly function. Jesus is the Son of God, like Melchizedek, he has no earthly father and mother with respect to his divine nature. Like Melchizedek, Jesus acted once and for all. He blessed Abraham and Abraham’s descendants, and the whole world, by a priestly act, that liberated all who believe from the power of sin and God’s wrath and anger kindled by human sinfulness.

The Law of Moses revealed God’s hatred towards sin and love for sinners on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16). Every year the High Priest was presented with two goats. By lot, one was declared for the Lord and the other declared the scape goat. The goat declared for the Lord was sacrificed first and its blood was used by the High Priest to gain entrance into the Jerusalem Temple’s Holy of Holies and thereby come into God’s presence at the Ark of the Covenant. The High Priest sprinkled the blood of the goat declared for the Lord in front of him as he proceeded from behind the curtain, which separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple, to the foot of the Ark of the Covenant. He placed blood on the corners of the Ark and sprinkled blood on it seven times to cleanse it and consecrate it from the sins of the people. The blood of the goat for the Lord appeased God’s anger and wrath at sin. If the Lord accepted the sacrifice and the High priest emerged from the Holy of Holies, he confessed the sins of Israel on the scape goat. It was led out into the wilderness and was killed by wild animals. When it died those sins were forgiven. The Day of Atonement was to be a perpetual ordinance and rite. The High Priest was allowed in God’s presence for a brief time each year. The cycle of sin and God’s wrath against sin continued. However, this rite pointed to a time when sin would be forgiven and God’s wrath against sin would be satisfied, once and for all. This ultimate sacrifice would pave the way for entry into the presence of God.

On Good Friday Jesus, our great High Priest, like the scapegoat was taken outside of Jerusalem and murdered by crucifixion. In that homicidal act, Jesus had voluntarily offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins. By his innocent death on the cross, Like the scape goat, he paid the price for the sins of all who believe. When Jesus died our sins were forgiven. The Gospel according to St. Matthew declares the following happened at the moment of Jesus’ death. “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” (Mathew 27:51-53). The blood spilled by Jesus our great High Priest satisfied God’s wrath against sin once and for all. God tore the curtain separating Him from humanity from top to bottom. All those who believe in the atoning blood of Jesus could now enter God’s presence. Those who died believing in the coming Messiah were freed from the power of death and could enter God’s presence.

Psalm 110 declares that the Messiah’s high priestly sacrifice and enthronement unleashed God’s full and final judgement on all mankind. However, at the same time Jesus’ high priestly sacrifice unleashed another Old Testament promise: “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 26:46-47). Good Friday, Easter and the Ascension unleashed the God’s final judgment and the preaching of the forgiveness sin by faith in Jesus the great High Priest and Messiah.

The texts for Ascension Day brought this image to mind: A man stood at the edge of a curb along a street. He was listening to music through headphones. His head was bowed. He gazed down at the road in front of him. A bus careened in his direction. If he stepped out into the road he would surely be hit by the bus. Which one of us, if we could, would not rush up to that man, grab his arm and stop him? Not one of us would hesitate. Scriptures teach us that this image mirrors the fate of humanity. Judgement is careening toward us and most are oblivious to their destruction and its eternal consequences. Yet, it is not God’s desire that sinners suffer judgment. The Lord God has declared: “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign Lord. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?”

God has given us a message that will stop some of those on the precipice in their tracks. Through the Gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed the Holy Spirit will give some of them the eyes to see that the path they were on was leading them to the intersection with the bus of judgement. They will see Jesus push them back from the precipice and be hit by the bus for them. They will see the resurrected Jesus’ hand extended to them. They will hear him say “Take my hand and I will lead you down a new path.”

Father God, you do not delight in the death of sinners. We give you thanks that you put people in our lives that have, in your name, pulled us back from that precipice through the proclamation of the Gospel. Use us, as your instruments,  so that in our proclamation of the Gospel others are pulled back from the precipice, and will wait with us in anticipation of your coming to judge the living and the dead.

In Christ
Pastor Ed Skutshek, President.

In response to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, governments around the world have imposed lockdowns. People are encouraged people to stay home and leave home only for the most essential purposes. Non-essential travel between regions is severely restricted. Canadian governments have imposed these restrictions and have provided relief for those hard hit by lockdowns. The Rwandan government has imposed lockdowns and restricted travel but has not provided much relief. The people of the Reformed Lutheran Church of Rwanda (RLCR) have appealed to the people of Victory Lutheran in Medicine Hat, AB, for humanitarian help, specifically, food.

