1. THE ASCENSION WAS AN ANSWER TO JESUS’ PRAYER
John 17:5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. Jesus left all the splendor of Heaven to live as a lowly man upon the earth. At His ascension – He returned to His prior glory
2. AT THE ASCENSION JESUS RECEIVED HIS KINGDOM
Daniel 7:13-14 “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.14 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. Daniel foresaw the ascension of Christ to the Father (“Ancient of Days”) He saw that at this time Christ would receive a kingdom
Acts 2:30-33 – Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.Peter affirms that Jesus reigns upon David’s throne, being exalted to God’s right hand
3. THE ASCENSION WAS A VICTORY PROCESSION FOR JESUS
Ephesians 4:8 “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.”Colossians 2:15 –He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.. At the cross (and subsequent resurrection and ascension), Jesus triumphed over all the forces of evil and making “a public spectacle of them”
4. JESUS ASCENDED IN ORDER TO MAKE ATONEMENT
Hebrews 9:24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.Jesus entered into the true Holy of Holies to offer His own blood to God
Having finished this priestly work, He “sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (priests always did their work standing)
5. JESUS ASCENDED TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR US
John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. If we would have that home, we must follow the “way”. Jesus is the way – John 14:4-6
We are not left “on our own” to find that way . . .
6. JESUS ASCENDED SO THAT HE COULD SEND THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 16:5-7 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 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. The Spirit (the Helper) guided the apostles into “all truth” (John 16:13) That truth is recorded for us on the pages of the NT
7. THE ASCENSION OF JESUS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY HIS RETURN
Acts 1:9-11 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” Remember John 14:3, Jesus said, if (or, since) I go away, I will come again
8. THE ASCENSION OF JESUS PRE-FIGURES OUR OWN ASCENSION TO MEET HIM WHEN HE RETURNS
1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. The faithful dead will be raised to join the faithful living as they ascend into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Remember, John 14:2-3, Jesus will take us back to that place He is preparing for us.
CONCLUSION:
Did you realize that the Bible has so much to say about the ascension? Because of the ascension, we may rest assured: That Jesus made full atonement for our sins. That He is now reigning as King of kings and Lord of lords. That He is preparing a place for us. That He will come to take us back to that heavenly home, at which time we will ascend to meet Him.
Are you ready for that day?
