Hebrews: Christ's Ascension to the Father...Key to my Life on this Earth!
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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 --
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
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At our Friday class in the book of Hebrews, one of our sisters shared that there is just one place in Scripture where it says that Jesus was standing at the right hand of the Father. It was when He welcomed Stephen, the first martyr of the church, home to heaven.
It's an awesome passage and an awesome thought: that the reigning King of glory, who had completed the work of redemption and sat down in the privileged place of power, would then get up to receive His child home. Could it be that He receives each of us that same way? Glory!
But he [Stephen], full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments vat the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:55-60 ESV
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Here's a free download of Andrew Murray's above mentioned devotional commentary on Hebrews...you will love it!
The Holiest of All by Andrew Murray
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For a more theological and scholarly approach, check out:
The Ascension of Jesus Christ by J. Hampton Keathley III
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BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD ABOVE Selah
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea
A great High Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me
My name is graven on His hands
My name is written on His heart
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free
For God the Just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
Behold Him there the risen Lamb
My perfect spotless righteousness
The great unchangeable I AM
The King of glory and of grace
One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Him on high
With Christ my Savior and my God!
With Christ my Savior and my God!
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A reminder about our homework. After so many weather cancellations, it's easy to loose track of where we are in our study. Here is the homework for the next lesson. After our group discusses Heb 1:1-2:4, I may revise this post or do an addendum. But in the meantime, here's the next homework:
Homework -- Read Hebrews 2: 5-18 Answer questions in Hoping for Something Better, p. 188-190 Read chapter 2, p. 21-36, Hoping…
Class notes for Hebrews 1:1-2:4 : THE BEAUTY OF THE INCOMPARABLE CHRIST
For a well-known sermon by A.B. Simpson, click on HIMSELF. It is well-worth the few moments of reading!