Victory Lutheran and the RLCR have an mission agreement. Thanks to contributions from congregations and individuals, on May 3, Victory Lutheran wired $3,400.00 US to Rwanda. We will be in touch with the RLCR for details on the use of the funds for humanitarian purposes.

The following amendment to Article 9 of the Constitution of the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations was approved by the delegates to CALC’s 2020 Annual General Convention.

10. Meetings of the members of the Association held by electronic means.
(a) Entire meeting by electronic means. Any Annual General Convention, or any other meeting of the members of the Association, may be held entirely by means of a telephonic, an electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting.

(b) Participation in an in-person meeting by electronic means. Any person entitled to attend any meeting of the members of the Association may participate in the meeting by means of a telephonic, an electronic or other communication facility that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting, if the National Council, acting in its sole discretion, makes available such a communication facility. A person so participating in a meeting is deemed for the purposes of CALC’s constitution and bylaws to be present at the meeting.

The following amendment to Subsection 4.1 (highlighted and bolded) of Article 10 of the Constitution of the Canadian Association of Lutheran Congregations was approved by the delegates to CALC’s 2020 Annual General Convention.

4.1 The National Council shall function as the legislative agency of this Association in the interim between General Conventions in order to deal with situations which necessitate action before the next General Convention, including the formation and appointment of ad hoc committees. Legislative acts by the National Council shall require a majority vote of all its members and must be presented to the next General Convention for review.

Amendments to CALC’s constitution become effective if approved by our congregations in a referendum. The full text of the amendments, together with an explanation of the amendments and a ballot are sent to each of CALC’s congregations entitled to vote. A congregation approves the proposed amendments if a simple majority of the members of a congregation, at a duly called meeting of the congregation, vote in favor of the amendments. The congregational vote is recorded on the ballot provided by CALC. To be counted the ballot must be received by a date determined by CALC. If 75% of ballots received by the designated date vote in favor of the amendments, the same are deemed passed.

Notice of the Congregational Referendum and ballot were sent out to the congregations on December 8, 2020. The notice specified that completed ballots were to be received by March 27, 2021, to be counted. On February 24, 2021, National Council voted to extend the deadline by which ballots may be received to May 12, 2021. A notice dated March 8, 2021, was sent to congregations giving notice of the extension of time to vote. On May 12th the ballots received were counted and votes were tabulated. Ballots were received from 18 congregations and all voted in favor of all three amendments to CALC’s Constitution approved by the delegates to the 2020 Annual General Convention. The amendments have passed and are now a part of CALC's constitution.

The congregations returning ballots on or before the May 12 deadline were: Christ Lutheran Church, Sexsmith, AB; Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Toronto, ON; Peace Lutheran Church, Wainwright, AB; Trondjhem Lutheran, Round Hill, AB; St. Peter's Lutheran, Cochrane, AB; Golden Valley Lutheran, Viking, AB; Christ Lutheran Church, Morden, MB; Peace Lutheran, Wainwright, AB; St. Peter's Lutheran Sullivan, ON; Emmaus Lutheran - Edmonton, AB; Sharon Lutheran, Irma, AB; Bethel Lutheran, Lea Park, AB; St. Andrews Lutheran, Kamloops, BC; Calvary Lutheran, Wetaskiwin, AB; Victory Lutheran, Medicine Hat, AB; Resurrection Lutheran, Pembroke, ON; Bardo Lutheran, Tofield,AB; All Saints Lutheran, Ottawa, ON; Trinity Lutheran, Leader, SK.

Pastor Ed Skutshek, President for the National Council.

The date for CALC's 2021 Annual General Convention has been changed from Saturday June 12th to Saturday September 11th. The convention will be convened as a one-day event beginning at 9:00 AM and concluding at 5:30 PM (MDT) and will include the annual business meeting and an address by a keynote speaker. If it is impossible or impractical to hold the convention as a hybrid meeting on September 11; it will be held on that date as a totally online convention via ZOOM.

The Convention will be held at the Coast Nisku Inn and Conference Center located at 1101 4 Street, Nisku, Alberta. Our venue is located minutes south of the Edmonton International Airport. An official notice of the change of the date of the 2021 national convention was mailed to each congregation on May 12th.

Click the button below. You will be re-directed to CALC's website. Click on "CALC ONLINE" in the navigation pane at the top of the Homepage and you will be directed to an alphabetical list of congregation's with online worship services. Click and enjoy!!!

The Ascension of Our Lord

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. (Luke 24:50-51)

Help for Rwandan Lutherans

Results of Congregational Referendum