Strathalbyn Church of Christ

‘The Ascension of Jesus’ Ps 8, Luke 24:44-53, Acts 1:1-
Over several Sundays we have been thinking about the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and what it means. So, where did we ‘go’ from here? Well, where did Jesus go?

‘Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshipped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.’ Luke 24:50-52

We call this ‘the ascension’ of Jesus; let’s think about it. But first, let’s notice ‘and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them’.

He used his hands to bless them when he was parting from them. Those hands had blessed children, had touched lepers, and the sick when he had healed them; and those hands had been nailed to that cross. Now they were blessing his disciples who would soon be his witnesses to all nations.

Jesus came to earth to bless and not to curse. ‘For God sent the Son into the world not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.’ John 3:l7

Jesus had been full of blessings to his little flock while he had been with them; and he would continue to be! He hasn’t changed - he is still ready to bless!

Let’s now think about this ascension of Jesus.

When didJesus ascend into heaven? It happened 40 days after his resurrection. Luke tells us in Acts 1 - ‘To them (the apostles whom he had chosen) he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days’. Acts 1:3

So Jesus stayed ‘around’ for nearly six weeks after his resurrection! I wonder why? Luke mentions ‘he presented himself alive after his passion by “many proofs”. And so one reason for Jesus not “leaving” for 40 days was to offer convincing proofs he was really alive!

Luke also adds ‘appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God’.

So Jesus gave the disciples more teaching.

Luke also tells us Jesus told them to stay in Jerusalem and wait ‘for the promise of the Father… before many days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit.’ Acts 1:4,5.

So there was coming a time when they would no longer have Jesus appear to them, only to then later disappear, but they would have the presence of the Holy Spirit all the time.

Was Jesus, in appearing and disappearing during those 40 days, preparing them for a different relationship with himself - an intimate but invisible relationship, by his Spirit, the Holy Spirit?

And so Jesus could say ‘Go and make disciples… and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.’ Matt 28:20

Eventually Jesus’ resurrection appearances ended, not with another disappearance, as before, but they ended with a visible departure - ‘And when he had said this, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.'

Acts 1:9.

This visible departure - ‘he was taken up from you into heaven’ Acts 1:11 - convinced them that he had left the earth and returned to heaven; they saw him go.

This happened on the eastern slopes of the Mt of Olives, near Bethany, which was about ‘a sabbath day’s journey’ Acts 1:12

from Jerusalem.

As this happened behold two men in white robes stood by them, Acts 1:11 and addressed them ‘Men of Galilee (and these 11 were all from Galilee up North. Judas Iscariot, no longer with them, had been the only ‘southerner’ of the twelve), why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven’.

Well, his coming from heaven is another story, another sermon or series of sermons! - but let’s just notice that his departure is not going to be final! There’s going to be an ‘encore’! - and what a coming that will be! - In Jesus’ own words it will be

‘with power and great glory’ Matt 24:30.

What might be the significance of Jesus’ ascension?

It could be helpful to think of what it meant both for Jesus himself, and also of what it means for ourselves who trust in him.

Firstly, for Jesus, it meant ‘Home on high’ !

One of the early disciples, Stephen, as he was being stoned said ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.’ Acts 7:56.

Other scriptures say ‘God the Father made him sit at his right hand’ Eph 1:20. Jesus Christ has been given ‘executive authority’ so to speak, or putting it simply, he is God’s ‘right hand man’.

Although he left heaven as a Divine Being, He went back also as a human being. ‘For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.'

1 Tim 2:5.

It is wrong to say that Jesus was only a human being for 33 years. Rather, when the Son of God chose to become like us, He chose to remain like us for ever. He didn’t leave his humanity behind when he ascended.

Jesus’ ascension was his coronation, his enthronement.

'…I conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.'

Rev 3:21.

And in Paul’s letter to the Philippians he teaches ‘And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Philips 2: 8-11

Jesus had prayed on the night of his capture, ‘and now Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made’ and ‘I am coming to thee’ John 17: 5,11,13.

His ascension was in effect a ‘Welcome home’, a going home, to his Holy Father, his ‘Dad’, where he had come from; and he was going home ‘Mission Accomplished’. He had cried out on that cross, ‘It is finished!' He had died for our sins and reconciled us to God, and overcome Satan. He was victorious!

‘Mission Accomplished’!

What might his ascension mean for us who believe in him?

