When Jesus Ascended Into Heaven
Acts1:3-14
Do you remember Superman? How many of the younger generations have been fascinated by the very idea that he came from another planet; a place where all you had to do was say, "Up, up, and away," and you could zip away into the sky at the speed of light and go around the world in milliseconds. In the historic record of the ascension of our Saviour, we have a spectacle that far exceeds even this fantastic figment of a fertile imagination.
Compare all man's efforts in the field of space travel to space travel as it is recorded in the Word of God. In the Old Testament there is a record of two of God's early astronauts. Enoch is the man who walked with God and was no more. We aren't given any details of his journey to heaven with His hand in God's hand, but it must have been powerfully thrilling. Elijah was a great prophet of God. God had a chariot of fire pick Elijah up and take him home to heaven. What a sight that must have been for the fifty prophets who viewed it from afar off and Elisha, as he stood beside Elijah's mantle and watched the whirlwind and chariot of God take away his beloved mentor.
But the mighty miracle of Christ's ascension exceeds by far the earlier two in the Old Testament. Jesus didn't need a guide nor a vehicle of any kind. He just left by the intrinsic power of God. Of course, this is unreasonable to finite man who is limited in his reason to the natural laws of this earth and its surrounds. He does not normally think in terms that encompass the power of the Mighty Maker of this universe.
One of the most inspiring aspects of this account of the ascension is the realization that someday we will have the same capacities demonstrated by our Saviour on this occasion. A simple statement in the Word of God clearly settles the issue for me. John, in speaking of eternal sons of God said, "We shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.." If we are to know the fantastic future our Creator God has in store for those eternal sons he has chosen as the eternal objects of His love in Christ Jesus, we only need to know what He is like. What He is like, physically, intellectually and spiritually is the key to our eternal existence. What will that delightful dimension and glorious existence really be like? No one knows for sure but it is thrilling to speculate on it.
Recent history confirms man's continuing obsession with the possibility of space flight. But true science indicates that the fragility of man's biological existence and the immense dimensions of space make this an impossible dream. Man's only real hope of really breaking away from the forces of gravity and the restrictive confines of this earth; leaving the surly bonds of earth permanently behind, is found in this example. Man has the answer he seeks and the freedom he desires. But he does not seem to be willing to understand it or accept it. Man is truly designed for the stars, but he does not seem willing to fully come to grips with or grasp his eternal destiny.
But to really explore our future we must examine what He is like in His resurrected body. The record of all the observed activities of our resurrected Saviour during the forty days He spent among upwards of five hundred of His followers before His ascension, gives us some indication of that fantastic future. The first observable phenomena was the complete reversal of all scientific laws involved in His bodily resurrection. Such infinite power is incomprehensible to the mortal mind.
The next apparent phenomena is the setting aside of the limitations of time, space and distance. Evidently he traveled from earth to paradise, to heaven and back to earth in an instantaneous manner. We can only speculate about the vast stellar distances that may be involved. In
doing so, laws relating to energy and propulsion would of necessity be negated. Even those who by faith incredulously accept the ideas of space warp and other ridiculous propositions of science fiction space travel, would perhaps be astounded by this. No space ship is mentioned or indicated! His final ascent into space would seem to be deliberately slowed for reasons of communication, but that makes the observed phenomena even more remarkable.
Shall we be like Him in all of this? Will we leave this earth with the same sort of power when the trump sounds and the voice of the archangel splits the air? I think so. The concept is so far beyond our capacity to conceive and comprehend we are hesitant to fully accept it or speculate upon its full implications. Perhaps it is enough to rejoice in being the eternal sons of God who will some day see Him as He is and be like Him in eternity! Let us examine in more detail What Jesus Did When He Ascended Into Heaven.
