The Ascension of Our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 1:8-11)
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Characteristics of Ascension
1. He Ascended Bodily
In ascending bodily, Jesus took to heaven what he didn’t have when he came down from glory. He took up our humanity at Bethlehem in the amazing miracle of the incarnation, and without ceasing to be what he has always been, he became what he had never been before. On the day of the ascension, he entered heaven as the God-man.
2. He Ascended Visibly
While people were still looking on, he was taken up before their eyes and was lifted up back into eternity. In the forty days on Earth between his resurrection and ascension he was able to appear and disappear. While he could have gone back to glory without anyone seeing him, he didn’t. He went publicly before the disciples because it was the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. His earthly work and ministry were complete and salvation was secured and a new chapter was to begin as he poured out His Holy Spirit from Heaven at Pentecost. He also went visibly and publicly because it assures us that he will return in the same way that he went. His return will be visible and in that day every knee will bow to him, every tongue will confess that he is Lord, and every eye will see him in his glory.
3. He Ascended Victoriously (Psalm 24)
In the ancient Near East, the king would go out with the men of his city into battle. With no way of knowing the result of the battle, the people of the city would wait anxiously as they looked out over the city walls for any sign of the army’s return. After the battle the king of the victorious army would return to his city and as he drew near to the walls, the onlookers becoming more and more excited as they saw their loved ones drawing near, he would cry out triumphantly, “Lift up your heads, oh gates!” and those on the wall would raise the gates that their conquering king might lead his army in. When our Lord returned to glory upon His ascension, he did so as a victorious king returning to his Father having completed the work that was given him to do; sins are paid for, the wrath of God is satisfied, and Satan is defeated!
Reasons for the Ascension
1. His Body was Needed in Heaven
His body was needed in Heaven in order for him to plead on our behalf. We don’t come by way of an earthly priest, but through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who is at the right hand of the Father. The Man Christ Jesus is the only mediator between God and men (1 Timothy 2:5). It is because He ascended bodily that we can sing: “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.” His body was also need in Heaven in order to prepare a place for us, assuring us that we now have an inheritance reserved in heaven for us, one which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away (1 Peter 1:4).
2. His Spirit was Needed on Earth
It was for the advantage of the Church that Jesus would depart in order for the Comforter to be sent to us (John 16:7). While Jesus was here on earth, he could be in only one place at a time, and if he would have remained here bodily he would still be able to be in only one place at a time. However, because of his ascension he is now able to be with his Church all around the world by the presence of his Holy Spirit whom He has sent. As a result, as the Word of God is opened up and preached in all places, it is accompanied by the power of the Spirit of God.