October 5

"Who is gone into heaven." 1 Peter 3:22.

MANY had gone there before. Abel was the first that entered; and it is encouraging to think that the first victim of death was a partaker of glory. Human nature was found in heaven before it was seen in hell. How long he was alone there we know not. But others soon followed, and our Saviour must have found there a multitude which no man could number.

But though many had gone into heaven before, none of them had gone in the same way and manner with himself. Others had entered without their bodies, but he had entered incarnately. Two had indeed entered embodied, but they did not take their bodies from the grave. Enoch and Elias died not, but were only changed. Jesus died, and was buried; and passed to glory from the tomb. Others entered heaven by mere favor, presenting no claim from their worthiness and obedience; but he entered by merit. He deserved all the glory he obtained: it was no more than the reward of his doing and suffering. Others entered as private individuals; and their entering did not insure the entrance of others, not even of their friends and relations. Religion is a personal thing, and it could not be inferred that because the husband or the father was glorified, the wife or child would follow. But he entered as a public character, as the head and representative of his people; and because he lives, they shall live also. Hence says the apostle, "He hath quickened us together with Christ, and raised us up and made us sit together with him in the heavenly places."

It is expedient for us, therefore, that he went away; and as Joseph's going from the prison to the palace was not only his own advancement, but the salvation of his father's house, so Jesus is gone into heaven not only to be crowned with glory and honor, but to execute the remainder of his mediatorial work on behalf of the redeemed. "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." But did he not say, when he expired, "It is finished?" He did, and it was finished, and nothing could be added to it. But what was finished? The procuring of salvation only—not the application of it. The former was done upon the cross, the latter is done upon the throne. What he suffered to acquire, he is exalted to bestow. He is exalted to be a Prince and a Saviour; to give repentance unto Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

Even in his priestly character it behooved him not only to suffer, but to enter into his glory. The apostle therefore says, If he were on earth he could not be a priest, because he could then only have fulfilled one part of the office. For the high-priest not only offered the sacrifice, but entered the holy place, and sprinkled the blood upon the mercy-seat, and burned incense, and made intercession for the people. Jesus therefore, after dying for us, entered into heaven itself, there to appear in the presence of God for us. By his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. "Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

Here he fought, and overcame. But the conqueror must have his triumph. He must display his spoils and enrich the multitude. He therefore ascended on high, leading captivity captive, and received gifts for men, even for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might dwell among them. "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ."

He was a prophet by his own preaching. But how local, how confined and successless was his personal ministry. The work was to be done by another ministry. Corporally, he was to withdraw; "But," said he, "the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." "I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself, but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." Thus he considered his personal presence and agency far inferior to the dispensation of the Spirit. And yet some are looking for his bodily advent again, as if this was to effect what the Holy Ghost could not accomplish. What purpose is to be executed in the spread of the gospel, or the conversion of souls, or the glorification of the church, to which the energy of the Spirit is not adequate? Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord. Were he here in his body, he would be confined to one place at a time, and many would envy the honor of seeing him in vain; but in his Spirit he can be everywhere, and enjoyed of all at once.