Jesus’ Exaltation

Introduction:

Luke has emphasized the special relationship between Jesus and the Apostles during the 40 days prior to his ascension.

They were filled with evidences and instructions.

These days were both informative and transformative for the apostles.

Jesus instructed the apostles to remain in Jerusalem where they were to anticipate the fulfillment of the Father’s promise.

The Holy Spirit would come upon Jesus’ apostles.

Jesus reoriented the thinking of the apostles away from politics and to their role as his witnesses.

Note especially Acts 1:7-8.

How we understand the person of Jesus and his current role in our relationship with God is wrapped up in his ascension.

Background:

Luke has already referred to his previous work, the Gospel of Luke, and its conclusion with Jesus being taken up heaven.

He was not concerned, there, with the details of what happened.

Instead, this became the way that he introduced the apostles into the discussion.

Now, he records the event and the instructions the apostles received.

The Process:

Luke, in his fashion, provides a description of the resurrection’s process.

Condition #1: Jesus had said the things recorded prior.

Whether Luke means this as a conclusion to the full 40 days or to the immediate teaching is unclear.

The ταῦτα suggests the immediate, for sure, but that may also be only part of the intention.

Condition #2: They were watching.

Nothing has changed from the previous eight verses, so the pronoun here must refer to the apostles.

Jesus’ ascension was a physical event beheld with the physical eyes of at least the eleven apostles.

The main event: he was taken up and a cloud received him from their eyes.

The Parallels

Perhaps we should be cautious about critiquing the apostles too much for staring into heaven.

Jesus’ previous interactions with them apparently did not have such “hard endings” as this one.

Luke will make sure the reader understands that this event differed from the others and provided a turning point for the apostles.

The account has parallels with the resurrection.

Two men stood with them dressed in white clothing.

Luke 24:4 “καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ ἀπορεῖσθαι αὐτὰς περὶ τούτου καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο ἐπέστησαν αὐταῖς ἐν ἐσθῆτι ἀστραπτούσῃ.”

Unlike the resurrection event, however, the apostles physically saw this take place.

Luke emphasizes heaven.

Acts 1:10: καὶ ὡς ἀτενίζοντες ἦσαν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν πορευομένου αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἰδοὺ ἄνδρες δύο παρειστήκεισαν αὐτοῖς ἐν ἐσθήσεσιν λευκαῖς,

Acts 1:11: οἳ καὶ εἶπαν· ἄνδρες Γαλιλαῖοι, τί ἑστήκατε ἐμβλέποντες εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν; οὗτος ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὁ ἀναλημφθεὶς ἀφʼ ὑμῶν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν οὕτως ἐλεύσεται ὃν τρόπον ἐθεάσασθε αὐτὸν πορευόμενον εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν.

He refers to “the sky” or to “heaven” four times in these two verses.

The apostles looked at the sky.

Jesus proceeded into heaven.

The Promise

The two who spoke with the apostles issued an assurance or a promise to the apostles.

These words explain the confidence the apostles will have about at least three things:

Jesus’ exaltation to the right hand of God, hence as one equal with God.

Included in this would also be the expectation of judgment.

Jesus as the responsible party for imparting the Holy Spirit to them.

This also has eschatological implications.

Jesus’ certainty to return.

Broader Biblical Significance

The ascension provides confirmation of Jesus’ equality with the Father, his exaltation. It also means he serves as our high priest interceding to the Father on our behalf, and it means he will return again.

Ephesians 4:8-10 Διὸ λέγει· Ἀναβὰς εἰς ὕψος ᾐχμαλώτευσεν αἰχμαλωσίαν, ἔδωκεν δόματα τοῖς ἀνθρώποις. Τὸ δὲ Ἀνέβη τί ἐστιν εἰ μὴ ὅτι καὶ κατέβη εἰς τὰ κατώτερα μέρη τῆς γῆς; Ὁ καταβὰς αὐτός ἐστιν καὶ ὁ ἀναβὰς ὑπεράνω πάντων τῶν οὐρανῶν, ἵνα πληρώσῃ τὰ πάντα.

1 Timothy 3:16 Καὶ ὁμολογουμένως μέγα ἐστὶν τὸ τῆς εὐσεβείας μυστήριον· ὃς ἐφανερώθη ἐν σαρκί, ἐδικαιώθη ἐν πνεύματι, ὤφθη ἀγγέλοις, ἐκηρύχθη ἐν ἔθνεσιν, ἐπιστεύθη ἐν κόσμῳ, ἀνελήμφθη ἐν δόξῃ.

Hebrews 4:14 Ἔχοντες οὖν ἀρχιερέα μέγαν διεληλυθότα τοὺς οὐρανούς, Ἰησοῦν τὸν υἱὸν τοῦ θεοῦ, κρατῶμεν τῆς ὁμολογίας.

Hebrews 9:24 Οὐ γὰρ εἰς χειροποίητα ἅγια εἰσῆλθεν ὁ Χριστός, ἀντίτυπα τῶν ἀληθινῶν, ἀλλ’ εἰς αὐτὸν τὸν οὐρανόν, νῦν ἐμφανισθῆναι τῷ προσώπῳ τοῦ θεοῦ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν.

1 Peter 3:22 Ὅς ἐστιν ἐν δεξιᾷ τοῦ θεοῦ, πορευθεὶς εἰς οὐρανόν, ὑποταγέντων αὐτῷ ἀγγέλων καὶ ἐξουσιῶν καὶ δυνάμεων.

We should also pay attention to Peter’s words in Acts 2:33-36.