Christ’s Ascension and the Disciples’ Expectations

When we meditate upon the ascension of the Lord Jesus into heaven, then we need to refer to the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. There we read how Christ showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs. He also spoke of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. This was in the forty days between the resurrection and the ascension.

During this time, the coming was always from one side—the side of Jesus. What a truth that is in the life of God’s Church each time they may taste something of heavenly communion! This coming is always one-sided. It is from the side of the Lord who not only begins, but also continues, His work in the life of His people. His coming is always unto a waiting people.

It was all so different for His disciples than before. Each morning, they could go to Him; they always knew where to find Him. But in these forty days, Christ revealed Himself only a few times unto His waiting people. His coming was always a time of joy and gladness. The life of God’s Church becomes ever more a dependent life. It is by grace that they are saved. This lesson takes a lifetime to learn. “And when He had spoken all these things.” What a privilege to hear the words that flow from the lips of the highest Wisdom! How many words He must have spoken in the presence of His disciples—words which spoke of the deepest misery; how man created in the image of God, through sin, lost his entire former estate; how that heaven was closed and hell opened; but now also how that He had come as the only-begotten of the Father to open heaven and close hell for His people.

Standing on top of Mount Olivet for the last time, Christ was bodily in their midst. They felt the reverence of this moment. Were all thoughts pertaining to an earthly kingdom now removed from their thinking? No, even at this time they could not fully comprehend why Christ had to suffer all this and enter into glory. That is why they said, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Tenderly He looked upon them and would have gathered them close.

Then for the last time He may speak to them pertaining to the future: No, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons.” Before that, wonderful things will take place. You will receive the Holy Ghost, and beginning at Jerusalem, and in all Judea and in Samaria and unto the ends of the earth, you will bring the message of Christ and Him crucified. You may proclaim how that God was moved from within Himself, how from all eternity He has chosen a people to be His people, how that from heaven a way is opened by which the Son of God descended to gather those jewels belonging to His Father.

Then once more, from the place where He is standing, He sees the entire land. There lies Jerusalem, the city of blood. “Oh, Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered thee as a hen gathereth her chicks, but ye would not.” A little to the north lies Gethsemane. That is where the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all. There the holy justice of God bore down upon Him, when His sweat became as great drops of blood. As He lifts His eyes, He sees the hill of Golgotha. All that is now behind Him. That will never come back anymore.

With one offering He has satisfied the holy justice of God. Now all the chosen of God are set free. There He spread forth His hands blessing them. No, they never need fear anymore. In those hands they may read that their future is secure. Those hands testify that the price is paid. The print of the nails speaks unto them that the blood of cleansing has flowed. There will be many times when their heart will be filled with doubts and fears. But here they may read the promise, “I have graven thee in the palms of My hands.” Under those hands they and the entire church of God are safe. The gates of hell will never prevail against His church. Oh, what a wonder it is when the church passing through this wilderness here below may look up and see that God is faithful and will never forsake the work of His hands!

Christ said farewell. While they beheld, He was taken up. Yet He remains forever with His church. While they beheld, a cloud took Him out of their sight. It was a cloud of love, a cloud of wisdom. For them it severed the ties they had known for three years. Henceforth, they would live by faith and not by sight. From above the clouds His eyes are ever upon His people. From there He beholds their tears and sighings. From there He says, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.”

Can you visualize or imagine the disciples standing there upon Mount Olivet? Visibly, actually, locally they have seen the ascension of the Mediator. “And while they looked steadfastly.” Their looking had to do with the bond which was laid from heaven. It had to do with what Jesus had come to mean for them. Ask Peter. He will tell you, “Jesus has come to mean everything for me. I was lost and He found me. At the Sea of Tiberias He has renewed His covenant with me.” Ask John. He will tell you, “I love Him because He first loved me.” Thomas will tell you, “I am often filled with doubts and fears, but He is a merciful, compassionate Savior.”

Now He had gone away from them. Because of the place to which He went, all their expectations are from heaven. The world and all that belongs unto it means nothing anymore. Dear reader, upon what do you focus your eyes? By nature we always look toward the world. We have all our expectations from that which is here below. May I tell you what a disappointment that will be in that day when you will have to let go of the world and the world will let go of you? How blessed we are who in this life may learn how deeply we have fallen!

