I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      Just before Jesus Christ died on the cross, He cried, "It is finished!” (John 19:30).  By this, He indicated that His work on earth was accomplished (John 17:4), but that did not mean there was nothing more for Christ to do.

B.      The Scriptures reveal that Christ did not cease from working for us when He ascended from earth back to heaven.  In fact, when He ascended He began a flurry of activity that continues even now.

II.      THE EVENTS OF CHRIST’S ASCENSION

A.      Christ foretold of His ascension on several occasions.

                                                             1.      The Lord spoke of His ascension to the Pharisees on two separate occasions when He told them that He was going away to a place where they could not come (John 7:32-36; 8:21-24).

                                                             2.      When the Lord was transfigured, He spoke to Moses and Elijah of His departure or exodus which He would accomplish at Jerusalem (Luke 9:30-31).

                                                             3.      On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus told His apostles that He was going to the Father (John 13:3; 14:1-4, 12, 28-29; 16:4-7).

                                                             4.      After His resurrection, Christ told Mary Magdalene to report to the brethren of His impending ascension to God the Father (John 20:17).

B.      The words of Christ were fulfilled when He was lifted into the clouds and out of the sight of men.

                                                             1.      Mark recorded Christ’s ascension very simply: "So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19).

                                                             2.      Luke gave the most detailed record of Christ’s ascension in Acts 1.

a.       For this event, the witnesses were the eleven apostles (v. 2), the time period was forty days after Christ’s resurrection (v. 3), and the location was Mount Olivet near Jerusalem (v. 12).

b.       First Jesus gave the apostles instructions regarding the Holy Spirit and their mission as witnesses, and then He ascended to heaven.  Notice verses 9-11 – "And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.  They also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky?  This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’”

III.   WHAT HAPPENED WHEN CHRIST ASCENDED?

A.      Christ’s ascension into heaven corresponded to His exaltation.

                                                             1.      When Jesus descended from heaven to come to earth, He was made for a little while lower than the angels (Heb. 1:9).  His descent to earth and subsequent life of servitude corresponded to a humiliation (Phil. 2:5-8).

                                                             2.      Likewise, when Jesus ascended from earth back to heaven, He was exalted back to His previous glory above the angels (John 17:5; Heb. 1:4).  His ascension to heaven corresponded to His exaltation in heaven (Phil. 2:9-11).

B.      When Christ ascended to heaven, He sat down on the throne of David at the right hand of God the Father.

                                                             1.      God swore to David that He would seat one of David’s descendants on his throne and establish his kingdom forever (2Sam. 7:12, 16; Ps. 132:11; Acts 2:25-32).  This promise was fulfilled when Jesus Christ, a descendant of David, ascended to heaven.

                                                             2.      Jesus now reigns on the throne of David at the right hand of God the Father.  Notice that the following passages declare this truth.

a.       "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.  For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’” (Acts 2:33-35)

b.       The blessings in Christ are "in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about 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 every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Eph. 1:19-21)

c.        "For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.” (1Cor. 15:25)

d.       "And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.” (Heb. 1:3-4)

C.      With His ascension, Christ "led captive a host of captives.”

                                                             1.      Notice Ephesians 4:7-10 – "But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  Therefore it says, ‘When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.’  (Now this expression, ‘He ascended,’ what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?  He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)”

                                                             2.      Consider what this passage from Ephesians means.

a.       Verse 8 of this passage is a quotation of Psalm 68:18.

b.       This passage has somewhat the same meaning as Colossians 2:15, which says, "When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”

c.        To get the full meaning of this passage, we need to understand the figures being used.

i.         A great conqueror of ancient times would return from his conquests with a grand parade.  In this parade, he rode in his triumphal chariot while leading his captive foes in chains.  At the same time, he would spread his spoils and bounties among the soldiers and other spectators of this parade.

ii.        In this likeness, when Christ ascended into heaven, He was a triumphant conqueror.  He "led captive a host of captives,” which means that he conquered the enemies that formerly had led others captive.

                                                             3.      Therefore, when Christ ascended to heaven, he led captive all of our spiritual enemies who once held us in captivity, and He gave spiritual gifts to His faithful followers.

a.       The vanquished enemies are sin, Satan, and death (see Matt. 16:18; 1Cor. 15:54-57; Heb. 2:14-15).  The victory of Jesus occurred at His resurrection, but the triumphal parade occurred at His ascension.

b.       The gifts of Christ are those listed in Ephesians 4:11 which serve to equip the church.

D.      When He entered heaven, Christ began His work as our High Priest, Intercessor, and Advocate.

                                                             1.      When Jesus ascended to heaven, He entered the true tabernacle as a High Priest and offered His own blood as a sacrifice for our sins.

a.       From His position at the right hand of God, Christ is "a minister in the sanctuary and in the true tabernacle” (Heb. 8:1-2).

b.       As a sympathetic High Priest in heaven, Christ gives us bold access to God that we could not otherwise have (Heb. 4:14-16).

c.        When Christ entered heaven, the true holy place, He obtained eternal redemption with His own blood for all of the faithful (Heb. 9:11-28).

                                                             2.      When Jesus arrived in heaven, He took on the role of Intercessor and Advocate on behalf of His faithful people.

a.       From the right hand of God the Father, Christ intercedes for Christians (Rom. 8:34).  This means that He steps in and justifies us so that we will not suffer the condemnation for sin (Rom. 8:1).

b.       Christ does so by being an Advocate on our behalf with the Father (1John 2:1-2).  He offers His blood as the propitiation (payment) for our sins.

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      Certainly, there are other works that our Lord began when He ascended to heaven.

                                                             1.      We know that when Christ left the earth and arrived in heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit from heaven down to earth (John 16:4-16).

                                                             2.      We also know that Christ ascended to heaven prepare a place for His followers (John 14:2).

B.      To say the least, our Lord has been busy on our behalf, and He remains so.  Praise Christ for His tireless efforts and love toward His people.