The Ascension of Jesus

The Ascension of Christ

Sometimes we are privileged to observe remarkable or unusual events and yet remained unmoved by them. One of the effects of television is to reduce the sense of wonder or pleasure or surprise or privilege that meeting an important person would have given to previous generations. We can see monarchs, presidents, prime ministers and other famous people close up every day of the week, so that when we do see them near us, or even meet with them, we fail to regard the occasions as extraordinary.

Taking a different perspective, some can have the experience of involvement in the life of a person in which new and greater displays of his or her abilities are continually revealed. I suppose the spouse or friends of a person who becomes a president or prime minister observe these talents and capabilities, and see how they take on increased responsibilities almost as if they were born for them.

Perhaps the disciples of Jesus experienced a combination of these two reactions. On the one hand, they became very familiar with Jesus, so familiar that they did not value each occasion that they spent with Jesus (such as when they fell asleep on the Mount of Transfiguration or in the Garden of Gethsemane); on the other hand, they observed their Master take on new roles: they noted how he reacted to the attempts of the crowds to make him King; they saw how he refused to tremble before earthly authorities (not because he despised authorities, but because he knew who he was and what position had been given to him by his Father); they spent time with him after his resurrection (and they must have sensed their amazing privilege in being in the company of the One who had paid the penalty for their sins, defeated death, and now lived in a state of resurrection life).

The first attitude is always wrong; we should never get so familiar with Jesus that we take for granted any time spent with him. The second situation is one that we can enjoy because Jesus can always do great things, even in our lives. In this study, we will consider his ascension to heaven, which was a new position for Jesus as far as his humanity was concerned. It was followed by his exaltation to the throne of God, the place that he has occupied since his ascension, and great have been his activities from there (some of them are detailed in the Book of Acts, and we can read about others in history, both in the history of nations and in the history of the church). In the future, he will be involved in other great events: the conversion of Israel, the resurrection of the dead, the Day of Judgement, and the creation of the new heavens and new earth.

If you go into a Christian Bookshop, you are likely to discover a book called ‘The Life of Christ’. The author will provide information about Jesus, beginning at his birth in Bethlehem and usually concluding with his resurrection. Many wonderful events will be described in the book as well as references to the teachings of Jesus, the miracles of Jesus, the arrest, trial and death of Jesus, and the resurrection of Jesus. But the problem with the book is that it is only telling half the story. For the life of Jesus did not end with his resurrection. There should be further chapters on his ascension to heaven, his exaltation in heaven, his intercession on behalf of his people, and his future return to the earth.

Why is the ascension of Jesus important?

Several answers can be given to this question. For one thing it is an unrepeatable event even for the Lord Jesus – it has only happened once in the past and it will not happen again in the future. In this sense, the ascension is like other unique events in the life of the Saviour such as his virgin conception, his death and his resurrection from the dead.

The event is also important for believers because all that Jesus did he did on their behalf as well; the Bible stresses that they all were united to him in a spiritual sense throughout his life, death, resurrection, ascension, and current exaltation – Paul refers to this union in Ephesians 2:5-7: ‘even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ [resurrection] – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up [ascension] with him and seated us –[exaltation] with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.’

A third reason for the importance of the ascension is that it opened the way for the Holy Spirit to come and work in and through the disciples of the Saviour. Jesus told them on the evening of his arrest that if he did not go away, then the Comforter would not come to them: ‘Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you’ (John 16:7).

A fourth reason is that Jesus ascended to a real place, invisible to us, but nevertheless real. It is the place where God is worshipped by the angels, where his throne room is, from where he governs the universe.

The ascension was the last time Jesus was seen on earth. Since his ascension he has been in heaven, exalted at God’s right hand. According to the Larger Catechism of the Westminster Divines, the ascension is the second stage in Christ’s exaltation. Stage one was his resurrection, stage three was his enthronement in heaven, and stage four will be his role as Judge in the future Day of Judgement.