At least four things. He can be for us four things he couldn’t be if he had remained here. So what is Jesus doing now at the right hand of God?

He is our Provider, our Priest, our Pioneer, and our Prime Minister.

Jesus our Provider

Now Jesus had told his disciples ‘it is to your advantage that I go away…' Our advantage? Is that how you see it? Why to our advantage?

‘for if I do not go away, the Counsellor (the Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you’. John l6:7

Jesus told his disciples he was going away but he wouldn’t leave them as orphans, because he would provide for them. The great gift he provides is the Holy Spirit.

Yes, Jesus provides for his people, his church. Before the Spirit could come, he had to go. Let’s hear again his promise,

‘If I do not go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.’ Jn l6:7

The Holy Spirit within the believer will reproduce in us the character of Jesus himself, and give us power to live holy lives. So, we are to ‘walk by’ the Spirit and be ‘led by’ the Spirit.

Gal. 5:l6,l8

And the Holy Spirit enables us to be involved in the mission of Jesus so that people can be won for him.

Jesus is our Priest. In the letter to the Hebrews he is called a ‘high priest’ Heb. 3:1 or ‘a great priest over the house of God’ Heb 10:21.

The Jews knew that as sinners they needed a priest - an intermediary, a go-between, a mediator, to represent them before a holy God; they needed a priest to sacrifice animals for their sins, and to pray for them, and to bless them They needed a priest through whom they could draw near to God.

In fact, it was God who gave them the priesthood. And once a year, the high priest, on the day called ‘the day of atonement’ went into the temple, into the most Holy Place, or Holy of Holies, into God’s presence, taking the blood of an animal sacrifice and sprinkling it before God, making atonement for them, (right with God).

Now Jesus has fulfilled all that sacrificial system and priesthood. That system pointed to Christ; and when he came,

‘Christ offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins’. Heb 10: 12

He did this on the cross. ‘He has gone into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf’. Heb 9:24.

We need someone who’s nearer to God than us, who’s purer than we are, and who’s got God’s ear. Jesus is that Priest!

Not only so, but he can ‘sympathise with our weaknesses’ Heb 4:l5_ We couldn’t have a more human priest.

He’s been tempted as we are, yet without sinning, Heb. 4:l5.

So, He’s near to us, as well as to God. He can represent us to God, and so ‘Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’ Heb 4:l6.

Yes, Jesus is our Priest

‘He is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.’ Heb 7:25.

So, if you feel all alone and think no-one cares or is interested, know for sure Jesus does! He is praying for you - ‘he always lives to make intercession for them.'

And Jesus will help us if we sin as a believer. ‘If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.’ 1John 2:1

Jesus is our advocate, the one who is the Christian’s counsel for the defence. Satan may accuse us and say we are too bad for God, but Jesus is our ‘advocate with the Father’, speaking to the Father in our defence - ‘my blood cleanses that sin he/she has repented of and confessed.'

Jesus comes in for our defence.

The divinity of Jesus alone qualifies him to represent God to us; and his humanity - ‘holy, blameless, unstained’ Heb 7:26 which he took back to heaven when he ascended, qualifies him to be our representative before God.

Yes, Jesus is the Priest we need to speak and act for us in highest heaven. And he has also told us ‘to ask in his name’

John l4:l3.

He is our priest, both for our sins, and for our needs.

Jesus is our Pioneer.

A pioneer is someone who goes ahead, and blazes the trail for others to follow; a pioneer is a forerunner.

Blaxland, Wentworth and Lawson opened up a way across and through the Blue Mountains. And Sir Charles Sturt and Captain Cook were pioneers too in their way.

Jesus is our ‘forerunner’. ‘Jesus has gone into heaven’ as a forerunner on our behalf’. Heb. 6:20. What is he ‘pioneering’ for us? - A place, and a position.

‘In my Father’s house are many rooms …. I go to prepare a place for you’ . A place - for you, for me, in the Father’s house. This is what Jesus promises.

Not only ‘a place’, but also a position. In psalm 8 we are told that in God’s order of creation God made human beings ‘for a little while lower than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, putting everything in subjection under his feet.'

However, ‘As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.’ Heb 2: 8

Everything is not at present under man’s control, is it? That’s obvious, particularly in these times. ‘But we see Jesus’ Heb 2:9

He has ascended and is Lord of all. ‘He was for a little while made lower than the angels , crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone’. Heb 2:9

The angels are now looking up to Jesus who is a human being like us. And where he has gone we will follow - to share his throne and reign with him - even over the angels!

