The Ascension
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When I was 14, we moved from the house that I had grown up in. I was used to having my best friends lived next door, it was all about to change. Though we only moved 5 miles away, my life changed at that point. I didn’t see my friends everyday. We couldn’t go build forts and ride four wheeler’s all the time; it was hard. The relationship changed.
The relationship between Jesus and His disciples was about to change. This is why Jesus says in John 20:17 not to cling to Him. He knew that they would not be able to physically hold him anymore.
Read Luke 24:45-52
Our God is alive, we don’t presently see him because Jesus has ascended on high. Sometimes we are confused by this, thinking that He must not be here; but we would be incorrect in that assumption.
The question that should be laid on our hearts is why? Why did Jesus need to ascend? Why is he no longer physically among us?
These questions are ones that I’m hoping to answer today as we uncover more of the unfolding mystery of of who our God is.
To Prepare A Place For Us
To Prepare A Place For Us
Jesus went ahead of us to make a home for us.
We understand this means that on our own, we cannot get to heaven…it has to be through Jesus.
God had given types of going before us in the Old Testament.
Numbers 10:33
33 So they set out from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey. And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them three days’ journey, to seek out a resting place for them.
The ark being the symbol of the throne of God on earth.
Showing God is their king and their king was present.
Then their king traveled before them, seeking safe refuge for them. Preparing a place for His people.
John 14:2-3
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Jesus is paralleling what was shown in the Old Testament.
Jesus would go before his people, to prepare a place for them. Making the way, and preparing a home.
To Intercede For Us
To Intercede For Us
This is the job of an attorney, to stand before the judge in defense of another.
1 John 2:1
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
I love this, it doesn’t state that you will never sin, or that after you are saved you will never make another mistake.
Jesus Christ is the one who stands on our behalf before God; because He knows we will sin. When we do, he is there to plead our case.
Hebrews 7:25
25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
He lives!
He lives to make intercession for us.
He saves us to the uttermost.
He doesn’t get rid of 99% of our sin, and we and our works bring about the rest. NO
He saves to the smallest point, every aspect.
Jesus has cleansed us.
Ascend To His Place Of Honor
Ascend To His Place Of Honor
1 Peter 3:21b-22
21 Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.
Jesus goes to the Father, and sits at His right hand.
At the right hand because that denotes the place of Honor.
Everything has been subjected to Him.
Daniel 7:13-14
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
The Son coming to the Father. Receiving a kingdom that will never pass away, never be destroyed.
To Receive Back His Glory
To Receive Back His Glory
When He returned on high, to the position of honor, being given all things.
One thing that was returned was His glory.
John 17:5
5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
Do you see His longing. He gave up that which He possessed, humbled Himself. Now He urns for the time when He will receive His glory that He had before the world existed.
John 16:7-11
7 Nevertheless, 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.
8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;
11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
The main job that Jesus says the Holy Spirit will be doing, is declaring the glory of Jesus.
Jesus must be glorified, returned to heaven for the Holy Spirit to accomplish this.
To Change Our Focus
To Change Our Focus
It is all to easy for us to get fixated on what will take place here on earth.
The disciples were still confused about this in Acts 1:6 when they expressed that they were still looking for Jesus to restore the kingdom to Israel.
Colossians 3:1-2
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
Jesus being ascended should fix our minds on the heaven.
Fix our minds on the transcendent, eternal things.
Not the temporal.