COMPLETES HIS PEOPLE’S SALVATION

We have been following Christ through his humiliation, from the time that he left the blessed bosom of the Father; and now, as he has finished the whole course of his obedience on earth, and risen again from the dead, we must follow him back again into heaven, to that bosom of ineffable delight and love which, for our sakes, he so freely left. He did not rise from the dead to live such a low, natural life at this, but a most glorious life, an enthroned King in heaven, into which state he was now ready to enter, as he tells Mary in the text, and bids her tell it to the disciples: “Go, tell my brethren that I ascend to my Father,” etc. In which commandment we have,

1. The persons to whom this message was sent: My “brethren,” so he calls the disciples. A sweet term, and full of love; much like that of Joseph to his brethren except there is much more tenderness in it. He reminds them in the same breath of what they had done against him: “I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold;” but Christ says, “Go tell my brethren,” without the least mention of their cowardice or unkindness.

2. The message itself: Tell my brethren, “I ascend to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God.” It is in the present tense, as if he were then ascending, though he did not ascend for some weeks after. But he so expresses it to show what was the next part of his work, which he was to act in heaven for them; and how much his heart was set upon it: “I ascend to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God.” This is the substance of the message sent by Mary to the pensive disciples.

Hence,

Our Lord Jesus Christ not only rose from the dead, but ascended into heaven, there to accomplish all that remained to be done to complete the salvation of his people.

This the apostle plainly witnesses: “He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens.” Eph. 4:10. This is sometimes called his going away, sometimes his being exalted, sometimes his being made higher than the heavens, and sometimes his entering within the veil. We will here consider the questions, Who ascended? Whence did he ascend? Whither? When? How? Why?

I. Who ascended? The apostle answers, “The same that descended,” namely, Christ. And he himself tells us, “I ascend.” And though Christ’s whole person ascended yet it was a figurative expression with respect to his divine nature, and rather applies to the humanity of Christ, which really changed places and conditions. Hence he said, “I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father.” He goes away, and we see him no more. As God, he is spiritually with us still, even to the end of the world. But as man, the heavens must contain him “until the restitution of all things.” Acts 3:21.

II. Whence did Christ ascend? Generally he is said to ascend from this world, to leave the world. But more particularly, it was from Mount Olivet, near Jerusalem, the very place where he began his last sufferings. Oh, what a difference there was between the state of Christ in his agony at the Mount of Olives before his passion, and now at his ascension!

III. Whither did he ascend? It is clear it was into the third heavens; the throne of God, and place of the blessed; where all the saints shall be with him forever. It is said to be “far above all heavens,” that is, above the heavens which we see, for they are but the pavement of that stately palace of the great King. He is gone, says the apostle, “within the veil,” that is, into the most holy place, into his Father’s house. And he is also said to go to the “place where he was before,” from whence he came at his incarnation.

IV. When did Christ ascend? Was it as soon as he arose from the dead? No; “after his passion,” he was “seen of them forty days, speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3. And truly, the care and love of Christ to his people was very manifest in his thus remaining with them. Ineffable glory was prepared for him in heaven and awaiting his coming, but he would not go to possess it till he had settled all things for the good of his church here. For in this time he confirmed the truth of his resurrection, and gave charge to the apostles concerning the discipline and order of his house. When he had set all things in order, he stayed no longer. He had a great work to do for us in the other world. He desired to be no longer here than he had work to do for God and souls.

V. How did Christ ascend into heaven?

1. He ascended as a forerunner, in our names, and on our account. So it is said expressly, Heb. 6:19, 20, speaking of the most holy place within the veil, “whither the forerunner is for us entered.” His entering into heaven as our forerunner, implies his public capacity, as one that went on our business to God. “I go before to prepare a place for you,” John 14:2, to take possession of heaven in your names. The forerunner has respect to others that were to come to heaven after him in their several generations; for whom he has prepared mansions, which are kept for them until they arrive. It also implies his precedence. He is our forerunner, but he himself had no forerunner. Never did any enter heaven before him, but such as entered in his name, and through the virtue of his merits. He was the first that entered into heaven directly, in his own name, and upon his own account. All the fathers who died before him entered in his name.

2. He ascended triumphantly into heaven. “God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises unto our King, sing praises.” Psa. 47:5, 6. A cloud is prepared, as a royal chariot, to carry up the King of glory to his princely pavilion: “A cloud received him out of their sight.” Acts 1:9. And then a royal guard of mighty angels surrounded the chariot for the greater pomp and solemnity of their Lord’s ascension. And oh, what songs of the blessed angels were heard in heaven! How was the whole city of God moved at his coming! For, as when “he brought his first-begotten into the world, he said, Let all the angels of God worship him,” so at his return, when he had finished the work of redemption, those exalted beings gave no less demonstrations of their delight and joy. The very heavens echoed and resounded. Yes, and the triumph has not ended, and shall never end.

3. Further, Christ ascended liberally, shedding forth inestimable gifts abundantly upon his church at his ascension. “Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.” The apostle refers to Psalm 68:17, 18, where you have both the triumph and magnificence with which Christ ascended. “The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that God might dwell among them.” These words were a celebration of the triumph of David over the enemies of God, who brought him presents, which he dedicated to the Lord. Just so our Lord Jesus Christ, when he had overcome by his death on the cross, and now triumphed in his ascension, receives his enemies as his conquest, and gives them, by their conversion to the church, for its use and service: thus he received gifts, even for the rebellious, that is, sanctifies the natural gifts and faculties of such as hated his people before, dedicating them to the Lord, in his people’s service.

