Text: Acts 1:9-11.
The life of Christ is of four great miracles: Incarnation, Resurrection, Ascension and His second coming. The ascension is that event in which Christ departed this world visibly and returned to heaven. He came to earth as a humble baby, He left the earth as the exalted conqueror. When His earthly work was completed, He entered into His heavenly ministry of preparing the mansions and the High Priestly work of intercession for His believers.
The Necessity of the Ascension
Heaven was His home and it was logical that when His work was complete that He would return home again (John 14:28).
Prophecy had to be fulfilled. He said that He would return to the Father and He did.
The divine plan was that the Holy Spirit would not come to indwell believers until after the ascension of Christ. The ascension must precede Pentecost (John 16:7).
The ascension of Christ was a prerequisite to His further work of preparing mansions (John 14:2,3).
It would have been wonderful if Jesus could have lived on earth forever in His post-resurrection power, but that was not the plan of God for the Church.
1. Jesus ascended to complete the redemptive work that was required (John 20:16,17).
2. Jesus' ascension enabled His followers to do the promised greater works (John 14:12).
3. Jesus ascended to enter into the ministry of intercession at God's throne.
4. Jesus' ascension makes His ministry worldwide, not localized in Palestine (Matt 28:18).
5. The ascension becomes a strong proof and explanation of the resurrection body.
The purpose of the ascension
Jesus ascended to glorify the Father (John 17:1).
Jesus ascended to become a Prince and a Saviour (Acts 5:31).
Jesus ascended as a forerunner, opening the pathway for us (Heb 6:20). Jesus ascended to prepare our heavenly abode (John 14:2), to be our High Priest (Heb 9:21-24), and to take His appropriate seat (Heb 10:12,13).
The result of the ascension:
1. He gave gifts to men (Eph 4:8)
Because He ascended the Holy Spirit descended (John 16:7, Acts 2:33).
2.He demonstrated that sins were purged by sitting down, showing completed action (Heb 1:3).
3.Because of His ascension now, we can come boldly to the Lord in prayer (Heb 4:14,16).
4.Because He has ascended, He can now save to the uttermost (Heb 7:25). He can lift a sinner from the cesspool of sin to the highest heaven to be with Him
His presence in the heavenlies causes us to "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkle from an evil conscience" (Heb 10:22).
5.He stands now on the portals of heaven beckoning us to look "unto Jesus" (Heb 12:2), He stands as the goal at the end of the journey.
6.Positionally we are seated with Him today in the heavenlies (Eph 2:6).
7.He ascended that He might fill all things (Eph 4:10).
Now that He has ascended, angels, authorities and powers are subject to Him (I Pet 3:22). His ascension became a coronation. Ascension becomes one of the six articles of the mystery of godliness (1 Tim 3:16)
Bless you. Happy Easter
Pastor Emmanuel O. Adeleke ,
Zonal Superintendent,
Christ Apostolic Church,
Saje Zone, Abeokuta Ogun state.
Tags
Features