JESUS ASCENDED TO A NEW POSITION. The record of His birth, life, crucifixion and resurrection provide the background for understanding the implications for His new position after His ascension. He had deliberately chosen to become the God Man. The oldest Book in the Bible speaks of His plan to become the Kinsman Redeemer of Israel and all mankind Who would be ultimately raised from the dead after paying the price for our sins. (Job 19:25-27) The prophet Isaiah gives intricate details of His coming birth and His death on the cross for our sins. (Isa. 7:14, 9:6-7, 53:1-11) Peter tells us in his first public sermon at Pentecost that as the second person of the trinity Jesus planned to come and walk perfectly among men in order to die for their sins. (Acts 2:23)
Our Saviour ascended to a position of honor and power on the very right hand of God the Father. "But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool." (Heb. 10:12-13)
The concept of being seated on the right hand of authority has always represented honor and power. The mother of James and John was rebuked for pridefully desiring such a position for her sons. It seems that some have difficulty conceiving such a literal arrangement. I read recently about little girl who once stated to her parents after Sunday School, "I hope God is left handed." When asked why the little girl responded, "Because my teacher said Jesus is sitting on the right hand of God"
But is this concept more than figurative in the case of Jesus? Is He literally seated at the right hand of the Father? It clearly seems so. In fact, we were given a glimpse into heaven to confirm the accuracy of this statement. It is found in that tragic but wondrous account of the death of the first Christian martyr of record, Stephen. "But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." (Acts 7:55-56)
It has been said that this inspiring glimpse of Jesus standing at the right hand of God indicates that He was standing in honor of the martyrdom of a saint as well as standing with open arms to welcome him home. Although we cannot know for sure if this was the case, both thoughts are consistent with the care and compassion our Saviour demonstrated in His earthly ministry.
JESUS ASCENDED TO A PRIESTHOOD. To be seated on the right hand of the Father indicates not only a place of honor and power, but it also speaks of His activity on our behalf. All the symbolism implied by the ancient practice of seating the most favored, honored and powerful person on the right hand of authority, is borne out by the fact that our Savior is presently engaged in a
powerful and persistent ministry of mediation and intercession on our behalf. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." (Heb. 7:25) He is the one and only mediator between God and man. (I Tim. 2:5) Job called Him our daysman or go between. The Book of Hebrews is focused upon the idea of our own personal priesthood and His active and continuing High Priesthood.
The wonderful functionality of this relationship is daily confirmed in the life of every true believer who approaches God's marvelous throne of grace. He must approach the Almighty through the office of this High Priest. When he expresses his gratitude for the blessings of life and seeks succor and relief in the midst of life's struggles, he approaches his dear Father through this One Who is the only true Mediator and Intercessor. Any other teaching or practice is not only rank heresy, but it also takes glory from the ascended Christ, High Priest of all who are His.
All this is clearly confirmed and defined by the writer of the Hebrew letter: "Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as [we are, yet] without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb. 4:14-16)
Our Savior ascended to give us this wonderful gift of personal priesthood, prayer and intercession. But to enable us to freely to exercise this gift, He also gave us the gift of the Holy Spirit. He had earlier promised that when He went away, He would send the paraklete, the One who would walk along side us, the Comforter, the Teacher. He is the One who can fill us, guide us, control us and help us to pray even when we are so pressured, puzzled and perplexed we know not what to say or how to say it. "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God." (Ro. 8:26-27)
But many times we limit the blessings He would give us through the leadership of His Spirit and through prayer and intercession. I recently read the story of a King who told his royal band to go into his treasure room and fill up their instruments with the gold. The tuba player filled his instrument. The saxophonist followed suit and so did the trumpet player. The flutist watched as they filled their instruments and said, "all this gold and here I stand with my flute."
The old song, "Fill my cup, Lord," has a similar message for us as well. Is it not true that too often we go into the Lord God's throne room with tiny cups? Even if He were to fill them to overflowing, we would still be relatively spiritually empty. Many times our blessings match our small and feeble expectations and our achievements for the Lord are limited by our myopic vision.
