Ascension

Though the specific word “ascent” does not occur, the idea of exaltation and triumph is pervasive. All of what is written in the New Testament stems from the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus.

Patrick Schreiner

The ascension placed Jesus Christ back in the glory which he had with the Father before the world was. The ascension, not the resurrection, is the completion of the transfiguration.

Oswald Chambers (Lecturer and Missionary)

Resurrection is not complete, however, without the ascension and Pentecost. The death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus and the sending of the Holy Spirit all come together as a seamless whole.

Paula Gooder

Resurrection is not complete, however, without the ascension and Pentecost. The death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus and the sending of the Holy Spirit all come together as a seamless whole.

Paula Gooder

The resurrection offers us transformation in Christ, the ascension gives us the motivation to act and Pentecost the ability to do it.

Paula Gooder

The Ascension, however, is more than merely a past event. It has further significance in the NT that can be summarized under two headings: (1) its meaning for Christ and (2) its meaning for the Christian.

Walter A. Elwell; Philip W. Comfort

Third, the Ascension proves that the sacrifice of Christ is finished and accepted by God.

Walter A. Elwell; Philip W. Comfort

Christ’s ascension into heaven was the real commencement of his reign.

John Calvin (French Reformer)

The reason why the ascension was vital was that if the risen Christ had not ascended into heaven and was still on earth proclaiming the good news, healing the sick and befriending the poor and oppressed, then most of us would leave this work to him. We would become passive recipients of his ministry rather than active proclaimers of his message.

Paula Gooder

Verbs that describe the ascension are plentiful. Consistently terms occur in reference to Jesus’ ascent: “to go up,” “to go away,” “to go into,” “to go through,” “to sit,” “to be taken up,” or “to be exalted.”6

Patrick Schreiner

The gift of the ministry is the fruit of Christ’s ascension.

Matthew Henry (Nonconformist Biblical Exegete)

However, the Ascension is a redemptive event of profound importance. It marks the moment of Christ’s highest point of exaltation prior to His return. It is in the Ascension that Christ entered into His glory.

R. C. Sproul

Immanuel—God with us in our nature, in our sorrow, in our daily work, in our punishment, in our death, and now with us, or rather we with Him, in resurrection, ascension, triumph and Second Advent splendor.

Charles Spurgeon

Although the ascension is rarely mentioned in explicit terms, the New Testament assumes its central place. All of the authors write in response to, and work backward from, the ascension. The ascension revealed the Messiah’s exaltation and triumph, finished his work on the earth, guaranteed his current sovereignty, broke the barrier between heaven and earth, thus pouring out the Spirit, and pledged his return.

Patrick Schreiner

The ascension set in motion the coming of the Holy Spirit with His gifts for believers (John 14:16–18, 26; 16:7–15; Acts 2:23; Eph. 4:11–12).

Ronald F. Youngblood; Frederick Fyvie Bruce (Professor); R. K. Harrison

Because the ascension happened, Jesus’ royal authority is confirmed.

Patrick Schreiner

The reason for a public and visible ascension is surely that he wanted them to know that he had gone for good.

John Robert Walmsley Stott (English Preacher)

When Christ ascended, he sat at the right hand of God, but that place is also everywhere—for God is everywhere. The reality of the ascension goes beyond our human comprehension.

Patrick Schreiner

In his life Christ is an example, showing us how to live; in his death he is a sacrifice, satisfying for our sin; in his resurrection, a conqueror; in his ascension, a king; in his intercession, a high priest.

Martin Luther (Founder of the German Reformation)

Only Luke takes us from the very beginning of the “Jesus story,” the birth of John the Baptist, to its end, the ascension of Jesus.

D. A. Carson; Douglas J. Moo

When Christ returned to heaven, he withdrew his physical presence from our sight. He didn’t stop being with the disciples but by the ascension fulfilled his promise to be with us to the end of the world. As his body was raised to heaven, so his power and reign have spread to the uttermost parts.

