What does the Ascension of Jesus mean for me?

Introduction

This morning we talked about the historical event of Jesus’ ascension.

Acts 1:9 NASB95

9 And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Jesus would no longer appear to His apostles as He had the forty days previous, but He would send His Spirit as they bore witness to Him to the ends of the earth.

Just like Jesus’ birth, baptism, transfiguration, death, and resurrection, the ascension of Jesus is a fact of history.

But what difference does it make that Jesus ascended to heaven in a cloud of God’s glorious presence?

What does the ascension of Jesus means for those follow and trust in Jesus?

[TS] Turning to different verses and passages in the Bible tonight, I want to give you seven ANSWERS to that question…

Major Ideas

#1: The ascension of Jesus means that God the Father is the God and Father of those who trust in Jesus (John 20:17).

John 20:17 NASB95

17 Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’ ”

[EXP] In this verse, Mary Magdalene took hold of Jesus after His resurrection. She had lost her Savior once; she wasn’t about to let it happen again.

But Jesus said that she had to let Him go because He had to ascend to heaven while she remained on earth.

But Mary was given a task. Jesus told here, “Go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’”

[APP] If we trust in Jesus as our Savior, then we are hidden in Him. We are in Christ through faith.

This means that when Jesus ascended to His Father, He ascended to our Father. When He ascended to His God, He ascended to our God.

In the ascension of Jesus, we ascend to God in Him and receive welcome as sons and daughters of God.

[TS] …

#2: The ascension of Jesus means that Jesus is interceding for those who trust in Him (Rom. 8:33-34).

Romans 8:33–34 NASB95

33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.

[EXP] In Romans 8, Paul is arguing that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

No one can bring a charge against God’s elect—a charge that would cause God to declare them guilty—because God has justified the elect through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Any condemnation hurled at God’s elect would be immediately met by Christ who died and rose and is now seated at the right hand of God interceding (i.e., praying) for the elect.

[APP] You are a part of God’s elect if you trust in Jesus.

That’s means that you are under no condemnation.

That means that no accusation made against you can overcome the justification that God has worked for you through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

It means that in His ascension, at the right hand of God, Jesus is praying for you.

[TS] …

#3: The ascension of Jesus reminds those who trust in Him of His finished work (Heb. 10:11-12, 14).

[EXP] In Hebrews 10, the author of Hebrews compared the daily sacrifices of the priests under the Old Covenant of Law with the once-for-all-time sacrifice of Jesus on the cross in the New Covenant of grace.

He said the constant need for sacrifices under the Law was represented by the priests’ daily standing. He says in Hebrews 10:11…

Hebrews 10:11 NASB95

11 Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;

But then the author of Hebrews said of Jesus who sacrificed Himself…

“(But Jesus), having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God… For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified,” (Heb. 10:12, 14).

[APP] Because Jesus was perfect, His sacrifice on the cross to pay the price for our sins was perfect.

Because His sacrifice was perfect, no other sacrifice will ever be required.

Jesus sat down at the Father’s right hand in His ascension because the work of our redemption is finished.

[TS] …

#4: The ascension of Jesus means that those who trust in Him have a place in Heaven (John 14:2).

John 14:2 NASB95

2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

[ILLUS] You’ve probably seen one of those home remodeling shows where a buyer purchases a home and then has it updated by an interior designer.

The big reveal is the completed home at the end of the show.

The buyer walks through and marvels at all the glamorous features of their new home.

But things are not as they always appear. Some buyers have later reported that when they walked through their made-for-TV home, they found unfinished floors and wet paint.

Their dream home, at least initially, was a bit of a disappointment.

That will NOT be our experience when we see what Jesus has prepared for us in heaven.

[EXP] In John 14:2 Jesus was preparing His Apostles for His departure. He’s not only talking about the departure of His death, which would be followed by His resurrection, but He was ultimately pointing to His ascension.

He said that He would go to prepare a place for them.