JESUS ASCENDED PROMOTING A PASSION FOR SOULS. Jesus not only showed His followers how to reach souls while He ministered among them on earth, but also urged them to really acquire a prayerful passion and burden for souls as well. After He had led the woman at the well to Himself for eternal salvation, He explained to His followers that this is the ultimate experience in life for a child of God. "But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him [ought] to eat? Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work." (John 4:32-34)
He went on to urge His followers to get a similar burden and vision for the lost, "Say not ye, There are yet four months, and [then] cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest." (John 4:35) In the past I have called the powerful and personal experience of soul winning the ultimate high.
Jesus was very specific about the need to pray for burdened and passionate workers with a vision for souls: "Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." (Matt. 9:37-38)
In light of all this, it is entirely appropriate and significant that He would ascend with a command and plea that His followers in every age share His passion for souls. That they follow His example and be witnesses of the Word and do what His hearers on this occasion would ultimate do. Those in that first assembly ultimately heard and heeded His urging. "Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word." (Acts 8:4)
Later, Paul, the man with a broken heart, cried out in prayer to God for his people, "I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh . . ." The depth of his burden and passion for his people seems inexpressible, as was his Savior's. But his passionate prayer was placed into practice as we went on three different dangerous and demanding missionary journeys into the regions beyond.
It is accepted that a pastor or a missionary must also have an overwhelming burden to reach those souls God has placed upon his heart and minister in the place God has called him to minister. But the same should be true of every child of God in every church of God in every land. Just as Paul followed the example and command of His Saviour and his passionate prayer resulted in His going, so it should be with each of us.
Yes, Paul and the apostles were consumed with a great passion for souls. This passion gave them great boldness in the Lord and a great enthusiasm for His mission. It is said, "They turned the world upside down . . " for Him. The record shows they were repeatedly urged to calm down. They were accused of being beside themselves. Paul was even accused by Agrippa of being quite mad.
The world will do the same today. They will say, "Don't get too excited. Don't let the pastor get you all lathered up. That's not dignified. You might rush out and make a fool of yourself." But we should remember the last words spoken at our Savior's ascension were words promoting His passion for souls and our calling to share that passion in our day. We are surely to be His witnesses in the wicked world in which we live.
JESUS ASCENDED WITH A PROMISE OF PREPARATION. 'Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." (Acts 1:11) Can you imagine the scene? Dozens of His followers standing on the mountain top, gazing up into the heavens. They are rightly awe struck at this impossible sight of two brightly shining heavenly visitors and the Lord just slowly rising up into the clouds. What a great mountain top experience! They looked at him as though it was good-bye. Can you imagine their emotions if they felt they would never see Him again? But the angel of God dispels their doubts and fears and lets it be known they will see Him again under far better circumstances. In the sweet by and by there will be a grand reunion in another world!
But are we not promised an even greater experience? He is coming again. What a promise! He is not only coming again, but He has gone to prepare a place for us that where He is, there we might be also. "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." (John 14:2-3)
In closing, I would like to share the following two stories from a message I read recently.
"A duck hunter captured a wild duck. He tied the duck to a stake by a pond with tame ducks, hoping to entice wild ducks to come to his duck blind and ultimately to tame it. But later on, when the duck heard the call of migrating wild ducks, he tore up the stake and flew off to join them on their migratory journey."
Many are like tame ducks. Their interest, their love is here below. But we who are His eternal sons and daughters are like that wild duck. We will hear the call of God from Heaven. We will break the surly bonds that tie us to this world. We will pull up these temporary stakes and go to be with Jesus in our home in that eternal city whose builder and maker is God."
Vernon Grounds tells of an incident that happened while he was in seminary. Since the school had no gymnasium, he and his friends played basketball in a nearby public school. Nearby, an elderly janitor waited patiently until the seminarians finished playing. Invariably he sat there reading his Bible. One day my friend asked him what he was reading. The man answered, 'The book of Revelation.' Surprised, my friend asked if he understood it. 'Oh, yes,' the man assured him. `I understand it.' 'What does it mean?' Quietly the janitor answered, `It means that Jesus is gonna win.'"
We have a saying in Australia, "Winners are grinners." God will have the last laugh, so to speak. (Prov. 1:18-23) We who are overcomers by faith have victory in Jesus now and forever!