John Calvin (French Reformer)

 特殊时期：升天是基督地上事工的总结，是圣灵在教会事工的开启。这交接式的特殊时期在路加的两个著作成为他福音书和使徒行传的结尾和开启。路加福音以基督升天作为福音书的结束，使徒行传则是开启。

.基督地上工作的总结

-道成肉身-受死受难-复活-升天

.圣灵降临教会事工开始

-圣灵内住-圣灵恩赐-圣灵服事

～知道基督的福音，活出基督的福音，盼望基督的再来。耶稣基督的升天是他地上事工的交棒期。（讲一个交棒的故事，教区代理大主教）交棒期要做的交待是什么，向谁，为什么？

.讲个明白

. 今天的第一节经课说，门徒不明白耶稣的意思。第二节课却说，耶稣开他们的心窍，使他们明白。明白什么呢？先知，摩西，诗篇一切都指向耶稣基督。门徒的明白不是因为知道，而是领受了上帝的启示。

-道成肉身是上帝最高的启示。看不见的上帝透过基督启示给我们看。基督地上事工的结束，一副完整的天国福音的图画，耶稣在升天前show给门徒看。

-为何他受苦受难。上千年的以色列期待狮子的救赎，结果却是来了一只羊羔。他们的期待盲目了眼睛，所以不明白基督羔羊的道理和神迹。就如以赛亚书说，人们的以为。。。其实是为担当我们的罪债。

-复活。门徒的稀奇，甚至惊恐，都因为他们错误的期待和信心的迟钝瞎了门徒的眼。复活主日的信息提醒我们，耶稣如何开他们的心窍。是通过陪同和讲解。和两位放弃留在耶路撒冷回家去的两位门徒，陪同他们走错误方向的道路，一路上讲解正确道路的福音。那就是将摩西，先知，诗篇所说的与基督连接上。当天们明白之时，眼就开了，认出复活的基督。原来基督的受苦是为复活的荣耀。（人子必须先受苦后得荣耀）这显然完全颠覆当时任何人的认知。只有透过基督复活后，请自讲解给门徒听。将旧约和耶稣生平与工作连接上，福音就出来了，眼睛就开了。

～今天经文来到耶稣复活后40天与门徒一起的最后一天，圣经没有记载耶稣讲道内容和神迹，而是讲解他之前所讲所行的一切。叫门徒看见的不是自己以为的基督，而是基督自我显现，自我启示的基督。这成为后来教会重要的基础。也就是我们今天教会的基础。

.使命的教会

-教会在地上的建立是延续基督地上的工作，但这工作必须有圣灵的同在，权柄，能力。耶稣升天前再一次吩咐门徒，什么事工都先不要开始，要等候圣灵的降临。

.福音建立的教会传讲耶稣版本的福音。靠着那位启示的灵，带领教会履行耶稣基督颁布给教会的使命。

.靠着圣灵的意思领受他给各人的恩赐来服事上帝。我们将要开启以弗所书讲道系列。一开始便是教会是上帝丰富恩赐的群体。

.期待基督的到来。使命是有一个真实的盼望，不然，我们还在寻找救赎。我们必须相信上帝的应许，他必会再来。他必会将基督的胜利做最后的总结。我们必会与基督一同享受胜利，虽然我们已经得到了。但我们依然在各样不同的的战役中。有神学家这样描述教会，虽然基督已经全然得胜，战争已结束，基督已经胜利。他的升天就是带有这样的色彩。（诗篇和希伯来书，战利品带回天上）他的教会的得胜也因此确定了。但，还有许多战役依然还在进行。那不是定胜负的征战，而是恶者战败后的最后捶死挣扎。

～耶稣基督的升天不是上帝的离开，而是更好的同在。但却是战胜后的收尾战。是靠着耶稣基督的福音，圣灵的同在，力量和权柄。（全副武装）

.应用

.过度期的形态。

.领受耶稣基督版本的福音

.传讲耶稣基督版本的福音

.靠圣灵的同在，能力与权柄

.相信并基督应许再来的盼望