1. The ascension – a fact to be responded to

The ascension of Jesus is an historical fact that was witnessed by eleven men (Acts 1:9). It is recorded in two of the four Gospels (Mark and Luke) and in Acts 1, each of which are historical reports. Therefore we should respond to it as a fact. Take an example from British history. Most true Scotsmen believe something significant happened in 1314 when Robert the Bruce led the Scottish armies to victory over Edward 1 of England. The assessment of any benefits that flowed from that event will be disputed, but the event itself is remembered because it was witnessed. And because it was witnessed we believe it happened. Remember that the major events in Christ’s life were witnessed. Paul stresses this in 1 Corinthians 15 in regard to Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. And eleven men saw Jesus ascend into the sky; they were eyewitnesses of what had taken place on the fortieth day after his resurrection.

That the ascension is a fact is important for at least two reasons. First, it was a fulfilment of Old Testament prophecy. Old Testament prophets, admittedly in picture language, described the ascension of Jesus. Alec Motyer has commented, for example, that Isaiah 52:13 (See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted), with its threefold reference to promotion, reminds us of Jesus’ resurrection, ascension and exaltation. Clearer is the prediction in Psalm 68:18 – ‘You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the Lord God may dwell there – which Paul quotes in Ephesians 4:8 as a prophecy of Jesus’ exaltation. The reality that the fact of the ascension was the fulfilment of predictions should cause us to be encouraged to think about it.

Secondly, the ascension vindicated Jesus’ own words regarding it. He told unreliable disciples that he would ascend to where he was before (John 6:62). He told Mary Magdalene, after his resurrection, that he would ascend to the Father (John 20). So his ascension vindicates the claims of Jesus. He later had to rebuke the two mournful disciples travelling to Emmaus for not realising that the Messiah had to suffer and to enter his glory (Luke 24:25) – and the way to glory demanded his ascension.

2. The Ascension ­– a time of fellowship with his disciples

In his other description of the ascension, which he wrote at the end of his Gospel, Luke says that Jesus led his disciples out as far as Bethany. Bethany was the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus. It is significant that Christ chose to ascend from Bethany, the place where he had enjoyed hallowed moments of fellowship with his dear people. He did not ascend from the temple in Jerusalem, or from Bethlehem where he was born, or from Nazareth where he grew up, or from the Mount of Transfiguration, or even from Calvary or from the location of his resurrection. And on the occasion of his ascension, as they walked together, Jesus was having fellowship with his disciples as they discussed the purposes of God.

Fellowship with Jesus results in his blessing, and the last sight the disciples saw of Jesus was him ascending with his arms lifted, as the high priest did in the temple, bestowing blessings upon them. Luke’s Gospel opens with the account of a priest temporarily serving in the earthly temple – Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist; it closes with the eternal priest – Jesus – blessing his disciples. In picture language, Luke is telling his readers that the future success of the church is going to be dependent on an absent Lord. And Jesus went from the fellowship of disciples still on earth to deeper fellowship in heaven, including with the spirits of just men made perfect, but more especially with his heavenly Father.

3. The Ascension ­– a triumph of faith for Jesus himself

We must remember that it was not as God alone that Jesus ascended. As God he is omnipresent. It was as the God-man he returned to heaven, to where his human nature had never been before. And as a real human, Jesus had to do everything in faith. He had prayed for this to happen (John 17:5). From the Scriptures, and perhaps from the inward testimony of the Spirit, Jesus anticipated his return to heaven. And his faith was vindicated. He was welcomed with a cloud of glory – the cloud that enveloped him as he rose was not an atmospheric one; instead it was the glory cloud that signified the presence of God.

Moreover, the cloud here is the commencement of the approach of the Son of Man to the throne of God, as described by Daniel: ‘I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed’ (Dan. 7:13-14). Jesus was now at the entrance of the route that took him to the throne of God.

