Main Idea: Jesus ascends to heaven as the exalted King who establishes his church and empowers our mission.
I. The Exalted King of Kings
3 Aspects of Jesus’ enthronement to consider:
1. Authority
Daniel 7:13-14:
13 “I saw in the night visions,
And behold, with the clouds of heaven
There came one like a son of man,
And he came to the Ancient of Days
And was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion
And glory and a kingdom,
That all peoples, nations, and languages
Should serve him;
His dominion is an everlasting dominion,
Which shall not pass away,
And his kingdom one
That shall not be destroyed.
2. Supremacy
Hebrews 1:3b–4: After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
3. Now & Not Yet (“Not only in this age but also in the one to come”)
II. The Head of the Church
In this role, Jesus continues his ministry as our great high priest. This means:
1. We are always connected to God
“We are connected to Jesus, by faith, as a head is with a body. Our head, then, is seated now at the right hand of God, always in God’s presence and always in communion with him. This is true of you always. That’s important to remember in those moments when we feel as though God is distant from us. Sometimes when I am suffering, or when I am plagued with doubt or fear, it’s easy for me to feel as though God is far away. When that happens, I almost immediately find myself drifting away into prayerlessness, and, ultimately, a sense of despair. The problem is that I assume that God’s nearness is defined by the strength of my faith at the moment or by my ability to “read” what God is doing providentially in my life. That assumes that I was ever coming to God without a Mediator. My nearness to God is in Christ, and Jesus hasn’t moved.” ~ Russell Moore
2. We can have confidence before God
“Our prayer life stinks most of the time. But what if you heard Jesus praying aloud for you in the next room? Few things would calm us more deeply… If you are in Christ, you have an intercessor, a present-day mediator, one who is happily celebrating with his Father the abundant reason for both to embrace you in their deepest heart.” ~ Dane Ortlund
III. The Captain of the Mission
Nearly every place the ascension is mentioned in the Scriptures, it is tied to the mission of God. The two go hand in hand and are intrinsically connected.
Luke 24:45–48, 50-51: 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things…. 50 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
Acts 1:8–9: 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
In this role, Jesus continues his ministry as prophet. Jesus’ rule & reign is extended into all the world through the mission of the church, as we declare & display the good news of the gospel. As the captain of the mission, Jesus is working in, over, and through the church to continue seeking and saving the lost.
