Week of May 17th, 2026
Encouragement from God's Word
Last Sunday we celebrated Jesus’ Ascension. Jesus’ return to heaven in glory is a message of comfort and power. The comfort is Christ’s work was completed and so our sins are forgiven. The power is that the ascended Christ is with us to empower us to follow God’s commands. In a sermon on Jesus’ Ascension Day, Martin Luther used two texts, Acts 1:1-11 (the account of Jesus’ Ascension) and Psalm 68:19 (see below). He said the following about what Jesus’ victory over sins means in our daily lives:
Christian doctrine will not permit you to believe in Christ and at the same time to live in sin. For this text says that if you really believe in Christ, you also believe that he ascended up on high and led captivity (that is, your sin) captive (see Ephesians 4:8). But how did he lead your sins captive? He did it in this way that they are no longer to frighten and accuse you before God and that, if they wanted to do so, you snap your finger at them and say: “Sin, I care nothing whatever for your accusations. I believe in Him who sits above at the right hand of God and has taken you captive.” . . . But he has taken sin captive also in this way that it is no longer to charm and lure and that, though it do so, you are not to follow and adhere to it but to say: “Sin, you are playing a pleasant tune and want me to do evil . . . But I will not follow you.”
What Luther Says, p. 255
Live in the wonderful comfort that your Savior’s work is done and in the glorious power that your Savior is with you as you struggle against sin.
Psalm 68:19
Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens.
