A while ago, I heard a sermon on the Ascension of Christ. To tell you the truth, I had never thought much of the Lord's Ascension. My focus has always been on the death, burial, and resurrection of my Lord...and the incredible benefits to me as His child and disciple.
But now that I am back in Hebrews again, I've remembered that sermon...and I'm pondering! Pondering the glory of it all and its vital importance to my own spiritual walk in this sin-cursed world.
Andrew Murray, in his monumental work on the epistle to the Hebrews, says:
Faith has its foundation on four great corner-stones on which the building rests -- the Divinity of Christ, the Incarnation, the Atonement on the Cross, the Ascension to the Throne. The last is the most wonderful, the crown of all the rest, the perfect revelation of what God has made Christ for us. And so in the Christian life it is the most important, the glorious fruit of all that goes before. [emphasis mine], Holiest of All, p 65.
He goes on to say,
The Holy Spirit was sent down after the ascension. Why? That He might witness to us of a heavenly Christ, and bring the kingdom of heaven into our hearts and lives. [emphasis mine], Holiest of All, p 66.
How about exploring with me the five passages in Hebrews that speak of the ascended Christ sitting on the Throne at the right Hand of the Father? What do you discover in the context of each? Here they are --
Hebrews 1:3
Hebrews 1:13
Hebrews 8:1-2
Hebrews 10:11-14
Hebrews 12:1-3
Because our great High Priest is on the Throne, we can...Hebrews 4:14-16
Why? Because of our key verse: Hebrews 7:24-25
Now look at other related passages and start making your list of the benefits that are yours because Jesus our Great High Priest ascended to the right hand of the Father and sat down!
John 20:17 -- after the resurrection
Luke 24:44-53 -- the ascension into heaven
Acts 1:6-14; 2:1-36 [see especially 2:33-35!] -- the ascension & Pentecost
John 7:37-39 & John 16:7-14-- promise of the Holy Spirit
John 14:16-17 -- promise of indwelling of the Spirit; also look at Col 1:27
Ephesians 1:3, 20-23 -- spiritual blessings; power toward us who believe!
Ephesians 4:7-14 -- Christ's victorious ascension & giving of spiritual gifts
Col 3:1-4 -- life union with Christ -- Hallelujah!!!!
Romans 8:28-39 -- nothing can separate or condemn (see esp v34)
This brings us back full circle to our key verse -- Hebrews 7:24-25
And then to the culmination of time:
Revelation 3:20-21; also chapters 21 & 22 -- awesome!
Christ's Ascension and Enthronment is so important, we dare not ignore it:
The ascension completes the resurrection. Without the resurrection Christ’s death would be meaningless as far as the great issues of life are concerned. And without the ascension, the resurrection would also be incomplete and meaningless. We would have a resurrected person, but not one who was now at God’s right hand in the place of authority.
Please note the progression:
- First there is Christ’s descent to earth--God becoming man, the incarnation.
- This is followed by Christ’s death and resurrection as the God-Man Savior.
- But for God’s purposes to be fulfilled and our need supplied, there must also be Christ’s ascent into heaven as the God-Man Savior and King of His people.
“The ascension is the important link between His work on earth and His work in heaven which begins with the ascension” (Walvoord, Jesus Christ Our Lord, p. 224).
It is important to remember that the New Testament was written by men who were thoroughly convinced that Jesus was at the right hand of the Father, and that through the ministry of the Holy Spirit they were in union with this ascended Lord and were, by His commission and through His ascended authority and power, left here to continue the work which He began.
J. Hampton Keathley III, "The Ascension of Jesus Christ," p.4 on bible.org
