Jesus the Eternal Son of God
“…sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (vs. 3d-4).
Jesus Ascended Back to Heaven
The Lord Jesus foretold to the disciples, His departure and return to the presence of the Father. “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3). Within His declaration, the Lord revealed to us several powerful truths. Jesus identified Himself with God-the Father. Jesus confirmed the existence of heaven. The Lord Jesus prepared His disciples for His departure. Then, He promised to return for His followers!
After Jesus arose from the dead, the Bible records that He showed Himself alive to His disciples and others over the course of the next forty days. When it came time for the Lord Jesus to ascend back to heaven He had disciples with Him. Scriptures provide the account of this epic event in several places. “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19). “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven” (Luke 24:50-51).
The most information concerning the ascension of Jesus back to heaven is found in the Book of Acts. The Lord Jesus gave His followers His final instructions saying, “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven” (Acts 1:8-11).
In the above passages we discover several truths. First, the ascension of Jesus was physical and visible. He bodily went up into heaven. Second, heaven is up. Third, the Lord gave His disciples, and us, the commission to carry on the ministry of reconciliation of men to God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Fourth, this same Jesus would one day return in the same manner in which He left….He will come back from heaven in the clouds! His return will be physically and visible! Glory! What a day that will be!
When the Lord Jesus died on the cross for our sins, His last words were, “It is finished.” The Scripture reveals that when He ascended back into heaven He sat down at the right hand of God-the Father. Does this mean that He is no longer involved in our lives? Absolutely not! In fact, Scripture enlightens us on Jesus’ present ministry for all His followers.
The Lord Jesus is active in helping us through our times of temptation. “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted” (Hebrews 2:17-18).
The Lord Jesus is active in helping us through our struggles and trials of life. “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). “Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:14-16).
The Lord Jesus is actively praying for us. This is encouraging for every prayer of Jesus was answered! “But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:24-25).
Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who is from everlasting to everlasting! Notice the exaltation of the precious name of Jesus; “Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11). “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). As the worshippers in heaven declare, “Worthy is the Lamb!” (Revelation 5:12). Jesus Christ is worthy to be trusted and to be followed!
Thoughts to ponder,
Learning to serve,
Robert D. Finley, Ph.D.
March 2020