The Ascension of Christ

Text: Luke 24:25-27, 45-51; 1Cor. 15:12-23; Acts 1:1-3, 10-11; Eph. 4:7-10; Heb. 2:9; 7:22-28

Memory Verses: 1Tim. 3:16                                                                

Theme: We believe the Lord Jesus literally arose from the dead and ascended back to Heaven.   

Aims: I hope to deepen your convictions, fuel your worship, and enlarge your appreciation for the resurrection and ascension of Christ. May God help each of us to respond appropriately to Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord.

Relevance:

Why is the  Ascension of Jesus Christ so important?

 Much of the Lord Jesus’ ascension will remain a mystery if we don’t understand what He did and why He did it. We need to know what Jesus did and why He did it, or these acts will be shrouded in mystery. He and the significance of these events will remain a puzzle to us. We will not have as much personal trust in Him, as much appreciation for Him, or as much confidence in sharing Him with others as we could have.

It is important for us to understand what Jesus is doing now so that we don’t feel alone and helpless as we live, and so that we don’t get the impression that things are out of control and God doesn’t have a plan that He is working out. God does have a plan.

Why do we need to know about the ascension of the Lord Jesus?

If we don’t believe what Jesus accomplished, the consequences are much the same as the ones that were mentioned in previous studies. We are at odds with the Bible, we deny either the need for salvation or the possibility of salvation, we lose all hope for guidance in this life and for life after death, and we have no encouraging words to share with others who are seeking the answers to life’s most difficult questions.

Introduction:

   The ascension is the dramatic departure of the risen Lord Jesus from earth to heaven for the benefit of Christians. Our Lord Jesus’ ascent marked the end of His earthly humiliation, His return entrance into Heaven, and the beginning of His heavenly exaltation as the God-Man. The limitations of His full glory have been removed and His essential brilliance is obviously visible (Acts 9:1-8; Rev. 1:9-20).           

Lesson:

I.              The Ascension & Present Ministry of Jesus Christ—Where is Jesus Today?

Now that He occupies His rightful place at the Father’s right hand, He can fulfill and execute other vital ministries on behalf of His people, through His churches, and in the world at large.

A.    The Fact of Christ’s Ascension—How can we be sure Christ has ascended to God?

1.Biblical statements of Christ’s Ascension (Mark. 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9).

                                                                    i.            Christ literally, bodily, physically, traveled back up to heaven.

                                                                  ii.            The point and place of departure was from the Bethany side of the Mount of Olives (Acts 1:12).

                                                                iii.            Christ defied the natural laws with His gradual upward movement—he did not suddenly disappear and His ascension was not long.

                                                                iv.            The ascension was necessary because of the nature of His resurrection body, to present His redemption blood to the Father in Heaven once and for all (Heb. 9:11-14), to provide an explanation for where the body of Christ is after His resurrection (Acts 2:29-36), and in order that Christ might become the ideal Object of universal worship for the entire human race.

2.Christ anticipated His ascension and spoke specifically of it (Jn. 6:62; 7:32-36; 20:17)

3.Christ ascended to a place—Heaven itself (Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:9-11; 7:55-56; Jn. 14:2-3). In addition, He literally passed through the Heavens (Heb. 4:14; 7:26; Eph. 4:10), the domain of evil principalities and powers who inhabit the heavenlies (Eph. 6:12).

4.Christ was exalted and honored in Heaven as the God-Man (Jn. 17:5; Acts 2:33; Phil. 2:9; 1Tim. 3:16; Heb. 1:4; Rev. 5:12). Upon Christ ascension, God gave Christ the place of power and authority at the Father’s right hand (Eph. 1:20, 21).

B.     The Fact of Christ’s Present Ministry—What is Jesus doing in Heaven?

1.Biblical statements of Christ’s Present Ministry (Rom. 8:34; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 10:12, 13; 12:2; 1Pet. 3:22)

2.Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father in Heaven (Heb. 1:3; Eph. 1:20-21; 1Pet. 3:22).

3.Presently Christ’s ministries include High Priest, Savior, Model, Head of the Church, Advocate, Intercessor, and Lord of all.

C.    The Purpose of Christ’s Present Ministry—What does Christ current ministry mean to us?

1.To be our Forerunner (Heb. 6:19, 20). Christ’s ascension foreshadowed our future ascension into heaven with Him (1Thess. 4:17). A “forerunner” was like the herald announcing the coming of a king; it implies that others will follow. We will follow Him to Heaven some day.

2.To prepare a place for believers (Jn. 14:2). His ascension assures us that our final home will be with Him in heaven.

3.To share and extend His authority to believers over the universe in a limited way (Eph. 2:6; 6:12; 2Cor. 10:4).

4.To give spiritual gifts to His followers (Eph. 4:10-14). Christ like a mighty Warrior conquered and spoiled His enemies and shares the booty as gifts to His own people.

5.To offer encouragement to His followers and a Model for running the Christian race patiently by faith (Heb. 4:14-16; 12:1-3)

6.To Intercede as our Great High Priest (Rom. 8:34; Heb. 4:14-16; 7:25-27; 8:1; 9:24). As our faithful High Priest our ascended Lord sympathizes, aids, helps, and gives grace to His people as they need it.

                                                                    i.            Acting as our Intercessor because of the weaknesses and frailties of believers (Luke 22:31, 32; Heb. 7:25)

                                                                  ii.            Acting as our Advocate because of the sins of believers (1Jn. 1:9; 2:1; Heb. 9:24; Rev. 12:10). Christians enjoy peace, hope, and security because Christ is their Advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1).

7.To send the Promise of the Father—the Holy Spirit (Jn. 14:16-18; 16:7-15; Acts 1:4; 2:33)

8.To lead and care for His churches—He is the Head of the Body (Eph. 1:20-23; 5:26, 29; Rev. 1:10-3:22)

9.To work through His people (Jn. 14:12)

10.        To wait until His enemies are subdued (Heb. 10:12, 13)

Conclusion:

As the little chorus goes, “He paid a debt He did not owe, we owed a debt we could not pay.” We have one hope: Forgiveness. And that hope lies in Jesus. No, His life was not meaningless. His was not the futile eruption of an overzealous optimist. He is God, who came to earth and became a man and died in our place for our sins. Because of that, we can know God and be with Him forever through faith in Christ. When we repent believing the Gospel, the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ as payment for our sins, we are rescued from the eternal sufferings our sins deserve and afforded a relationship with God. Forgiveness of our sins is secured, a new eternal home in Heaven is ours, and peace with God is assured. How wonderful! What words can we use to say “Thank You” to God? What can we do to show our appreciation? Giving back to Him the life we owe is the only measure complete enough. Have you believed on the Lord Jesus Christ accepting Him alone as your Savior?