Luke 24:50-52 'When Jesus led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, He lifted up His hands & blessed them. While He was blessing them , He left them & was taken up into heaven. Then they worshipped Him & returned to Jerusalem with great joy'
Acts 1:9-11 'After He said this Jesus was taken up before their very eyes & a cloud hid Him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “men of Galilee why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven"'
Mark 16:19 'After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven & sat down at the right hand of God.'
Hebrews 4:14 'Since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens , Jesus the Son of God let us hold firmly to the faith we profess '
John 6:62 'What if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven where He was before?'
Prophesied in Psalm 16:8-11 Luke 22:69
Temporary appearances of Jesus. The empty tomb, road to Emmaus, 10 disciples in Jerusalem. Disciples with Thomas. In Galilee.
The disciples did not know why Jesus came, Why He was crucified, Why He was raised from the dead. Acts 1:6
Jesus did not answer their question. He told them to wait for the Holy Spirit to be equipped to be His witnesses in the world.
Ascension: Where Jesus is now. What is He doing ? Why will He return? Promises in OT.
Ascension Ephesians 4:8 anabaino = to rise from the depths to the heights.
Jesus disappeared. They saw it happen. A cloud hid Him from their sight. Event unexpected.
Never seen again except by Saul. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you. John 14:2
Visible ascension. Taken up before their very eyes. A bodily resurrection & ascension.
A transformed Jesus, the same Jesus. Visible in heaven. Acts 7:55
'There is one God & one mediator between God & men, the man Christ Jesus' 1 Timothy 2:5
Jesus ascended from the Mt of Olives Acts 1:12 vicinity of Bethany Mark 11:1 40 days after the resurrection, only 8 days after their return to Jerusalem.
Jesus returned to His origin. Was God & with God.
Jesus prayed: 'Father glorify Me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began' John 17:5 That glory was restored.
Jesus now had a body. He had become flesh. A body was prepared for Him Hebrews 10:5
Fulfilment of Psalm 24:7-10 'Lift up your heads ... that the King of Glory may come in.'
'Jesus, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross despising the shame.' Hebrews 12:2
Psalm 110:1 'The Lord said to my Lord Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' Right hand = a symbol of power & authority. Jesus was God & equal with God.
Personal vindication: Acts 4:11 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.'
1 Timothy 3:16 'He appeared in the flesh, was vindicated by the Spirit, was seen by angels, was preached among the nations was believed on in the world was taken up in glory.'
'Jesus had the Holy Spirit without measure' John 3:34
Rejected by the Gentile & Jewish authorities. Vindicated by the Father witnessed by angels & saints. Jesus was given the honour He had before He came.
Though despised & rejected He showed Himself only to believers except Saul!
Sitting at the right hand of the Father shows the atonement is complete. Hebrews 10:12
'Jesus given the name above every name' Philippians 2:9
Seal of approval of the Father.
Jesus admitted He is the King of the Jews John 18:37. Sign on His cross: the King of the Jews
Reign began in heaven. He waits until His enemies are defeated & last sinner saved.
One day He will be vindicated 'King of kings & Lord of lords' Revelation 19:16
At the Ascension Jesus began His role as our Great High Priest Hebrews 4:14
His blood shed on the cross Hebrews 2:9. Applied, effective through Christ’s intercession John 17:9
Acts 2:33 'Exalted to the right hand of God He has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit & has poured out what you now see & hear.'
Romans 8:34 'Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus who died, more than that was raised to life, is at the right hand of God & is interceding for us.'
Hebrews 7:25 'Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.'
He is there as the only Mediator between God & man 1 Timothy 2:5 which will continue until He returns.
The disciples waited in Jerusalem. They worshipped & praised God continually. They prayed.
When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, Peter’s message was saturated with Jesus. He death, Resurrection & Ascension. He applied Psalm 16 & Psalm 110. Remember where Jesus is now. Until the set time to return.
He does not change & this same Jesus will return.
We pray to the Father through the Mediator.
We have access to the Father because Jesus is there.
Interceding for us.
Our attention & affection should be directed to 'things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God' Colossians 3:1.
Ephesians 2:6 'God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.'
Compare Ascension with Return Acts 1:9-11 Both unexpected. Both hidden by clouds Visible
every eye will see Him Ascended bodily, return bodily This same Jesus Same place? Zech 14:4?
One day every knee will bow & confess who He is. Rom 14:11 Phil 2:9-11.
