Sunday after Ascension 2026
If one looks through the lectionary - the collection of the readings for today, one would immediately notice the predominance of Isaiah. For instance, it mentions Isaiah 32 and 33; Isaiah 4 and 65; these passages are unified thematically in anticipating the glory and the reign of the Ascended Christ which brings about, ultimately God’s righteous rule on earth. When the Ascended Christ returns, those who love and trust him will be granted the fullness of his salvation, an eternal inheritance in his blessed kingdom. To those who refuse to submit to his Lordship, his reign, they will be cast away from Him and assigned to the punishment originally designed for Satan and his minions.
Beside the prominent testimony of Isaiah in the readings, there are also psalms that the Church has associated with the Ascension - perhaps applying Christ’s teaching during the days between Easter and Ascension to the Psalms -showing how all the Old Testament speaks to Jesus Christ’s coming in the flesh. This morning I want us to look at one of these Psalms - Psalm 24 and see how it speaks to Christ’s Ascension. Psalm 24 is a psalm that most believe was written by King David. The occasion of the writing of the Psalm was the bringing of the ark of the covenant into Jerusalem. So that God’s presence - identified with the ark - might be in the midst of God’s beloved city and near to the king’s throne. Here, David is talking about the great procession of worshippers drawing near to Jerusalem for the appointed feasts of God’s people, being led by the ark of the covenant. The subject then is God’s presence in the midst of his people.
We also know from Jewish tradition that this psalm was sung every Sabbath morning in the temple when the wine offering was made. The Law in over 50 places prescribed that wine was to be poured out in the sanctuary as an act of worship, joy and consecration of the offeror to the Lord. Wine was offered alongside the other sacrifices of the Law.
The Psalm begins with a declaration of the absolute rule of God in all times and in all places, for he created all things and so he rules all things. He alone is the true God, not just of the world but the fulness and inhabitants thereof. Every aspect of the created order is dependent on him. God is not just a prime mover, who winds up the world, and leaves it be; instead, God is the ruler of the circumstances and of all creatures - men and beasts. Moreover, He is ruler not just of the land but over the chaos of the seas and the waters under the earth.
David is speaking into ancient cultures in which water and the sea represented chaos - equivalent in the ancient mind to the struggles between various gods. Whatever the motif, God is declaring the truth that there is only one Lord - Yahweh - who rules all of creation. Period.
The Psalmist now moves from the power of God to one of his key attributes - God’s holiness. He asks the question as they procession and move up toward Jerusalem - up in altitude. This section of the Psalm is an entrance liturgy. The procession has moved to Jerusalem, now to the entrance to the tabernacle, the Temple. Keeping in mind the truth that not everyone was allowed into the holy place; there were appointed Levites who were responsible for guarding access. So, as the procession draws nearer, the question is who may come near?
David answers in verse 4 - he who has clean hands and pure heart; he whose soul is shaped by humility and doesn’t practice deceit. A person whose life reflects God’s character by righteous dealing, an integrity that comes from bringing together godly intentions, what is meant by a pure heart, with righteous dealing with his neighbor, clean hands. Moreover, this righteousness is rooted in humility and trustworthiness. It would seem at first blush that one can enter into God’s presence because of the individual’s righteousness. Some would accuse the Old Testament writers of promoting a works-based righteousness abhorrent to the spirit of grace and mercy of Christ’s sacrifice, but that would be a misunderstanding of the spirit of this declaration. Let me explain.
It is a fact that these are the attributes that are required to enter God’s presence but, as it has been said, this isn’t, “so much a self-righteous declaration of innocence as it is a solemn admission of dependence on the merciful grace of God.” In the Old Testament, repentance and proper sacrifice were required to gain access to God’s presence.
Those who enter properly are promised blessing and righteousness - both gifts from the Lord. In this manner, God the Saviour is the vindicator of his people who keeps his covenant with his people and blesses them. Those who seek God’s face - seeking God in worship was associated with going to the Temple. Those who seek God in true worship are rewarded with His glorious presence, much like Jacob who received blessing from God after he had wrestled with Him.
This brings us to the final section in the Psalm in which we read of the King coming to the gates of the Holy City. Verses 7 and 9 make the same declaration - Lift up the gates and doors and the king of Glory will come in. Verse 8 and 10 ask the same question with similar answers - Who is this king of Glory? It is the Lord strong and mighty. It is the Lord - he is God - for the Lord doesn’t share his name with anyone else. The Lord who is known through the power of his conquest- strong in battle. David subdued many of his enemies; but this King, this physical descendent of David, will conquer the greater enemies - all that would keep mankind from renewed relationship with God - that being sin and death. Who is this king of Glory? He is the Lord of hosts - whose glory is made known also through the glory of his servants the angels and the vast multitudes of the faithful who follow him.
The Psalmist may have envisioned a glorious king coming to the Holy City, to the Temple. As we contemplate Ascension, this psalm speaks to Christ’s entry into the heavenly Jerusalem. As it has been said, “The angel host burst forth in glorious acclamation. The Lord has gone down below the earth to gather to Himself the people whom He has redeemed. He has shown Himself in triumphant power. The hosts of the enemy are conquered…. A way has been made through the prison-house. Now the gates of hell are taken away. The gates of Heaven welcome Him ascending to the spiritual world. He who entered the nether world a Conqueror from this world of earthly life, went there alone. He passes on in the resurrection to the joy of spiritual life, having round about Him the multitude of the Redeemed. He has" risen for their justification." They have obtained His "righteousness from the God of their salvation." Death can no longer have dominion over them. He who is the King of Glory is no longer a solitary figure. He is the "Lord of hosts."
This Lord of Hosts has not only entered the true temple of God’s presence - he the Lord of Hosts - longs to inhabit the human hearts so that we might, too, be his temples. It is to this door of the heart that he knocks. To Him, the gates and doors of our hearts must open as the Lord of all creation. Not just for a moment but a life of consecrated obedience.
As I mentioned earlier, this Psalm was sung with the presentation of the wine offering, the drink offering on Sabbath in the Temple. With joy and personal consecration, this was given by the faithful worshipper. Christ is Ascended. He rules and reigns. We celebrate the King of Glory who reigns, whose kingdom has no end, with the wine offering of the Eucharist. We enter into joy through his perfect sacrifice; his suffering brought about our ongoing joy. His pouring out of his lifeblood provides us with joyful fellowship with God. Our calling as His redeemed people is to love him and show our love for him by our obedience to His will.
I mentioned last week what God’s will is for mankind - the conversion of unbelievers, the sanctification of the Christian and a life of prayer and thanksgiving. Consider the gift of Our Lord’s Ascension and the eminence of His return and as we pray, “the Kingdom Come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”, may we take those words to heart and live in the reality that His Kingdom has come to us in the present while we await the fullness of His Kingdom at his second coming. Beloved, let nothing keep you from loving and serving Jesus with singleness of heart. Let no good thing - family, hobbies, property, lawful ambition - keep you from holding fast to the perfection of the coming Kingdom. Double down, brothers and sisters, on serving, submitting ourselves to Christ Jesus in the present so that we might not be ashamed and fearful when the Ascended Christ comes again. Amen.
