The Ascension of Jesus

The pic is The Ascension by Rembrandt (1636).

The ascension of Jesus is the final component of the 5-fold Christ Event, which also includes the virgin birth, miraculous ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. The Christ Event established the kingdom of God on the earth – and the kingdom will be consummated at Christ’s second coming. You and I live in the in-between time. This is a very important theological perspective and a Vineyard core value. More Sunday…

We won’t be spending too much time on this Sunday, so I thought I’d offer this article from Theopedia…

Also known as the exaltation of Jesus, the ascension of Jesus is well attested in the New Testament. It describes Jesus' ascent upward into heaven after spending 40 days on the earth. The ascension takes place after his resurrection (John 20:17; Acts 1:3). Luke gives the best account, stating that "he left them and was taken up into heaven" (Luke 24:51). In Acts Luke adds that, "...he was taken up to heaven" (Acts 1:2) and that, "This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). When Jesus actually ascended, "he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight" (Acts 1:9).

Most references in Scripture speak of Jesus' ascended status and do not actually mention how he came to be in heaven. These passages speak more of Jesus' "exalted state", that is, his present status in heaven after the experience of his ascension. Most notably is the quotation of Psalm 110:1, “sitting at the right hand of God.” This is the most quoted OT text in the NT. Mark places the use of this Psalm in the very teachings of Jesus (Mark 12:35-37; 14:62). Furthermore, Paul gives reference to Jesus' exalted state in Philippians 2:8-11, stating in verses 9-11 that "...God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." Elsewhere, Paul makes reference to Christ being "taken up in glory" (1 Timothy 3:16). Other passages attest the very same about Jesus and give suggestion to his ascension into heaven (cf. John 6:62, 13:1-3, 16:5 & 28, 20:17; Acts 2:32-33; Hebrews 4:14, 9:24; 1 Peter 3:22; Revelation 1:12-18, 3:21).