-23 Chapter 23. Of the Exaltation of Christ.

1-23 Chapter 23. Of the Exaltation of Christ.

1. The EXALTATION of Christ is that by which he gloriously triumphed over his and our enemies. Luke 24:26, Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so enter into glory? Ephesians 4:8, When he ascended on high, he led captivity captive. Colossians 2:15, He has spoiled principalities and powers, and has made a show of them openly, and has triumphed over them in it.
2. He overcame death by enduring it, sin by satisfying for it, the Devil by spoiling him, or taking the prey out of his hands.
3. The perfection and manifestation of this victory is in his Exaltation. Therefore, there was a virtual364 triumph, and a triumph of merit in his death and in the Cross, in which Christ is said to be exalted or extolled (John 3:14 365), not only in situation and place, but also in virtue and merit.
Yet the actual triumph, as touching its state, was not in his humiliation, but in his Exaltation.
4. Christ triumphed in the Cross as in a Field of Victory; but in his Exaltation, he triumphed as in the Kingly Seat and Chariot of Triumph.
5. The glory of this triumph was in changing from the humble form of a servant, and that most abject condition which he underwent in it, into an altogether Heavenly blessedness. Php_2:9, Therefore also God highly exalted him, and gave him a name above every name.
6. In respect to the Divine nature, it was only an active manifestation; and in respect to the human nature, it was a real receiving of that nature, with suitable actions flowing from it.
7. The human nature received all those perfections which a created nature could take. For there flourished in the soul all kinds of fulness of wisdom and grace, not only in respect to the principle and habit of it, but also in respect to the act and exercise of it; his body also was adorned with greatest purity, agility,366 splendor, and strength. Hebrews 12:2, For the joy that was set before him, he endured the Cross. Php_3:21, Who shall transform our vile body, that it may be like his glorious body.
8. But as the soul of Christ, now exalted, still retained the nature of a soul, so also his glorified body in no way laid down the essence and essential properties of a body. Therefore it can neither be everywhere, nor in many places together, nor in the same place with another body Penetratively. All who have eyes to see may indeed clearly perceive this in those phrases of Scripture, such as Being taken from them, he was carried up into Heaven, Luke 24:51; He is not here; he is risen, Matthew 28:6; and many like these.
9. There were three degrees of Exaltation that were opposite to as many degrees of his extreme humiliation: namely, his Resurrection from the dead, as opposed to his death; his Ascension into Heaven, as opposed to his descent into the Grave, and to the lowest place of the Earth; and his Sitting at the right Hand of God, as opposed to his remaining in the Grave, and in the state of death or in Hell.
10. Christ’s Resurrection was of his whole human nature which before had fallen by death. In respect to the soul, it was from Hell, or from the state and dominion of death, to which the soul (as it was part of his human nature) was subject. In respect to the body, it was from the dead, and from the Grave.
11. The soul is improperly said to have risen again; rather, properly, Christ’s body and human nature rose again. For the body, and the man, recovered his perfection; but the soul recovered the act and motion of its perfection in the body.
12. There are two parts of Christ’s Resurrection. The first is an internal act; namely, a reviving was restored by the uniting of soul and body.367 The second is an external act; namely, his going out of the Grave to manifest the life restored.
13. Testimony was given to this Resurrection by, 1. Angels. 2. Christ himself by various appearances (at least ten of which are reckoned in the Scriptures), and also by various proofs taken out of the Scriptures. 3. Men who certified it by seeing, hearing, and handling him.368
14. But Christ did not rise by the power or leave of another, although this operation is attributed to God the Father in Acts 2:24; but it was by his own power, John 2:19, Destroy this Temple and within three days I will raise it up; and John 10:18, I have power to take up my life again.
15. The time of Resurrection was the third day after his Death and Burial, Mark 16:2; Luke 24:7; Acts 10:40; 1 Corinthians 15:4.
16. The end of this Resurrection was: 1. That he might be declared to be the Son of God; Romans 1:4, Declared mightily to be the Son of God by the Resurrection from the dead. 2. That he might seal a full victory over death; 1 Corinthians 15:57, Thanks be to God who has given us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 3. That he might fulfill those parts of his office which followed his death; Romans 4:25, He was raised again for our justification. 4. That he might show himself both justified, and justifying others; 1 Corinthians 15:17, If Christ is not risen, your faith is in vain; you are still in your sins. 5. That he might be the substance, example, and entrance of our spiritual and corporal Resurrection; 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, He is made the first fruits of those that sleep. In Christ, all shall be made alive.
17. For Christ as God is the absolutely principal cause of our Resurrection; as satisfying by his humiliation and death, he is the meritorious cause of it; but as rising from the dead, he is the exemplary cause; and with that, he is a demonstration and an initiation.
18. The ASCENSION of Christ into Heaven is a middle degree, or certain progress of exaltation, whereby leaving the earth he ascends into the highest Heaven as into his throne of glory. Acts 1:11, He was taken up from you into Heaven. Ephesians 4:10, He ascended far above all Heavens.
