ASCENSION DAY

The Word of God reveals that Christ Jesus, with His resurrection, entered into His glory (Luke 24:26). On Easter morning He rose to the justification of His people; it was the first step of His exaltation. Child of God, beg the Lord if He will reveal His Son unto you more and more, but remember, justification is not experienced first in the life of grace. The disciples received daily instruction from their Master for three whole years. Step by step the Lord taught them about His humiliation until He finally laid down His life for His sheep, bearing the wrath of God on the accursed cross. He made atonement with His shed blood. And the disciples? They did not understand until the Lord granted the experience of it in their heart. So, child of God, it is with you. Perhaps you saw something of Christ, but that is not the experience that He died for you and made reconciliation with the Father for you. Yet, it is necessary and profitable.

As we said, Christ also rose. Oh, when God's people may experience this and receive the benefits of that glorious resurrection, then they are declared righteous on grounds of justice, for the Mediator satisfied the demands of the law. Then there is more firmness in the life of God's child for communion with God is restored. Oh, to share in the benefits of Christ's humiliation is great, but to share in the benefits of His exaltation is far greater. It gives rest in the Surety.

But God's children never finish learning in this life. If they think to have arrived and imagine to know it all, they are in a sad condition and need to be taught by God's discovering light. No, there is always more. We will look at some of these benefits that flow from the second step in Christ's exaltation, namely His ascension.

The Lord appeared to His disciples and friends on various occasions during the period of forty days after the resurrection. He showed His hands and feet to one like Thomas, who doubted; and He held out His reassuring arms to one like Peter, who needed Christ's seeking love and reinstatement to his office. Furthermore, Christ found it necessary to instruct His disciples further, to emphasize and underline His teachings, to summarize and further clarify them. They were again in His school — as is necessary for everyone of His children. How long ago was it that we were instructed from heaven by Word and Spirit? Why did the great Prophet teach them? That they might be better informed as to the nature of His Kingdom and the task of the church. They remained disciples, which means followers, students; but they also became apostles, as they were sent out to preach the Gospel unto the ends of the earth.

Then, after forty days, came what Jesus had so often predicted, what His holy heart longed for, what the angels desired to see, what the Father was willing to grant: the glorious, wondrous return to heaven — Christ's ascension!

We know, first He descended. Or, in His own words, teaching as the great Prophet, "I came forth from the Father." But He continued, "Again, I leave the world, and go to the Father" (John 16:28). Forty days after Easter He took His disciples up to the Mount of Olives and as their King He gave His final commands for the winning of poor souls, "Preach the Gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). And He could commission His apostles to do so for as High Priest He had offered up Himself, gave Himself a Ransom for many, and so made salvation possible.

Do we know why it is a necessity for all His children that Christ went to the Throne of His Father? Come, people of the Lord, what does our Heidelberg Catechism say? "He continues there for our interest" (Lord's Day XVIII). He benefits His people because He continues to administer them in His threefold office of Prophet, Priest, and King.

As He majestically began to rise above the apostles, higher and higher, until a cloud received Him out of their sight, immediately the comforting words of the angels were heard, "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus Which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). This encouragement came from their Prophet Who showed He would not forget them.

Oh, if there is strife and difficulty in the heart of God's children, then He will give them comfort. Without Him life is a terrible cruelty and an empty vanity. Therefore, "He That descended is the Same also That ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fill all things." What an encouragement for a soul who cannot satisfy himself. Do not forget: He came into the world, He left the world, but here He has given the assurance that He shall take care of all your needs.

Christ also ascended to carry out His Prophetical task by sending the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, Who would guide God's people into all truth. I know it is a further step to know this Spirit Who seals our faith and gives liberty to go unto the Father in prayer — for this stand in the life of grace we must know by experience the benefits of Pentecost. Do you hear it, God's people? Do not speak beyond what you have learned in your heart. You may speak about it and pray for it, but you may not speak as if you possess it. Still, the ascension prepared the way for Pentecost. And to come lower yet, even if we do not know Christ in His death and resurrection, still that same Spirit works in the hearts of God's poor people, the little ones in grace. The Holy Spirit is the first Person to work in the sinner's heart and in this way such a sinner receives discovering, instruction, and comfort from Christ as Prophet.

Oh, were there more experiential knowledge of this dear truth: the ascended Christ is Prophet! God's people would have an easier life and would testify more of Him Who is in heaven, till He shall come again.

The Nicene Creed states so plainly that He "ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father, and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end." God's Word talks about heaven. Christ speaks about heaven. The believer, if near to God, longs for heaven. The physical ascension of Christ is the final seal for the elect Church that to speak of and to expect heaven is not just daydreaming. Christ went to heaven to prepare a place for the "pure in heart: for they shall see God" (Matthew 5:8).

Oh, here we see the second reason why it was necessary that Christ ascended. At the Throne of His Father He is the praying and thanking High Priest, ever interceeding for His people. He had to go to heaven so He could bless them from heaven. He ascended into heaven so He could prepare a place for those who have learned that they have no right to a square foot of land here on earth.

Listen, "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). This is the Scriptural verdict. But He is the Advocate with His Father. Jesus Christ is the Righteous One, Who pleads for His people because He satisfied the demands of the law. God has provided Him for all those who have learned to deserve hell on account of their inborn and daily sins.

When the wiles of Satan ensnare us and we fall into sin, children of God, then your salvation is not gone. No, that is what Satan tells you after he led you into wickedness. Remember that he is the liar from the beginning. We believe in the perseverance of the saints. Do you know why? Again, listen to John writing to his little children, "And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous" (I John 2:1). What a benefit and firm foundation if we may rest in the Lord, knowing He has ascended into heaven to be our Advocate! "But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hebrews 7:24,25).

