The Ascension of Christ (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-11)

This sermon was preached on 22/1/2012

Luke is the Gospel writer who gives most details of the ascension of Jesus. Matthew closes his Gospel by referring to the Great Commission given in Galilee; John finishes with the story of the restoration of Peter, also in Galilee. Mark mentions the ascension briefly when he writes, ‘So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God’ (Mark 16:19). This is not to say that these writers did not mention the ascension elsewhere in their books.

Luke closes his Gospel by describing the ascension, indicating that he presented it as the climax of Jesus’ life on earth; he begins his second volume, the Book of Acts, with an account of the day of the ascension, so indicating that he also perceived the ascension as the catalyst for the launch of the church of Christ on to the stage of world history.

The ascension is obviously a key event in the life of the Saviour. It ranks with his incarnation, baptism, transfiguration, death and resurrection in a series of critical events that identify his mission and destiny. If the ascension had not taken place, then Jesus would have remained on earth as a man risen from the dead. In itself, such a scenario would be a great wonder, although it would not have been such a grand climax to his life as the ascension to heaven was. Later, we will refer to some important consequences of the ascension that prove this conclusion. In the meantime, it is sufficient to say, in order to show its grandness, that his ascension was not merely to heaven as a risen person but also to sit on the throne of God as its rightful occupant.

When did he go?

One answer to this question is that he ascended forty days after he had risen from the dead. Luke informs that he had met with his disciples during that period in order to instruct them about the kingdom he was about to set up. So we could say that he ascended once he had finished preparing his disciples for the great task that he had given to them. There are three reasons as to why Jesus remained forty days with his disciple: (1) to testify to his disciples the genuineness of his humanity; (2) to confirm them in the reality of his resurrection; (3) to instruct them in the knowledge of his kingdom. Once he had done these for a sufficient period of time, he left the disciples and ascended to heaven.

Another answer to this question is that he ascended during a time of fellowship with his disciples. Luke tells us that the ascension occurred as Jesus and his disciples walked the short distance from Jerusalem to Bethany. We are not informed as to whether or not Jesus had intimated to his disciples that he was about to leave them. The impression is given that they and Jesus were enjoying a walk together and during this everyday activity he ascended to heaven. I think this has a message for us, which is that nothing in life is ordinary if Jesus is present with us.

The mention of Bethany points to another answer. Bethany was the village where Jesus had close friends – Mary, Martha and Lazarus. He had spent many happy hours in their home. It is touching that Jesus left the earth close to a place where he had often been welcome and where he had performed his great miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead (John 11). It was there also that he had been anointed by Mary with her very precious oil (John 12). So Jesus’ last physical location was a place with dear memories for him.

The parting scene, as described by Luke, includes another important detail – Jesus blessed them before he ascended. He bestowed on them his shalom. Said T. V. Moore, ‘The benediction was begun on earth, but not ended, for “while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” That benediction still lingers in the air, and cheers the hearts of God’s people, and will continue to do so, until the words of the departing Saviour are swallowed up in the sounds that will proclaim the coming Judge.’

Thomas Boston also reminds us that ‘The first tidings of our Redeemer’s birth were attended with praises to God and blessings to men; he began his public ministry with pronouncing blessings on certain characters, Matt. 4; when he died, he breathed out his soul in blessings to his enemies, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do;” and just when he was leaving the world, he was translated with a blessing in his mouth.’

Putting these details together, we can see that the Christ who ascended was a very human person: he had special friends whom he loved deeply, he had special places that he remembered fondly, and he had special blessings to give to those who had shared his life. His disciples would have remembered these features as they thought of Jesus in the years ahead and they would have been greatly comforted by them. Although our experience cannot be exactly the same as theirs, we too can have special times with Jesus when we receive extra-special treatment from him.

2. Where did he go?

A superficial answer to this question is that he ascended into the sky until finally he became a dot so small that he could no longer be seen. In contrast to this idea, Luke tells us that Jesus ascended on a cloud. He also records the words of the angel that the disciples had seen Jesus enter into heaven. This leads to the conclusion that the cloud was not one of the white fluffy shapes that the wind blows across the sky. Instead it was similar to the cloud of glory that had enveloped the disciples when they were on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus and the heavenly visitors, Moses and Elijah. The cloud seems to have been the doorway for Jesus to enter into heaven.

