I hope that you listened intently to Pastor Joe’s sermon last week on Psalm 23.

In my own ministry I find it more and more one of those “beast of burden” Psalms: it readily carries a heavy load in counseling or wisdom situations.

But Pastor Joe pointed out why it is such a great Psalm: because it is about JESUS, not some distant and unknown Lord. The modern translations supply LORD for “Yahweh,” and so we think of someone named LORD as a person of office—a King, Knight, ruler, feudal superior, etc. Like “Lord Vader,” “Lord Farquaad,” “Lord Sauron,” etc. But “Yahweh” is God’s personal name, like Bob or Tom or Peter. Someone you know or can get to know. Someone you are to know deeply, like Jesus, your brother, your savior, your advocate.

So it’s Jesus, the God-man, and not a distant LORD, who gives you what you need, who makes you rest in peace places, who is beside you in difficult times, who does surgery on your soul, who leads you in righteous and protects you in situations of death, (“I died, and behold I am alive forevermore” Revelation 1:18). He’s the one who gives you all kinds of glorious meals, whether in worship or at a broken home. He’ll pursue you to death so that you dwell with him forever. “Further up and further in!”

The second great thing Pastor Joe did is forever remove this Psalm as just a picture with little lamb-like children all around Jesus. That’s a true picture in the Gospel’s, but this is a warrior Jesus, a fighting man, a God and savior who does all these things not only for children, but also for adults. Primarily for adults. Even really old adults

We often discuss the event of salvation, and maybe our own salvation, in a gnostic manner; we talk about “salvation” separated from history, as in the ordo salutis: calling, regeneration, repentance, faith, obedience, etc., all wrapped up in God’s electing decree (we hope!). All these things happen as points on a line hanging in space. So our discussions about salvation tend to be timeless, ethereal, otherworldly.

But that is not how the Scriptures speak about salvation. Salvation of God’s people is always in the context of a story, not philosophy. It’s always personal, not just gnostic spiritualizing. Salvation, our salvation, your salvation, is deeply rooted in history: the stories of your forebears, your experiences in life, your local home and church scene, your prayers and bible reading, your friends and enemies, the books and movies and social stuff you use for entertainment and conspiracies, etc.

Which brings us back to Eastertide and the Ascension of Jesus, recorded in the Gospels and Acts. It’s another historical example, THE example, of a King who comes and takes his place upon his throne to rule, protect, provide, and instruct his people in the way of living in the true kingdom of God. By his ascension and rule in history we are caught up into the divine Trinity, made members of a community rich in history and story and fellowship. How glorious is the Ascension of Jesus!

And you were ushered into that story and fellowship of the Ascension of Jesus and the Trinitarian fellowship by your baptism!

Which, of course, is part of your story in Jesus.

Jesus is Lord.

Jesus is King.

Jesus is my savior.

Jesus talks to me and leads me everyday.

Jesus hears and answers my prayers.

Jesus comforted me at my parent’s death.

Jesus protected me when I totaled my car today!

Jesus saved my wife during childbirth!

Jesus convicted me of my sins so that I would confess them and find forgiveness from my mother.

Jesus watched over us on our last family vacation.

Etc., Etc., Etc.,

But what do all these above, and the myriad of pronouncements and spinoffs we could construe about how Jesus interacts with us every day, necessitate?

They all necessitate that Jesus is alive. That he rose from the dead. That the resurrection of his body occurred on the Sunday morning after his death. That he was telling the truth when he told the Apostle John to “fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore…” (Rev. 2.17-18). That Stephen was telling the truth when he gazed into heaven and said “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God,” and while being stoned called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7).

Your whole life is subsumed with the resurrection of Jesus. Could it be any other way? Hallelujah!