What was the purpose of the ascension? Was Jesus merely “beamed” up to heaven like Star Trek? Was Jesus’ going up with the clouds just the random way God chose to get Jesus from earth to heaven? What should we believe about the ascension?

As you can tell this post is a side thought from discussing the various doctrines which address the effects of salvation. A couple of weeks ago was Ascension Day (aka a recognition of Jesus’ ascension into heaven observed by almost all long standing denominations save my own…The Baptists. This Baptist, however, greatly appreciates the liturgical calendar and would like to tip his hat to it in this post).

What Luke Tells Us about the Ascension

Have you ever wondered what the point of the ascension was? I know I have. Up until the last couple of years I had no idea what to think about the ascension. But now that God has used sermons by brothers such as Paul Washer and Jeff Durbin to help me see and appreciate the ascension, it is one of the dearest events in scripture. Let’s check it out:

And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God.

Luke 24:50-53

Above we have the most concise telling of the event. For a moment, in light of the above text, I want to ask: Was this event which played out before the disciples eyes a surprise or sensible? To put it another way: When the disciples stood there watching Jesus rise into the sky could they reasonably and biblically make sense of what they were seeing OR were they completely blind sided by what they were witnessing with no explanation?

I’m glad you asked!

Concealed in the Old Testament, Clarified in the New Testament

In what has been called ‘God’s favorite Bible Verse’ (the most quoted Old Testament verse in the New Testament) we find one of the clearest prophecies of this event:

The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

Psalm 110:1

Ascension Concealed:

Three questions for us to consider as we look at Psalm 110:

1. For a Jew who is greater than King David? Who could possibly hold such a place of authority for David to call him Lord? David is the best of the best. Could anyone be worthy of being called David’s ‘Lord’? I am assuming that by you reading this blog you already know the answer: Jesus of Nazareth. Only Jesus can fill the shoes of being David’s Lord.
2. Who sits at the right hand of the LORD (YHWH)? Yes… it is the same answer but before I agree with you let me ask you this: Where did you get your answer? What is the source that tells you who is sitting at the LORD’s right hand? Yes the Bible, but more specifically the New Testament. The New Testament over and over and over again teaches us that it is Jesus who ascended and is seated at the right hand of the LORD.
3. What will occur while Jesus sits at the LORD’s right hand? His enemies will be made a foot stool for his feet.

So yes, the ascension was spoken of in the Old Testament, although to be sure not in any great detail. There would have been Old Testament scripture to ground the understanding of the disciples as they saw this happen. Later when the Holy Spirit comes upon them and they receive power it is quite clear they understand.

The rest of this post will be an overview of the New Testaments quotes and allusions to Psalm 110:1 followed by words of explanation and hope.

Ascension Clarified: Exalted unto Power, as Prophet, and as Priest

Picking up with the narrative of Luke as seen above let us look to Acts 2 where we see the disciples carrying on the mission with power and the Spirit of Christ.

Within the very first sermon of the New Testament apostles we encounter Psalm 110:1.

This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies your footstool.”’

Acts 2:32-35

Peter first speaks of the resurrection and follows up with instructing his hearers that Jesus had been “exalted at the right hand of God”. The only event big enough in the ministry of Christ to come after his resurrection would be his ascension. Then to put the nail in the coffin Peter clearly connects the ascension to the prophecy of David in Psalm 110 (2:34). This first example of the New Testament clarifying the event of the ascension is simply to show how the Old Testament is clarified. Let’s look at other example which give us a greater detail.

Exalted unto Power

“…which he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”

Ephesians 1:20-21

Because Paul has a bad habit of running on…and on…and on…and on with sentences it can be hard to speak specifically to segment of his writing. In the passage about the first word “which” is referring to the power and might of God being “worked in Christ”. The goal of God the Father doing this work in the Son was to “seat him at his right hand in the heavenly places…” The result of that action was and is Jesus exercising authority above all and always.