[APP] Jesus makes the same promise to us if we trust Him.

He has ascended to prepare a place for us.

Right now, in heaven, Jesus is preparing a place for us, a place that will not disappointment when we finally see our heavenly home.

[TS] …

#5: The ascension of Jesus means that the Holy Spirit has come to those who trust in Him (John 16:7).

John 16:7 NASB95

7 “But I tell you the truth, 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 go, I will send Him to you.

[EXP] Jesus was still preparing His Apostles for His upcoming ascension when He told them that in the sovereign plan of God, the Helper (i.e., the Holy Spirit) would not come to them until Jesus ascended to the Father and sent the Spirit to them.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Christ and it is would be a great advantage to have the Spirit of Christ living inside of them.

That’s the Spirit they received at Pentecost.

That’s the Spirit we have received when we believe on Jesus for salvation.

[APP] The Spirit gives us spiritual life in Christ Jesus.

John 7:37–39 NASB95

37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” 39 But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

The Spirit fills us with the truth of Christ Jesus.

John 14:16–17 NASB95

16 “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; 17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

The Spirit teaches us all things concerning Christ Jesus.

John 14:26 NASB95

26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

The Spirit helps us to testify to Christ Jesus.

John 15:26 NASB95

26 “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,

The ascended Jesus sent us His Holy Spirit, a very great advantage to those who trust in Him.

[TS] …

#6: The ascension of Jesus means that those who trust in Him should be set their minds where He is (Col. 3:1-3).

Colossians 3:1–3 NASB95

1 Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

[EXP] Per usual, Paul began his letter to the church at Colossae with doctrinal instruction before beginning with practical application here in chapter three.

In Colossians 3:1-3, the practical application is focused on the mind.

The Colossian believers are to seek the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

This will mean setting their minds on the things of heaven rather than the things of earth.

Because Jesus is ascended, those that trust in Him should have their minds set on ascended things.

[ILLUS] When I was a boy, we didn’t have cable television or internet TV. We had a big antenna next to our house that picked up the air waves.

Every now and again, the picture wouldn’t come in so clear and my Dad would say, “Go, turn the antenna.”

I would go out, turn the antenna a little and wait to hear Dad say, “Keep turning,” or “That’s good.”

The only way to get a clear picture was to make sure the antenna was set in just the right position.

[APP] Our minds are like an antenna that is either set to pick up the signals of the world or the signals of heaven.

Because Jesus has ascended to the Father’s right hand and we have been raised up with Him, we should have our minds to tuned to the frequencies of heaven.

[TS] …

#7: The ascension means that Christ is exalted above all (Phil. 2:9-11).

Philippians 2:9–11 NASB95

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

[EXP] In Philippians 2, Paul begin by talking to the Christians in Philippi about humility. He says in vv. 3-4…

Philippians 2:3–4 NASB95

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Paul then gives Jesus as the ultimate example of this humility.

Jesus was God but did not assert His divine attributes when He took the form of a slave in the likeness of men in order to die a humiliating death on the cross as payment for our sins.

But the story of Jesus does not end with humiliation. It continues with exaltation as Philippians 2:9 begins…

Philippians 2:9–11 NASB95

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Jesus was exalted in His resurrection.

Jesus is exalted in His ascension.

Because He is exalted, His Name is above every Name.

Because He is exalted, all knees will bow to Him.

Because He is exalted, every tongue will confess Him as Lord.

[APP] If it was not clear previously, it is clear in His ascension—Jesus is Lord over us.

[TS] …

Conclusion

This all is what the ascension of Jesus means for those who trust Him—the question is, do you trust Him?

Have you turned from your sins and trusted in Jesus as atoning sacrifice for your sins?

Have you confessed Jesus as your Savior and turned over control of your life to Him?

All will bow to Him and confess. Some of us do it gladly because we have trusted Him.

And for us, His ascension is a very great blessing to us.

[PRAYER]