4. Our Lord Jesus Christ ascended with a blessing on his lips: while he was blessing his people, he was parted from them; thereby making good to them what is said of him, “Having loved his own, he loved them unto the end.” John 13:1. There was a great deal of love manifested by Christ in this last act on earth. The last sight they had of him in this world was a most sweet and encouraging one. They heard nothing from his lips but love, they saw nothing in his face but love, till he mounted his triumphant chariot, and was taken out of their sight. Surely these blessings at parting were sweet and rich. They were the mercies which his blood had so lately purchased for them. And they were not only intended for them who had the happiness to be with him when he ascended, but they reach us as well as them, and will reach the last saint that shall be upon the earth till he comes again. They who surrounded Christ were but representatives of the future churches. In blessing them, he blesses us also.

VI. Why did Christ ascend? I answer,

1. If Christ had not ascended, he could not have interceded in heaven for us. Take away Christ’s intercession, and you blight the hope of the saints. For what do we have to support us, under the daily onslaught of sin, but this, “if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father?” Mark that, “with the Father:” a Friend that is nearby; one that abides there to transact all our affairs, and as a surety for peace between God and us.

2. If Christ had not ascended, you could not have entered into heaven; for he went to “prepare a place for you” John 14:2. He was the first that entered heaven directly, and in his own name; and had he not done so, we could not have entered in his name. The forerunner made way for all that should come after him in their several generations. Nor could your bodies have ascended after their resurrection, but by virtue of Christ’s ascension. For he ascended in the capacity of our Head and Representative: to his Father, and our Father; for us, and himself, too.

3. If Christ had not ascended, he could not have entered on the glory he now enjoys in heaven. This world is not the place where perfect felicity and glory dwell. And then, how would the promise of the Father have been made good to him? Or our glory, which consists in being with, and conformed to him, where would it have been? “Ought not Christ to suffer, and to enter into his glory?” Luke 24:26.

4. If Christ had not ascended, how could we have been assured that his payment on the cross made full satisfaction to God? How is it that the Spirit convinces the world of righteousness, but from Christ’s going to the Father, and returning here no more? Here is evidence of God’s full satisfaction, both with his person and work.

5. Further, how could we have enjoyed the blessings of the Spirit and ordinances, if Christ had not ascended? If Christ had not gone away, “the Comforter would not have come,” John 16:7. He begins where Christ finished. For he takes of his, and shows it to us. And therefore it is said, “The Holy Ghost was not given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.” He was then given as a sanctifying spirit, but not given in the measure that he was afterwards, to furnish and qualify men with gifts for service. And indeed, by Christ’s ascension, both his sanctifying and ministering gifts were shed forth more commonly and more abundantly upon men. So that whatsoever good of conversion, edification, support, or comfort you receive from spiritual ordinances, he has shed forth that which you now see and feel.

So that, for all these reasons, it was expedient that he should go away. It was for his glory, and for our advantage. Though we lost the comfort of his bodily presence, yet if “we loved him, we should rejoice, because he went to the Father.” John 14:28. We ought to have rejoiced in his advancement, though it would have been to our loss. But when it is so much for our benefit, as well as his glory, it is in all respects a ground of joy that he is ascended to his Father, and our Father; to his God, and our God.

Inference 1. Did Christ ascend into heaven? Is our Jesus, our treasure indeed there? Where then should the hearts of believers be, but in heaven, where their Lord, their Life is? Surely it is not good that your love and your Lord should be in two different countries. Up, and hasten after him, that he and you may be together. Christians, you ascended with him virtually when he ascended; you shall ascend to him personally hereafter; Oh, that you would ascend to him spiritually, in acts of faith, love, and desires, daily. How good it would be if we could say with the apostle, “Our conversation is in heaven, from whence we look for the Saviour.” A heart tending upwards is the best evidence of your interest in Christ’s ascension.

2. Did Christ go to heaven as a forerunner? How should we hasten to follow him. Come, Christians, “lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily besets you, and run with patience the race set before you, looking unto Jesus.” The Captain of our salvation has entered within the gates of the new Jerusalem, and calls to us out of heaven to hasten to him; proposing the greatest encouragements to them that follow: “He that overcometh shall sit with me in my throne, as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” Rev. 3:21. How tedious should it seem to us, to live so long at a distance from our Lord!

3. Did Christ ascend so triumphantly, leading captivity captive? How little reason then have believers to fear their conquered enemies! Sin, Satan, and every enemy, were in that day led away in triumph, dragged at Christ’s chariot wheels, brought after him, as it were, in chains. He made at that day “an open show of them.” Their strength is broken forever. In this he showed himself more than a conqueror; for he conquered and triumphed too. Satan was then trodden under his feet, and he has promised to tread him under our feet shortly. Our enemies yet retain some power: the serpent may bruise our heel, but Christ has bruised his head.

4. Is Christ ascended to the Father as our forerunner? Then the door of salvation stands open to all believers, and by virtue of Christ’s ascension they also shall ascend after him, “far above all heavens.” O my friends, what a place has Christ prepared for you; what a splendid habitation has he provided! “God is not ashamed to be called your God; for he hath prepared for you a city.” In that city Christ has provided mansions and resting-places for your everlasting abode, and keeps them for you till you come there. Oh, how exalted and glorious a dwelling is that, where sun and moon and stars shall roll as much below your feet as they are now above your heads! May God give us a joyful meeting within the veil with our forerunner, and sweeten our passage into it with many a blessed foresight and foretaste. And in the meantime, let the love of a Saviour inflame our hearts, so that whenever we cast a look towards that place where our forerunner is for us entered, our souls may say, with melting affections, “Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ”; and again, “Blessed be God for his unspeakable gift.”

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