Assailed child of God, this High Priest "was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15). Therefore, we do not despair, because He knows your trials, He has compassion on you for He Himself bore pain and suffering unto death — and He did not deserve it. But He suffered that we "may come boldly unto the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Why is this so sure? It is because Christ finished His work of offering Himself as the great Paschal Lamb. That was done once for all time. "This Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; From henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:12 - 14). Christ had paid completely and thus He could sit down. Oh, that finished work can give such assurance, especially when we commemorate the ascension for that was the time Christ went up into heaven and sat down. The ascension is a seal that the Surety paid the ransom. You, who are afflicted and whose faith wavers, take courage, the great High Priest is in heaven, sitting at the right hand of God. Therefore, hold fast your profession (Hebrews 4:14).

We just saw that Christ in heaven is waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. This clearly points to Him as King. God has "set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: and hath put all things under His feet" (Ephesians 1:20 - 22). He has all things in His holy hands. Nothing escapes His dominion. His almighty power goes over all. However, it is not to the salvation of all. Christ is the ascended King, but one day He will return on the clouds of heaven and fearful shall His judgment be for the wicked. On the other hand, God's poor child may be encouraged sometimes by the knowledge that the Lord is stronger than all his enemies.

"That He might fill all things," our text says. As King He fulfills this word especially as He leads, governs, and protects His Church. Of ourself we are empty of God, we are God-less. But Christ can fill all things. If the Lord gives an eye to see it, then He is no longer the wandering rabbi from Nazareth or the despised carpenter of Galilee, but rather the Head of His glorious Body, the Church. His life has given meaning to all history and brought all manner of blessings to a lost sinner, whose heart has been opened by the Holy Spirit. All things are put under His feet, and He is given "to be the Head over all things to the Church, which is His Body, the fulness of Him That filleth all in all" (Ephesians 1:22, 23).

The Lord open our soul-eyes, then we observe that Christ has led His Church through dangers of schism, the attacks of heresy, and the blood-baths of persecution, turning each apparent defeat into an even greater victory, so that to the end of the world the cross of Christ is the only hope for one who is of a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Clearly, this is not the victorious Christianity of our day. Those people never have strife but always joy, they never doubt but always believe. But do you know why they are wrong? They do not need the King to succour them from their enemies. They have no real enemies for they are deep down friends with the world. They can go along with the world. Oh, children of the Lord, watch that you conform not to the world in the least thing because then you deny the work of Christ as King. If, by grace, you may be steadfast, the hatred soon becomes evident, also from so-called Christian people. But, remember, you have a King ascended into heaven and He has all power.

Holy Scripture tells us that when the Lord ascended, He sent His messengers to remind the waiting Church that He is coming back, not as the Babe of Bethlehem in the obscurity of straw and manger, not to be seen solely by a few shepherds and adored by some wise men, not to be abused and spit upon and nailed to a tree, but coming with the greatest glory imaginable, adored and seen by all faithful believers, to preside over the judgment of all mankind. While the wicked shall see Him and tremble, the Godfearing shall be glad to see that day. This, too, is ascension-comfort for the Church, when, by grace, she may be longing for that coming. "When the Son of Man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then shall He sit upon the Throne of His glory" (Matthew 25:31).

The ascension prefigures the final descent, with the trumpets of uncounted angels, and the shouts of victory of the redeemed saints. How important, then, that we learn to sigh, "Thy Kingdom come! Oh, Thy Kingdom come in my godless heart; Thy Kingdom come in the church of today; Thy Kingdom come in that great day in which we all shall appear before Thee!"

Are we awaiting the Bridegroom? Or are we living on, recklessly and indifferently? Do not forget: He is coming back and every eye shall see Him. That shall be a great terror for His enemies and a wonderful event for those who learned: Oh wonder from heaven, the Lord came into this world for me, hellworthy sinner. Then He shall wipe away all their tears, all pain shall be taken from their body, there will be no more sin, sorrow, or death. The ascension is a sure pledge, as our Heidelberger says, that the King will return to take up His members into everlasting bliss.

To conclude this meditation, let us search ourself.

We read in the Gospel according to Mark, "He was received up into heaven" (Mark 16:19). During the previous forty days, Jesus often suddenly disappeared from the disciples' sight. But never had He left this way by rising up into the clouds.

If we are honest, we must admit, especially in our times, that Christ is many times hidden for God's people. How little knowledge there is of Him! How little place there is for Him in our soul and life. I think it is one of the dark clouds over God's Church nowadays. Experiential knowledge is missing. This brings coldness and deadness in the heart. Then God's people are not a living example in a holy walk for others, especially for our rising generation.

With the disciples it was different. With all their shortcomings they knew that they had seen Him according to His human nature on earth for the last time. They enjoyed the fruit of the ascension. This was possible because the ascension implied that Christ's entire work as Redeemer was now accomplished as He had said in His intercessory prayer to His Father, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do" (John 17:4). Oh, my reader, He made atonement for His flock, and now, as Mark tells us, He is sitting on the right hand of God, the Father. From thence He rules His spiritual Kingdom, continually guiding it, in the way that it must go.

We hope that Ascension Day will teach us our emptiness, our sinfulness, our worldly-mindedness. May the Lord bring us down for the first time and give a humble cry to the Throne of Grace, "that He might fill all things." And if we have come to know the Saviour, whether it be much or little, may the Lord teach us more in the way of grace, also "that He might fill all things." May He bring us on our knees time and again to ask Him to prepare us for the day of our death. Do not forget: It is either eternal woe or eternal well. Woe—if we continue in our own way. Well—if we have learned, by grace, to bow before Him Who is sitting in His great and white Throne. Amen.

Rev. A.W. Verhoef

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