The Ascension was also in a sense Jesus returning home. And with what joy he was welcomed back by his heavenly Father, who said to him, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.’ With something far greater than parental satisfaction, the Father welcomed Jesus to heaven. Jesus was exalted to the highest place that heaven affords, he became King of kings and Lord of lords. He is installed now as God’s King. From the place of universal superiority he governs the nations and he does it for the benefit of his church (Eph. 1:22).

Another aspect of Jesus’ ascension was his leading captive his enemies. Victorious Roman generals, when making their triumphant entry into Rome after defeating enemies, would lead the parade in front of the applauding masses. And tied to their chariot wheels would be their conquered foes, once brave and confident of victory but now totally defeated and helpless prisoners. And Jesus when he ascended was giving eternal evidence of his victory over the powers of darkness. Satan and his followers were totally defeated by Jesus’ death and resurrection. In his sovereignty Jesus allows some activities to the devil, but all of them are over-ruled by Jesus.

A fourth aspect of the ascension of Jesus is that he went there expecting his people to be gathered to him. It was not farewell when he ascended; instead he was going as the forerunner to claim the inheritance promised to him, and which he intended to share with them, his brethren.

Response to the Ascension of Jesus

1. Praise. The Book of Psalms, especially Psalm 110, reveals that the ascension of the Messiah to the throne of God was an item of praise in the Old Testament Church. They looked forward to the time when the Saviour would ascend to his glory. They probably did not fully understand what they were singing about, but do we? Still, we should sing of an ascended Saviour who has been exalted far above all.

2. Joyful fellowship with the invisible Saviour. Before he ascended, Jesus led his disciples out as far as Bethany. The picture Luke is providing is that of Jesus as the shepherd, except now he is not only the Shepherd who died for the sheep but he is the Shepherd who is going to eternally lead his people to drink of the fountains of the waters of life. Just as he led his disciples on that wonderful day, so he can lead us into the riches of our inheritance. And we must not think that an invisible Lord means we cannot enjoy his blessing.

3. Service of the heavenly King. The angels told the disciples not to continue gazing into heaven, but to go to work for Jesus on earth, by witnessing to him. We, too, are called to serve not only a risen Saviour, but an ascended, exalted Saviour. He is not inactive in heaven and we on earth are not to inactive either. And our king will reward us when he returns.

4. Optimism for both the present and the future. We do not know the future. But we do know that Jesus has ascended. He did not leave in order to escape from the future; no, he ascended to control the future. Everything is in his hands. What optimism that should create within us!

5. Prayer for Jesus to send the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his eleven disciples, as they waited in the upper room, to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit, and their prayer was answered with his arrival on them on the Day of Pentecost. Although Pentecost was a unique event, it is also a picture of what Jesus can do for his people down the centuries.

6. The ascension of Jesus should create within us great anticipation. After all, the angels who spoke to the disciples as Jesus ascended reminded them that he would return in the way that he had gone. I suspect that the angels were referring to the cloud of glory into which he entered as he neared the entrance to heaven. When Jesus returns, he will do so in great glory, and it will be a wonderful sight.

7. The ascension of Jesus reminds us that heaven is very near. His ascension does not mean that he kept going up until he became like a small object that seemed like the size of a dot to the apostles’ eyesight. No, they saw him go into heaven. It does not matter for our understanding of the nearness of heaven that we do not know if Jesus ascended sixty feet or two hundred feet or higher. The point is not the direction or the height, but the destination. Where is heaven? No one can give a geographical location, but we know that it is very near and when it comes our time to go there we will find that the journey takes less than a second. As Paul put it, we will be absent from the body and, almost simultaneously, present with the Lord. 

8. The ascension of Jesus reminds us that we have a Friend in the highest place. It is common when a person is in need for him or her to long for a friend in high places who could help. The ascended Jesus is our Friend in heaven, the one who has not and cannot forget his friends on earth.