THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST (Acts 1:1-11) (All underlined words imply His ascension) A. We often summarize the facts of the gospel as the death, burial, & resurrection of Christ (1 Cor 15:1-4). 1. But His ascension is another crucial event in our understanding of His authority. [In this lesson we will make a quick summary of what was accomplished by the ascension of Jesus into heaven.] A. What is glory? 1. Synonyms: splendor, brightness, magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace, majesty, divine perfection. 2. Satan showed Jesus the glory of the earthly kingdoms (Matt 4:8). 3. Jesus showed John the glory of heaven (Rev 21:11, 23), but what made the place truly glorious was that God was & is there. I. HIS PRAYER WAS ANSWERED John 17:1-5 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: "Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. B. What glory did Jesus have with the Father before the world was? Phil 2:6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 2 Cor 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. 1
1. Did you notice that Paul said, that you might become rich? 1. These events are not necessarily in chronological order: we are still preaching & believing. a. We sing a song: That Will Be Glory For Me Rom 8:18, 21 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God [At His ascension, the prayer of Jesus was answered & He returned to His former glorious state.] 2. But that part of the mystery that pertains to the work of Christ is complete: His ascension was the consummation of the mystery. [At His ascension, Jesus drew back the curtain on the mystery of godliness, so that the entire world could see & understand God s plan for human redemption.] III. HE RECEIVED HIS KINGDOM II. HE COMPLETED THE MYSTERY 1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was Manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. A. The mystery of godliness was God s eternal plan of salvation for mankind. Dan 7:13-14 (After he vision of the 4 beasts) I was watching in the night visions, & behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven (Acts 1:9)! He came to the Ancient of Days, & they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion & glory & a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, & languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, & His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. A. Those who teach that Jesus has yet to receive His kingdom are in conflict with Daniel, David & Peter. 2
Acts 2:30-37 (Peter quoted David in Psalm 16 who foretold of Jesus resurrection) Therefore, [David] being a prophet, & knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, 31 he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, & having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see & hear. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, 35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord & Christ. [At His ascension, Jesus was seated on His throne to reign over His kingdom.] Eph 4:7-8 (After revealing the 7-tiered platform of unity) But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ s gift. 8 Therefore He says: When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, (Psa 68:18) Col 2:15 (through His cross) [Jesus] disarmed principalities & powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Eph 4:8 Therefore He says: When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, & gave gifts to men. 9 (Now this, "He ascended" what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 [THE GIFTS] And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, [At His ascension, Jesus triumphed over & humiliated every opposing force.] IV. HE LED A VICTORY PROCESSION A. In ancient times, when a king returned from battle as a victor he displayed his vanquished prisoners by leading them in a train or procession. 1. A good king would also share the spoils of the battle with him army & his people. V. HE MADE ATONEMENT FOR OUR SINS & OBTAINED OUR ETERNAL REDEMPTION A. The word atonement means to cover, expiate (compensate, make amends), cancel. 3
1. The burnt or sin offerings under the OT atoned for the sins of the Israel. VI. HE PREPARED OUR PLACE 2. The first thing Jesus did after His ascension was to make amends for our sins with His blood. John 14:2-3 In My Father s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go & prepare a place for you, I will come again & receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. Heb 9:24 For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us Heb 9:11-12 But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. 12 Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. 12 Not with the blood of goats & calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. [Having made atonement for our sins] Heb 10:19-22 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new & living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 & having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience & our bodies washed with pure water. A. This doesn t imply that God had not made any preparation for His children to join Him. 1. Jesus went back to heaven to make the final preparations; Jesus is always prepared! Mark 14:13-15 And He sent out two of His disciples & said to them, Go into the city, & a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. 14 Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, The Teacher says, Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples? 15 Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished & prepared; there make ready for us. [At His ascension, Jesus paid it all & all to Him we owe.] 2. In a similar way, we follow the apostles & the NT to the marriage supper of the Lamb (Rev 19:9). 4
[At His ascension, Jesus made the final preparations necessary for us to be in Heaven.] IX. HE PREFIGURED OUR ASCENSION VII. HE SENT THE HOLY SPIRIT A. The Holy Spirit led the apostles in their remembrance & understanding of truth (Jn 16:5-15) 1 Thess 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, & with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive & remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 2 Thess 1:10 when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints & to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed John 16:7, 13 It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you... 13 when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. CLOSING A. Did you realize just how important IS the ascension of Jesus Christ? 1. It answered His prayer 2. It completed the mystery of godliness VIII. HE WILL RETURN 3. It ushered in the Kingdom 4. It allowed for a victory procession 5. It allowed for our atonement & redemption 5 A. The promise of the Lord s return could not be kept unless He first ascended into heaven (Acts 1:9-11). 1. His return will be the final proof of His resurrection from the dead; a proof too late for many. 6. It began the final preparations for our eternal home 7. It allowed for the sending of the Holy Spirit 8. It proved Jesus resurrection from the dead & His promise to return for us 9. It foreshadowed our own ascension.