The Ascension of Christ

What Now?

2023 Spring Branch

Acts 1:9-11

The Ascension of Christ

The ascension of Jesus Christ is meaningful for many reasons:

1. It signified the success and the end of His earthly ministry.

-Jesus had accomplished all that He came to do. The debt of sin is paid. He came to save, to atone, to redeem, to testify to the truth, and to reconcile His people to the Father. It was and is finished. If more work was needed, then Jesus would have stayed until is was finished, but His leaving shows the finished work.

We have no business trying to add to His finished work. We have no business trying to do more for we to be saved and justified before God.

Jesus has performed for all and has done His microphone drop… not for anyone to pick it up to carry on the performance. The response of His people is to hear, repent, believe and receive the performance (the Good News), and live for Christ… not for salvation.

Our response is like the crowd… we receive the performance; we celebrate the performance; and we call out for His return to the stage for the finale… and we wait for Him expectantly as we live for Him.

The ascension signified the end of His earthly ministry and it also signified the end of human limitation.

2. It signified the return of Jesus’ heavenly glory, the glory that He had before He came to earth. The Transfiguration gives us a glimpse, but the image of Isaiah 6:1-4 is better. And in His glorified position… He is unlimited for us today. Every person can have Him today, talk to Him today, be touched by Him today, have a relationship with Him today…

John 17:4-5 – “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.”

Jesus’ and God the Father’s glory are together in heaven, and He knows all, sees all and is able to save all who will come to Him. This is Good News.

3. It symbolized His exaltation by the Father, and Jesus was received up in honor, with power, and given a name above all names. It established Jesus as the reigning king over all powers in all ages. Ephesians 1:20-21 speaks of this act by the Father, and Jesus is seated at His right hand far above all rule, authority and power – And He is above all…all… now and forever.

He is above all Satanic powers in this world. He is above all spiritual darkness. There is power in His Name, and we as believers today, who walk in His Name… walk with power, because our Source of life is above us and within us now and forever.

We have power to stand against the powers of darkness. We have power, in the Name of Jesus, to break down strongholds, chains, addictions, and to live for Christ and not for sin. There is power accessible to all who are in Christ Jesus… to be fruitful and do spiritual things that please God.

4. Without the ascension, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Promise would not come and dwell within all believers. All the sons and daughters of faith (Joel 2:28) would receive Him as the inheritance and gift from Christ. All of this was made possible after the ascension.

The night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus promised his disciples that He would ask the Father and that He would give them another Helper, to be their advocate, to help them and be with them forever – The Spirit of truth (John 14:16-17) would come after Jesus would go away.

This Promise is for us today, because He ascended. As stated before, Jesus could not be with everyone at one time before… but through the Holy Spirit… God the Father and the Son can save and be with all who are born again.

**Jesus’ empowering presence is available to all Jesus’s followers everywhere at the same time.

What else does the ascension mean?

5. With the Holy Spirit… Ephesians 4:7-12 and 1 Cor. 12 connects the ascension to spiritual gifts being given to believers… to mature them and others.

Jesus not only would send the Holy Spirit but He would also supply His people with the spiritual giftings to be servants of God, witnesses for Christ, to be made mature in the image of Christ and to serve His Church… to build them up into unity and maturity.

*God gives gifts to use… by the way. God gives grace to use, mercy… knowledge, teaching, and preaching… and all kinds of works of service… to use in the lives of people… in the Church.

What else?

6. It indicated the beginning of Jesus’ work as our High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16) and the Mediator of the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15).

As what is the result? All of God’s people can draw near to the throne of grace… boldly… that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of help and need.

What ever we are going through… sickness, discouragement, depression, addiction, pride, or betrayal… we can pray… and we can pray in confidence that the Lord hears our prayers… and know with confidence and love… that He intercedes, or prays for us during our times of difficulty.

7. It allowed Jesus to go and prepare for us a place (John 14:2-3). I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Our Jesus went away but did not leave us as orphans. Our Jesus sends us the Holy Spirit and promises us that we will always have a home with Him. You will never be homeless again.

Jesus comforts us with this and gives us a sense of belonging… and expectation.

Expectation of what? Expectation of verse 11…

8. And…. According to this (Verse 11), His ascension sets the pattern for His return… He will return just as He left – Literally, bodily, visibly (Daniel 7:13-14, Matthew 24:30, and Rev. 1:7).

It will be a noticeable, visible return… one that will not be missed.

And… along with the disciples of Biblical days, until today… there has been that longing and joyful expectation of the Lord’s return. Christians have been expecting Jesus to come back for 2000 years. Paul and the others though it was going to happen at any time.

The ascension keeps us looking up, as we wait… with hope… comfort… and strength.

*Jesus is in control and He is available to everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord, to live inside you, direct, lead and guide you all the days of your life.

*Jesus has power and He is Lord over all. Submit to His Lordship and power, and experience His power through your lives.

*The Holy Spirit will let you know that you belong to Jesus and He will allow you to experience Jesus’ life, and He will be your Helper throughout life. He will give you gifts and empower you to serve Christ.

*Jesus is praying for His people, and He knows how to pray for you… and He is faithful to you.

*Our Jesus has gone to prepare a place for us… He will not leave us alone and He will never leave us homeless. We belong with Him. Our home is with Him. He will come back to bring us to where He is.

*Keep your head up Christian. These are not my promises… these are Jesus’ promises… and they will all come true.

He is coming to finish it all.