The Gospel of Luke describes
the transference of the resurrected body of Jesus
from the earth to heaven in Acts 1:9-11.
“And after He had said these
things, He was lifted up while they were looking on,
and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as
they were gazing intently into the sky while He was
going, behold, two men in white clothing stood
beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do
you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has
been taken up from you into heaven, will come in
just the same way as you have watched Him go into
heaven.”
The location of the ascension
was east of Jerusalem near Bethany. Forty days after
His physical resurrection Jesus “was taken up” and
disappeared into a cloud.
God raised Christ from the dead
“and made Him sit at His right hand in the heavenly
places” (Eph. 1:20). He sits “at the right hand of
the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3).
The ascension made it possible
for Christ to enter into His heavenly
“glorification” and sit at the right hand of the
Father until His enemies are made His footstool (Ps.
110:1).
The evidence for the
glorification of Christ and His superiority over the
Old Testament saints is His ascension (Acts
2:33-36). When He arrived into heaven He received
“the name that is above every name” (Phil. 2:9-11).
Jesus is superior to angels, authorities,
principalities, powers and dominions because He is
the ascended Lord (Heb. 1:13; 1 Tim. 3:16; 1 Pet.
3:22).
The important message for every
believer is that even though Jesus is absent
physically from the earth, He is still spiritually
present with His church. He can be anywhere and
everywhere with His followers all the time.
Jesus told His disciples the
Holy Spirit could not come until Jesus died, rose
from the dead and ascended to heaven (Jn. 16:7). “If
I do not go away, the Helper shall not come to you;
but if I go, I will send Him to you.”
Without the ascension Jesus
would be in one location on the earth, but not
spiritually present everywhere. Because Jesus
ascended to heaven He is “wherever two or three are
gathered in My name, there I am in your midst”
(Matt. 18:20). At His ascension He said, “I am with
you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt.
28:20). Because Jesus is in heaven He is everywhere
all the time through His Spirit.
The ascension proves that Jesus
really did rise from the dead. Where is the body of
Jesus? He is at the right side of His Father seated
in power and authority (Eph. 1:20; Heb. 1:30). He is
alive.
The ascension gives us a
steadfast assurance that the atoning sacrifice of
Jesus Christ was accepted by God the Father as the
perfect atonement for sinners. Jesus is in the
presence of the Father and no other sacrifice for
sin ever needs to be made again (Heb. 4:14; 6:20;
9:24). Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice for sin never
has to be repeated (Heb. 1:3; 9:12; 10:12; 12:2). He
sits on the throne. His atoning work is finished.
The ascension of Jesus gives us
assurance that everything is now complete and one
day we, too, will reign with Him in His kingdom.
Jesus returned to heaven “to prepare a place for
you” (Jn. 14:2). The ascension guarantees the
promise, “I will come again and receive you to
Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (v.
3). One day every believer in Christ will ascend to
be with Him (2 Cor. 5:1-10; 2 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor.
15:50-58).
The ascension of Jesus makes it
possible for us to go boldly into the presence of
God in prayer (Heb. 4:14-16). We have an advocate
with the Father (1 John 2:1-2) who has experienced
everything we experience in this life. He
understands and is always ready to help in our time
of need (Heb. 2:17; 5:7-10).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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