The Heidelberg Catechism (18)

Now we are at the sixth article of the Twelve Articles, about the words, “He ascended into heaven.” Thus we again speak about the exaltation of the Lord Jesus.

Question 46: How dost thou understand these words, “He ascended into heaven”?

Answer: That Christ, in sight of His disciples, was taken up from earth into heaven; and that He continues there for our interest until He comes again to judge the quick and the dead.

The question asks what is meant by these words. We are told that the Lord Jesus after His resurrection remained yet forty days upon earth. He appeared often to His disciples and to others of His children. After forty days He went to heaven again. This took place on the Mount of Olives, near Jerusalem. The disciples were all present, and they saw Him ascend, until a cloud hid Him.

When He ascended into heaven, heaven was opened for Him. By this the Father was saying, “All the work that My Son had to do on earth is finished.” Amid the rejoicing of the angels, He entered heaven. In this way the King came into His palace, and as King He reigns over all things. He especially provides well for His people, as we will soon hear. He will remain in heaven until He comes again to judge the quick and the dead. This means that He will be the Judge of all people who then live upon the earth, but also of the dead, for they will all be raised from the dead.

Question 47: Is not Christ then with us even to the end of the world, as He hath promised?

Answer: Christ is very man and very God; with respect to His human nature, He is no more on earth; but with respect to His Godhead, majesty, grace, and spirit, He is at no time absent from us.

Christ has gone into heaven. The question is then, “Is He then not with us unto the end of the world? Did He not promise this?” The answer tells us that Christ is very man, truly man. He has a body and a soul. We call that the human nature. His human nature is no longer upon earth, but it remains in heaven. But Christ is also God. He also has a divine nature. That is His Godhead, and as God He is everywhere present. Therefore He is certainly with His people, even though they do not see Him. That may be perceived in His majesty, His divine power. He makes use of this power to protect His people against enemies, who seek to oppress them. He also remains with them with His grace. When they sin, He takes care that they again come to Him in sorrow, and He forgives their sins. This is His goodness and His grace. Also His Spirit, the Holy Ghost, always remains with them. Indeed, the Spirit is in their hearts as their guide.

Question 48: But if His human nature is not present, wherever His Godhead is, are not then these two natures in Christ separated from one another?

Answer: Not at all, for since the Godhead is illimitable and omnipresent, it must necessarily follow that the same is beyond the limits of the human nature He assumed, and yet is nevertheless in this human nature, and remains personally united to it.

The human nature of Jesus is in heaven. His Godhead is everywhere. How is that possible? Are His two natures, His Godhead and His human nature, separated? The answer says no, that His two natures are always together. His Godhead is everywhere, and thus His Godhead is also in His human nature. Wherever the body of Jesus is, His Godhead is also there. These two always remain united with each other. However, it is also true that His Godhead is outside His human nature, for it is everywhere.

It is something that we cannot understand. What an incomprehensible and glorious King the Lord Jesus is! What a blessing if you may be a subject of this King! And He still desires to make sinners His subjects!

Question 49: Of what advantage to us is Christ's ascension into heaven?

Answer: First, that He is our Advocate in the presence of His Father in heaven; secondly, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that He, as the head, will also take up to Himself, us, His members; thirdly, that He sends us His Spirit as an earnest, by whose power we “seek the things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, and not things on earth.”

The question is asked as to what advantage the ascension of Christ has for us, and what benefit there is for a person who believes this. Three answers are given. First, the Lord Jesus is in heaven as the Advocate of His people. We could also say that He is the Intercessor. What does this mean? When God's children sin, the Lord says to His Father, “Father, I have paid for their sins. I have merited for them that they may be with Me in heaven.” Therefore this also happens.

Secondly, Jesus is in heaven with His body. That is certain. It is just as certain that His children will come there. The Lord is the Head, and they are His members. They belong to Him. Do not the head and body belong together?

Thirdly, from heaven He sends the Holy Spirit upon earth. He did this on Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was poured out. That is a proof that Christ is with His people and shall remain with them. The Holy Ghost takes care that God's children seek that which is above, where Christ is, and not that which is on earth. This means that they long for Him and for all that is of Him. These things they love, and what they receive in their hearts from the Lord makes them happy. With these things they are rich and greatly blessed, for they are of much more value than all that the world gives. Thus they seek those things which are above. Therefore they do not feel at home on the earth.

No, the world cannot make a person truly rich and blessed. With everything of this world, you remain very poor. This we must often consider.

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