According to some scholars, the Greek term translated as ‘received’ means ‘to carry’. The picture is not of Jesus being obscured by the cloud but of being conveyed by it. According to Peter Toon, ‘He was taken up (epeiromai), and the cloud, a symbol of the glory of God, received him (hupolambano) by (as it were) getting underneath him, as when a dolphin assumes its rider, or when a father picks up his child.’ It was a common interpretation to regard the cloud as a kind of royal chariot that bore the ascending Christ towards the throne of God. As Horatius Bonar explained, ‘A cloud received Him out of their sight — most likely the shekinah-cloud, descending to form his chariot (“He maketh the clouds his chariot”).’ This is why his ascension was a visible event. It would have been possible for Jesus to have entered heaven in an invisible manner; he could have simply disappeared from the sight of his disciples instead of ascending. If he had done that, they would not have seen him being welcomed by the retinue of glory that came to greet him as he made his way to the throne of God.

Jesus, in making this journey, was heading home. Heaven had been his eternal dwelling-place. There he had experienced the fullness of love and joy that marks the presence of God. He was going to once again know the glory that he had enjoyed with the Father before the world was.

3. Why did he go?

There are many reasons for the ascension of Jesus. For example, it was essential for the fulfilment of Old Testament prophecies that foretold the Messiah would be given such glory. It was also necessary for the validation of Christ’s own claims that he would yet ascend to heaven (John 6:62). His ascension was also crucial for his role as the heavenly Intercessor, with this activity being linked to his reign. But I would like to focus on five other features of his ascension.

First, Jesus was going to his reward. He was returning home from a successful mission carried out on behalf of his Father. The mission had involved him becoming a human and enduring God’s punishment against sin on the cross. He had been commissioned to provide such an atonement, which he did. At the same time he had also defeated the devil, stripping him of his power and putting him to shame. It was common, in the ancient world, for returning conquerors to be met by the city dignitaries, to be applauded by the populace as they marched down the city streets, with their defeated enemies in chains. This imagery is used of Christ’s ascension in Ephesians 4, quoting Psalm 68. Jesus was returning in triumph; he was met by the heavenly host, he was cheered by the heavenly inhabitants on his victory parade to the throne of God. We can imagine Enoch saying to Elijah, ‘They don’t need to speak about our ascensions any more because a more important one has taken place.’

Secondly, Jesus did not only return to heaven as a conqueror, he also returned there as a king to reign. He was welcomed by the Father’s invitation to sit at his right hand, at the place of power. There he reigns until all his enemies will become his footstool. I cannot predict everything that you will yet do. But I can predict this: each one of you will yet bow before Jesus Christ (Phil. 2:11). Some of us will bow before him as a gracious King; others will do it as before their final Judge.

Thirdly, Jesus was going as our esteemed representative. Before God, each human has the choice of one of two representatives, either Adam the failure or Jesus the Successful. Adam lost our inheritance and he cannot get it back for us. Jesus has gone into God’s presence as the forerunner of his people, to claim their inheritance on their behalf. He is there to ensure that they will experience regeneration of the souls, resurrection of the body, and reception of the inheritance of the new heavens and new earth.

Fourthly, Jesus was going to heaven in order to bring the nations to repentance. This he was going to accomplish by the giving of the Spirit, which began at Pentecost and continues on until now. He is exalted to give repentance and remission of sins and he works in providence to bring this about.

Fifthly, and tying it all together, we can say that Jesus was going to the place of rejoicing. It is the case that Jesus was called the Man of Sorrows when he was on earth. This does not mean that he did not have joy when he was here. It is impossible that he did not experience gladness in his heart as he healed the lame and helped the needy; how much more did he know joy when he forgave sinners. Spurgeon says in one of his sermons: ‘As pearls may lie in plenty in caverns, over which there rolls a dread tempestuous sea, so there slept in the heart of Jesus treasures of joy, even when the ocean of his holy soul was lashed with hurricanes of woe.’ Again he said, ‘There is a joy in living entirely out of one’s self for the good of others, and this Jesus drank to the full.’ But in comparison to the world of glory his joy on earth was not as extensive.

He rejoices to be in the presence of his Father, to behold his delight in his Son. He rejoices in the conversion of sinners, which means he has experienced great joy today as sinners throughout the world have been saved. He rejoices in giving consolation and comfort to each of his people, which also means he has experienced great joy today from this activity. The fact is that Jesus in heaven rejoices to be the Source that meets the needs of sinful creatures, be they penitent sinners or weary saints. Another source of joy to Jesus today is the arrival of sinners into his heavenly home. No doubt, there would be sadness on earth where they have lost loved ones; yet those who die in the Lord enter the bliss of Christ, the joy of the Lord.

Great is the significance of the ascension of the risen Christ!