05.17. Joy in Christ's Ascension

Joy in Christ’s Ascension

"And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven. And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple praising God." Luke 24:50-53

There was great difference in the two partings between Christ and His little flock. At the first parting, when the Savior was crucified, there was nothing but grief and bitter lamentation: "We shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice." Even so it was. "As they mourned and wept," Mary Magdalene brought to them the first tidings of the resurrection. At the second parting however, when Jesus was taken up into Heaven, there was joy, deep joy, abiding joy! The disciples went back from Bethany with hearts uplifted with gladness and praise. It was tidings of "great joy" that the angel brought when Jesus had descended from above and had become incarnate; it was likewise with "great joy" that those who had been with Christ returned to Jerusalem after they had seen Him go back into Heaven. And this joy abides until now. The thought of our Lord’s ascension ministers everlasting consolation to His people. Especially may it cheer the hearts of those who are deprived of the joy of meeting in the Sanctuary with the Lord’s people, and of those who are passing through seasons of anxiety or suffering.

There is a joy in the thought that all the days of our Lord’s conflict are over, and that He has already entered upon His glorious reward.

Much did it cost Him whom we love to purchase our salvation. Hard toil, deep humiliation, unexampled suffering in body, soul and spirit — did He endure that He might save fallen man. But now it is over. No longer does He bear the shame and the curse, but having won the victory He has taken His place at the Father’s right hand, and receives the homage and the worship that are justly His due. If we truly love the Savior, shall we not rejoice in this?

If one very dear to you had been passing through deep waters, could you fail to rejoice when the season of trial was over, and the friend you loved was again in peace and prosperity? How then can we enough lift up our hearts in praise that our Friend, the Friend of sinners, is now in His glory in the highest Heaven? But there is joy in this also, that the ascension of Christ gives a clearness, a stronger reality to the believer’s hopes of a better home.

There is ever in the heart of man, a tendency to cleave to that which is seen and temporal — and cast aside all thought of a higher and nobler state. Not a few in our day openly discard all consideration of another world, as that of which nothing for a certainty can be known — and boast that they care only to make the best of the present. But our Father in Heaven would have it far otherwise. Therefore has He given the world proof from time to time, that there is a better country after which we should seek. In the days before the flood, He took away Enoch from an ungodly generation, and translated him without death; thus giving to the men of that age a testimony that there was indeed a reward for the righteous. In the degenerate days of the kings of Israel, when true piety was well-near extinct, God again repeats this testimony. Elijah, the man of God, the fearless confessor of Jehovah’s name on Mount Carmel, is taken up to Heaven in a chariot of fire.

Then at last, in the days of the Gospel, one far greater than Enoch or Elijah, God’s Well-beloved Son, having accomplished the work for which He came down among men — returns to receive again the glory which He had with the Father before the world was. Ever since has the Church confessed it in her creed: "He ascended into Heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty." Have we not in these three ascensions, more especially in that of Christ, God’s own witness in ad to the declaration of His Word, "that there remains a rest for the people of God"? But in the ascension of Christ, to believers there is much more than this. If you are Christ’s — it is a pledge that you shall enter that rest. He enters not Heaven simply as the glorified Son of God — but as the Head, the representative of His redeemed people — opening as it were the door, by which the very least of His saints shall surely follow: "When You overcame the sharpness of death, You opened the kingdom of Heaven to all believers." He has entered within the veil as our "forerunner."

Mark the expression. It is a very suggestive one. A valuable property (including house and lands) in a distant country has been left to a family. The father goes at once to take possession, to prepare their home — and then promises to come back for his wife and children. Such a one is a forerunner.

Even so has Jesus gone before. He has taken possession on behalf of His people. He has gone to prepare a place for them. And He will return and take them to Himself, that where He is there may they be also.

Christian, rejoice. Jesus cannot forget you. Though in His glory, He thinks of you continually and anticipates the time when you shall be with Him. Do you think that the loving husband would be satisfied to enjoy by himself alone, the home which his care and affection had provided for his wife and little ones? Surely he would not. Nor will Jesus forget His spouse, the Church, now tarrying in this evil world — but will in due time take her to share His glory and His kingdom. Yes, and every desire in your heart towards Him, every pulse of love, every act of affiance in Him, may testify that by and by you shall be with Him. And be it remembered for our consolation also, that Jesus has ascended to bestow those gifts which prepare His people for their future glory.

"You have ascended on high, You have led captivity captive. You have received gifts for men; yes, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them."

"Him has God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins."

"It is expedient for you that I go away, for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you."

O then, poor and needy one, who can discern in yourself nothing but your sin, who to your own eye are lacking in all that would fit you for the Father’s house — behold your Savior exalted to the throne, stretching out both hands full of precious gifts for all who wait upon Him! Do you need a tender conscience, a heart that will grieve for sin? He gives repentance. Do you need the blotting out of sins and iniquities beyond all reckoning? He bestows a frank, complete, everlasting forgiveness through His perfected atonement. Do you need grace to pray, and grace to love, grace to be diligent in work and patient in suffering, grace to watch against sin — and yet after a fall never to despair, but to arise again with fresh purpose of heart? For all this Jesus will send to you the Holy Spirit the Comforter, and in His might you shall go from strength to strength until you appear in Zion before God. Oh, what a gracious benefactor, how rich in every needful gift, is our exalted Redeemer!

There is one special duty that arises from the consideration of our Lord’s ascension. If Jesus is in Heaven — then where should the hearts of His servants be? "If you then are risen with Christ — seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on earth."

O shame upon every one of us, that our thoughts are so buried in the perishing things of the world! Why are we so taken up with our little cares, or even our heavier crosses, or our daily duties — that we so seldom lift up our eye heavenward and behold our Friend, so ready to aid us by His counsel and strength? Why does the prospect of a little present gratification, so soon draw the heart away from Him who is the source of endless joy?

How many who have known something of the blessedness of following Christ, or at least have been led to desire His salvation — have been thus turned aside to their everlasting destruction! A story is told of an eagle passing over one of the Irish lakes. It was soaring upward toward the sun, but its eye fell upon the body of some dead animal floating on the water. It was arrested in its course, and lighted upon the body. What was the result? It was in the depth of winter, the water froze upon its wing, it could no longer fly upward, so that it was caught and destroyed. The lesson is not far to seek. "Demas has forsaken Me, having loved this present world." "Whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things."

Reader, watch against this dangerous snare! Give not your heart even to lawful enjoyments, but reserve it for Christ. Thankfully use in their right measure, the blessings that God confers — but strive evermore to rise above them and hold communion with your Lord.

Neither let anxiety about health or friends or circumstances keep you from frequent meditation on Him who sits above the water-floods and permits every trial that it may speed you on your heavenward way.

Grant, we beseech You, Almighty God, that like as we believe Your only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind ascend thither, and with Him continually dwell, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.