We serve a Messiah who is in absolute power (Matt. 28:18). Nothing is outside his grasp or ability. He sits enthroned at the right hand (position of honor and power) of the throne of “God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and of earth” (Apostles Creed).

Exalted as Prophet

This will be tricky to lay out just in one text because it is an implication of several. For now I will draw your attention back to Peter’s sermon in Acts 2

Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

Acts 2:32-33

So Jesus goes to heaven and pours out or sends the Holy Spirit. Why? Two reasons: to remind of and lead into truth. In John’s gospel Jesus promised to send the Helper to do those two things (and other works as well). Therefore, Jesus, from his throne, sends the Holy Spirit to equip his “witnesses” to speak his gospel to all nations. That speaking was this proclamation: “The Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel.” Jesus exercised his prophetic ministry by the power of his Spirit through the apostles to proclaim his power and excellency to the ends of the earth.

A further word to clarify and confirm Jesus as not only the final and great Prophet, but that he continues as such, here the words of Hebrews 1:1-2, “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…”

Exalted as Priest

Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.

Hebrews 8:1-2

I hope by this final point you have seen the pattern within these texts…which I have discreetly underlined (hint hint). Yes, Jesus position at the right hand of the Father is central to all these texts, but also foundational to the particular truth it reveals about Jesus. Here we see him as the lat and great High Priest who is a minister in the Holy Places, in a True Tent. His is an excellent ministry for he embodies all of the priestly duties, specifically:

• “…he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:25) Of this John Gill writes, “one branch of whose office it is to intercede for his people: this he does now in heaven; not by vocal prayer and supplication…but by the appearance of his person for them; by the presentation of his sacrifice, blood, and righteousness; by declaring his will, that such and such blessings be bestowed on such and such persons; and by recommending the prayers of his people, and removing the charges and accusations of Satan.” The bold letters remind us that the presence of Jesus at the right hand of God is the on going reminder to the Father that the sacrifice for the sin of His people has been paid for.
• “But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises. (Heb. 8:6) It is truly impossible to expound in a single bullet point the excellency of the New Covenant (according to the scriptures). I will say that this covenant is a sacred and sincere promise of God to bring about an age, one which Christ has brought and established (Matt. 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Cor. 11:25), where God’s relationship is more intimate, involved, and finally dealing with the iniquity of His people. It is an age prophesied of by the prophets, an age we live in as the people of the New Covenant. Jesus is the mediator who reconciles God and man in the establishing this new intimate, involved, and forgiving relationship.

Conclusion:

In the Old Testament Jesus’ ascension was concealed (Psalm 68; 110). In the New Testament it is conveyed and clarified (see texts above). It was God’s eternal plan for his purpose to fulfill at the perfect time. He whispered it in the Old Testament and shouted it in the New Testament. Jesus, by the words of the apostles, is exalted unto power, as a prophet, and as a priest.

Two Applications:

1. Remember. My brother and sisters in Christ, remember these things. If you have been following Christ for any length of time I am sure one of these facts about the person of Jesus has been brought to your attention: his power or him as prophet or a priest. If you are reading this in 2020 remember these firm and everlasting realities of the one who ever lives to make intercession for you and work all things for your good. Remember that you are a person who is apart of that New Covenant in which God has brought forgiveness for your inquiry, he is intimate, and involved. Remember this as the various effects of the COVID-19 crisis continues, riots breakout, amid social and cultural tensions that have been in our country long before 2020. To my brethren in other places with other troubles, worries, trials, and persecutions, remember this.
2. Remind. You can only remember if you are reminding yourself. Go reading Ephesians 1:15-23 and see his power, or Hebrews 1 to gaze at his excellent person as Prophet or Hebrews 7:11-8:13 and see your priest who ever lives to intercede for you in the presence of God the Father. Remind yourself of the excellencies of Christ in your favorite New Testament passage. In that the Spirit of Christ will have ample opportunity to lead you into more and deeper truth of the risen and ascended Savior who reigns as King, intercedes as Priest, and Ministers to you soul through his word by His Spirit.