19. This ascension was of the whole person; yet it does not agree to the Divine nature except figuratively: namely, as it was the cause of his ascending, and as it was joined with the human nature in excellence. Also his glory was manifested in it, of which he had, as it were, emptied himself when he descended into the human nature by the incarnation.369 But it most properly agrees to the human nature, because it allowed change from a lower place to a higher.
20. The time of his ascension was 40 days after his Resurrection, Acts 1:3, not sooner. This was because the infirmity of the Disciples required the delay of this space of time, that their faith might be confirmed by various appearings; and that they might also be more fully instructed in those things which pertain to the Kingdom of God, Acts 1:3. It was not later, lest he would seem to think upon an earthly life.
21. The place from which he ascended was mount Olivet, Acts 1:12, where he also entered into deepest humiliation, Luke 22:39; Luke 22:44, so that he might teach that his suffering and ascension pertained to the same thing.370
22. The place into which he ascended was the Heaven of the blessed. It is not an ubiquitary Heaven,371 as some imagine — so that his ascension would only be a change of condition and not a change of place — but it is the highest above all the other Heavens, Ephesians 4:10. It is the seat, house, or mansion of God, John 14:2. So that in respect to his local presence, Christ’s human nature is rightly and truly said not to be with us on Earth, Matthew 26:11;372 although in respect to his person, and to that spiritual efficacy which depends on the human nature, he is everywhere with his people to the end of the world, Matthew 28:20.
23. The witnesses of this ascension were both many men, and Angels, Acts 1:3; Acts 1:10; 1 Corinthians 15:5.373
24. In respect to order, he was the first of all those who ascended into Heaven in priority of nature because his ascension was a cause, by virtue of which others ascend, Hebrews 9:8.374 But others had ascended in their souls before in time, Colossians 1:20.375 And some also (most likely) in their bodies, Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5; 2 Kings 2:11.376
25. The cause of this ascension was the same which before was the cause of the Resurrection: namely, the power of God, which is the same both of the Father and the Son. Hence in respect to the Father it is called an ASSUMPTION, which in respect to the Son is called an ASCENSION, Acts 1:11.377 But there was added, moreover, the condition of a glorified body, which is carried upward as well as downward.
26. The ends of Christ’s ascension were: 1. That he might place his human nature, now glorified, in the mansion of glory. 2. That he might show himself to be the one who could pierce into the Heavenly and deepest counsels of God. John 3:13, How will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? For there is none that ascends into Heaven, but he who descends from Heaven; namely, the son of man who is in Heaven. 3. That he might prepare mansions for all his people in the house of his Father, John 14:3. 4. That he might in the name of his own, take possession of the heavenly Kingdom. Ephesians 2:6, [God] has raised us up together, and has made us sit together in Heaven, in Christ Jesus. 5. That by his intercession and power he might take care for those things which were to be performed for their salvation. John 16:7, If I go from you, I will send the Comforter to you. 6. That we may have a most certain argument for our ascension into Heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:20, He is made the first fruits of those who sleep. 7. That we also might in thought, affection, and conduct, follow after Heavenly things. Colossians 3:1; Php_3:20, Seek those things that are above where Christ is. We carry ourselves as Citizens of Heaven, from where we also look for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.
27. SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD is the highest degree of his Exaltation, whereby he enjoys the highest glory of his mediation. Hence Resurrection and Ascension are motions tending to this sitting. Thus also, Resurrection and Ascension in a certain way are common both to us and to Christ; but sitting at the right hand of the Father agrees to none, but to Christ only.
28. That highest glory with which Christ is endowed by this sitting, is properly and formally a KINGLY glory. Acts 2:36, Let therefore all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made this man a Lord.
29. This kingly glory is a fulness of power and majesty whereby he governs all things for the good of his people. Psalms 110:1; 1 Corinthians 15:25, For he must reign until he has put down all his enemies under his feet.
30. This majesty and power properly agree to the person of Christ the Mediator. In respect to this, it is also truly said that the human nature of Christ has now so much eminence of dignity and ruledom, that with power he is set above and over all created things, Ephesians 1:20.378 But from this eminence of dignity, to conclude that the human nature of Christ — which was created and remains finite, being considered absolutely and abstractedly — has the same omnipotence and omnipresence with God himself, is nothing but certain stupid madness, and not far from blasphemy.
31. To this kingly dignity pertains to that power whereby Christ was made the Judge of all men and Angels.
32. This kingly glory of Christ also redounds to his other offices; so that he exercises a kingly PRIESTHOOD, and a kingly PROPHECY.
33. The kingly priesthood is that by which he pleads our cause, not by suffering and humbly supplicating with bended knees, as it were, but by gloriously representing those things which he did and suffered. Hebrews 9:24, Christ has entered 379 into Heaven itself, to appear before the Face of God for us.
34. Christ exercises a kingly PROPHECY while he powers out his Spirit upon all flesh; while he sends his Ambassadors, and works together with them, and confirms their word by signs that follow; and lastly, while he gathers his own out of the world, and protects, builds up, and preserves them forever, Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:20.380