‘He who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I myself conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.; Rev 3: 21,22.

‘Do you not know that the saints will judge the world?’ … ‘Do you not know that we are to judge angels?’ 1 Cor 6: 2,3

Jesus is our Prime Minister.

A Prime Minister or Premier heads up the government. And Jesus heads up God’s government or kingdom - ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me’, the risen Jesus told his disciples. Matt 28: 18

Jesus has executive authority. ‘He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.’ 1 Cor l5: 25,26

It had been predicted of Jesus through the prophet Isaiah in the Old Testament scriptures that ‘the government will be on his shoulders…’ Isa 9:6.

And now it is. How did he qualify to be the P.M. or Ruler?

‘He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him…’ Philips 2:8,9

‘He who was ‘in the form of God’ was born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself’ Philips 2: 6,8

What is Jesus ruling as the “Prime Minister” of God’s government? He is ruling the church, the world, and the universe!

The Church.

‘he is the head of the body, the church.’ Col.1:18

The church is the body of Christ - ‘now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.’ 1 Cor 12:27

Jesus is the head of his body. Jesus the Head of the Church is in heaven, and the church needs to be constantly referring to its head in heaven so that it is a demonstration of the rule of heaven on earth.

Read chapters 2 and 3 of The Revelation sometime to see ‘the style’ of Jesus’ government of the churches.

The world.

Jesus is the head of the world. ‘he is head over all things for the church, which is his body.’ Eph 1:22,23

Everything that happens is ultimately overruled, controlled, by him. History has not got out of hand, and one day he will come ‘in his glory, and all the angels with him….’ Matt 25:31

In the meantime, ‘the Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.’ 2Peter 3:9

Jesus hasn’t lost control, and the goal of history is that all things should be summed up in Christ.

God’s plan ‘for the fullness of time is to unite all things in him (Christ), things in heaven and things on earth’ Eph 1:10

The universe

' - he is sustaining all things by his powerful word ' Heb 1:3

You and I are friends of the man at the very top! What a privilege to be Christ’s disciple! That also brings us responsibilities too, doesn’t it?

Jesus has been taken up -and that means home on high for him, his coronation day; and for ourselves - he is our Provider, our Priest, our Pioneer, and our Prime Minister (Prime Minister of Prime Ministers!)

The early Christians saw Jesus as the ascended Lord at the right hand of God, that is, in the place of honour and glory, and power and authority. In that position, Jesus executes his Father’s will. Is that how you see him?

In the letter to the Hebrews addressed to Christian believers we read, ‘run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus … seated at the right hand of the throne of God.’ Heb 12:2

The story has been told of a farmer who was trying to teach his son how to plough a straight furrow. After the horse had been hitched up and everything was ready, he told the boy to keep an eye on some object at the other end of the field and aim straight toward it. ‘Do you see that cow lying down over there?’ he asked. ‘Keep your eye on her and plow straight ahead’

The boy started ploughing and the farmer went about his chores. When he returned a little later to see what progress had been made, he was shocked to find, instead of a straight row, something that looked more like a question mark! The boy had obeyed his instruction. The trouble was, the cow had moved!

But Jesus does not move. He is the faithful Rock who never moves, never changes in his love for believers. He is the foundation of our faith - ‘Jesus is the same yesterday and today for ever.’ Heb 13:8

We can be sure that as we continue to ‘look to Jesus’ Heb 12:2,

our path will be straight.

‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.’ Prov 3:5,6

Let me finish drawing your attention to a statement in Ephesians 2:4,5, ‘God raised us up with him (Christ), and made us sit with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus..'

Where are you sitting? ‘On my kitchen chair’, or ‘on my lounge’ or ‘on my office chair’ or ‘on my tractor’ you might say.

Look again at these words that are about you, someone who is

‘in Christ’ - ‘made us sit with him in the heavenly places’.

You are seated with Christ in the heavenlies. Your body is still on earth, but your spirit is seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Your spirit is already there - ‘hidden with Christ in God’ Col 3:3.

That’s why Paul says to Christians ‘If you then are risen with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of the Father’. Col 3:1

You are sitting in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, and so you are already out of the dominion of the devil. ‘he has delivered us from the dominion of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son’ Col 1"13

We live in this world, but ‘our citizenship is in heaven’ Philips 3:20.

Let us Pray