The Son of God has descended so deeply to gather the jewels that by a sovereign election belong to His Father, to wash and cleanse them with the blood that He has freely given. After all was finished, He ascended and now sitteth at the right hand of the Father. Now God the Father with His Spirit can come down, that sinners may be drawn up.

Upon what do you focus your eyes, people of God? How much looking there is in places where nothing can ever be found! How often do you stand in the back of the temple with eyes cast down, how often looking inward into yourself, saying, “Lord, if my way is not a right way, wilt Thou then take me by heart and hand and lead me upon that way which is everlasting?”

When here we may reflect upon the ascension of Jesus, I would like to ask: Have you ever noticed that for Jesus it first became Good Friday before He ascended to heaven? There was a going to hell before a going to heaven. Has it ever become Good Friday for your soul? No, you will not be able to go to heaven with a hand full of prayers and a bottle full of tears, or a life filled with good works. True, these things can never be missed, but on the other hand, they can never be the foundation of salvation.

Come to Mount Olivet. There the Foundation of our salvation has returned unto His Father’s house. There the church stands looking toward heaven. All that which means life to it has gone to heaven. Now all that which can ever benefit our souls must come from heaven.

When you may look deep into the disciples’ eyes, you see amazement at such an unexpected, sudden parting. They are expectant, hoping eyes because He promised that He would come again. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” Oh, when God’s people may have a moment that they may look upwards, when there is nothing upon this earth that binds, but when all that fills their heart is in heaven, then they may have times that with hoping eyes they can look upward. They are eyes filled with love for Him whom they cannot miss.

We may read something wonderful in the word “behold.” It is as if the Lord wants to say, “Take notice how that I will never try My people above what they are able.” Already from heaven He sent two messengers clothed in a special garment. The Lord says that they stood in white apparel. White is the symbol of purity, the voice of victory, the color of peace. The glow from heaven is still upon them. Without saying a word they convey His message as it were, “No, disciples, there is no reason to put on black. Let us tell you how it was in heaven. His homecoming was the crown upon the victory received. Already He sends a message that now all your expectations must be from heaven.” These heavenly messengers begin to address them. “Ye men of Galilee.” That address takes the disciples back to their origin. Galilee—that is where the Lord stopped them. That is where the Lord called them. That address speaks unto them that they are known in heaven.

“Why stand ye gazing up into heaven?” These heavenly messengers do not ask this in an admonishing way. They know that the ties which bound them unto Jesus of Nazareth were such earthly ties. For them there is still so much to learn. His work is done. His place is now with His Father in heaven. Now it is necessary for them to accept the ways of God. Their learning of living by faith and not by sight has just begun. Will the child of God ever learn to be made one with the ways of God in his life, then instruction from heaven is needed. These messengers do not speak in a harsh way, but to comfort their hearts they begin to speak of their Jesus. This same Jesus, this same Savior whom you have seen ascend unto heaven with your natural eyes, this same Jesus who has promised you that He will never leave you, this same Jesus who has taken His place at the right hand of His Father to be your intercessor, this same Jesus shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.

How remarkable! They do not say, “Soon you may follow Him.” When that great day comes, it truly will be the homecoming of the entire Church of God. He has promised that not a hoof shall be left behind.

Oh, then you who must always place yourself outside, who do not dare lift eyes toward heaven, who walk with a crying heart, “Lord, that there may be one ray of light by which I may know that also for me there is hope,” what is your missing and seeking? May it find its origin with God in heaven. He will fulfill what He has begun, not because of you, but because of His eternal good pleasure.

A cloud took Jesus out of their sight. Here heavenly messengers point to the time when in all His glory and splendor He will come again. What is the message for the entire Church of God? To look for and be busy with the promised coming—when the last step in the exaltation of their Savior may have come. Then He will spread His wings over His entire flock and as their Shepherd shall carry them into the bosom of the Father.

They are a people who in this life have become men of Galilee. As such the Lord will take care that they never rise above this. For such it becomes an ever greater wonder to be one of those. Here in this life their experience is to become less and less, yes, nothing in themselves, but in the moments they may gaze upward, then He is everything.

They will spend eternity in a prepared place with their Jesus. Where will you spend the eternity which is ever before us?

Rev. J. den Hoed is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Rock Valley, Iowa.

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