The Ascension (Based on Luke 24; Acts 1)

How long did Jesus stay on earth after He arose from the grave? Forty days. During that time He often appeared to His disciples, taught them many things, and gave them numerous commands. At last, the time came for Jesus to be taken from them to go up to heaven, so He called them once more. He led them to Bethany, the little village where Lazarus, Martha, and Mary lived. There, Jesus lifted up His hands and blessed His disciples, and while He was blessing them and talking to them, “He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” The disciples looked steadfastly towards heaven as He went up, and they watched the cloud which hid Him from their eyes.

Jesus was gone. He had gone into heaven to sit down on the right hand of His Father’s throne. Were the disciples sad? Perhaps they were sorry to lose sight of that dear Friend who had been with them so long, but they still had much to comfort them. They remembered that Jesus had said, “I go to prepare a place for you; and where I am, there you shall be also.” As the disciples were looking up towards heaven, two angels, clothed in white, came and stood by them. These angels spoke to them and said, “Why do you stand looking 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.” Then the disciples were comforted. They returned to Jerusalem, to wait there for the promise of the Holy Ghost as Jesus had commanded them.

We have been reading a great deal about the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus. Now, all these things are necessary for us to know. Jesus became man, lived, died, rose again, and ascended into heaven for the salvation of His people. He was born into the world so that as man He might obey God’s holy law perfectly and thus work out a perfect righteousness. “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous” (Romans 5:19); and “that He might leave us an example, that we should follow His steps” (see 1 Peter 2:21).

He suffered and was tempted while He lived that He might be able to feel for us in our sufferings and temptations; that He might “be made like unto His brethren,” and so be “a merciful and faithful high priest.” “For in that He Himself hath suffered being tempted, He is able to succor them that are tempted” (Hebrews 2:18). He died to bear the punishment of sin which we all deserve to bear. He died, “the just for the unjust, that He might bring us unto God” (1 Peter 3:18b). “The chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and with His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5b). He “was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25b) to show that He was indeed the Son of God, that He had power to conquer death and the grave. His resurrection is a comfort to His people because as He rose, so they shall rise also at the last day. “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept” (1 Corinthians 15:20). “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14).

Jesus ascended into heaven to prepare a place there for His people and to intercede for them before His Father’s throne. “He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25b). He “is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). These are all very wonderful things. It is good to read about them and know them, but we must remember that this will do us no good unless we believe and experience them in our own heart. We must pray that the Lord will work in us by His Holy Spirit. God teaches His people that they are sinners and that they need this Savior. To this end He works in their heart and gives true faith in the Son of God. Then they may believe that all their sins may be washed away in His blood, that they may be justified by His righteousness, and that they may be sanctified by His Spirit. When they die, they shall be taken to be with Him where He is and behold His glory to all eternity.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen