Readings

• 2 Kings 2:5–15
• Psalm 110
• Acts 1:1–11
• Luke 24:44–53

Hymns

• 493 A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing
• 491 Up through Endless Ranks of Angels
• 680 Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise
• 525 Crown Him with Many Crowns

Jesus Is Ascended, but Not Absent

On the fortieth day after His resurrection, our Lord ascended to the right hand of the Father. But although Jesus is hidden from your eyes, He is not absent from you. For He now fills all things in heaven and on earth. He continues “to do and to teach” (Acts 1:1), preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins through those sent in His name (Mark 16:14–20; Luke 24:44–53), giving you His true body and blood in the Supper. Jesus is your great Elijah who pours out on you a double portion of His Spirit in the Word and the Sacraments (2 Kings 2:5–15). He is Lord over all things for the sake of the Church. He whom heaven cannot contain has raised your human nature to share fully in the glory of God. You who believe and are baptized into Christ’s body are already sitting in the heavenly places; for you are in Him who is at the Father’s right hand. When He comes again in the clouds on the Last Day, you also will appear with Him in glory.

Rogate

Readings

• Numbers 21:4–9
• Psalm 107:1–9
• James 1:22–27
• John 16:23–33

Hymns

• 773 Hear Us, Father, When We Pray
• 766 Our Father, Who from Heaven Above
• 686 Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing
• 719 I Leave All Things to God’s Direction

The Father Answers Our Prayers Because of Jesus

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you” (John 16:23). To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray as one who has been baptized. For it is in the water that He put His name upon you, claiming you as His own, making you a son of God with access to the Father. By His incarnation and crucifixion, our Lord Jesus broke through the barrier of sin which separated us from God, opening a portal to the Father. To pray in Jesus’ name is to pray with faith in Him as the one Mediator between God and men, who gave Himself a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:1–6). Like Moses in the wilderness, Jesus is our go-between and intercessor before the throne of heaven. He was lifted up for us on the cross that we might be saved and restored to fellowship with the Father (Num. 21:4–9). Looking into this perfect teaching of liberty (James 1:22–27) we pray with boldness and confidence as dear children of God.