- John 17:1–11 Jesus prays for His glory
- Acts 1:6–14 Jesus Ascension and Promised Return
- 1 Peter 4:12–14, 5:6–11 Humble Yourself that He may Exalt You
Jesus’ Work of Salvation
I wonder how you would describe Jesus’ work of salvation. Many Christians would focus on his death and resurrection as his saving work for us. But, though this is the critical centre of Jesus work for our salvation, it is only part of a much bigger and more glorious whole.
Jesus work of salvation encompasses at least:
- His Incarnation – taking on our humanity
- His Life of Holiness – perfecting our humanity as an offering and expression of love to the Father
- His Teaching – revealing the Truth of God to awaken faith
- His Miracles – demonstrating the saving power of the kingdom to awaken faith
- His Suffering and Death – to deal with our sin and death
- His Resurrection – to become Life for all who united to him by faith
- His Ascension – to …?
- His Return – to fulfil salvation in a new heavens and earth
It is one work, with a single goal. Its purpose is the whole creation might be filled with the Glory of God, expressed in Jesus Christ, and magnified in millions of human expressions of Christ. Every part is necessary and meaningful.
This Sunday we celebrate part of that work in Christ’s Ascension. So, what does that mean? What is the ascension for? And what does it mean for you and me?
The Meaning of Ascension
I am sure that the Disciples would have preferred Jesus to stay with them, even though he said that it was to their benefit that he was going to the Father. We may feel the same way, but in God’s wisdom and providence it was necessary and right that Jesus ascended to the Father.
There are so many glorious implications of Jesus ascension, it is hard to say what we need to know most. Perhaps four key things would be enough for today.
- It has enabled the outpouring of the Holy Spirit
- It has demonstrated the perfect completion of his work of salvation here on earth
- It signifies Jesus rule and authority over all things
- It empowers and directs the growth of his kingdom in every tribe, tongue, and nation
The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit was in all that Jesus did on earth, from his incarnation to his ascension. He was known to the disciples through Jesus – so that Jesus could say that the Holy Spirit had been with them. But, until Jesus was glorified, the Holy Spirit was not poured out into his disciples.
They could know Jesus with them and not with them – so, for example, they had to look for him and find that he had got up before them to pray. They could know Jesus awake, and asleep in the middle of a storm. Even after his resurrection, when locked doors could not keep him out, Jesus was not always with them.
But now, he has given himself to be in us, by his Spirit. We may still acknowledge him or turn from him, but time and space cannot separate us from him. In his Spirit, Jesus is in us as:
- Teacher – to lead us into all truth, reminding us of all that he taught and breaking its truth open to us. So, he is the one who makes the Bible come alive for us.
- Life – imparting a new life to us. So that we may live in a new way, not driven by our own human thoughts, desires and needs, but led by his Spirit.
- Assurance – in his Spirit he has given us a guarantee and foretaste of the life to come. So, we have a new peace and confidence in him.
- Unity – we are not merely followers of the same Lord, but sharers in the same Spirit. Our identity – and our Unity – is not in the quality of our faith, but in our having his Spirit in us.
- Worship – in the Holy Spirit we are introduced to a new reality in worship. It is no longer bound to and particular place or form but is now, in Spirit and Truth.
It is hard to overstate what it means that his Holy Spirit is in us and not just with us. And none of this would be possible unless Jesus had ascended to his glory in heaven.
It is Accomplished
When Jesus rose again it demonstrated that his sacrifice had been acceptable to the Father, it affirmed his dying words “it is accomplished”. Even though there was clearly much left to do with his disciples and with this world.
In his ascension and glorification, Jesus demonstrated the perfect completion of his work of salvation here on earth. Everything else was merely the outworking, or overflow, of that completed work. Nothing now could undo what he had achieved, or impede its fulfilment.
The accuser has been thrown out of heaven. He has no place to bring any accusation against any of God’s people or God’s work in this world. In the past, Satan brought accusations against God’s people and God’s work into the heavenly council. But he no longer can. Jesus stands in the perfection of his humanity as the perfected vindication of all that God does.
It is not that we have been perfected – yet. In us you might think that Satan has plenty of ammunition to bring accusation. Looking at my own life, I am sure he has. But, in Christ, there can be no accusation:
“Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”
Rom 8:33-34
It is because Christ is ascended and glorified, that nothing can separate us from his love.
Jesus is Lord and King
Jesus ascension is not merely his return home after his job has been done. It is his glorification, just as he prays in our Gospel reading. He is glorious from eternity, “before the world existed.” But this is something different and more glorious (if that is possible).
Jesus ascension is an enthronement, the enthronement of a victorious conqueror. He has sat down, just as was prophesied, and as Peter proclaimed to the crowd at Pentecost:
“For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Acts 2:34-36
Given the way that the world looks, you might think that there is still conquering to be done. But these words reveal an extraordinary passivity in the one who has conquered – it is done, and now it it’s just a matter of time until his enemies become his footstool.
Even the prophecies regarding his return, and what we think of as the end-time battle, do not speak of a real battle. There is no fight, Jesus just turns up and his enemies fall before him.
Jesus ascension demonstrates that his is King, now. He is ruling, with complete authority now. The Book of History has ben handed to him and he has opened its seals. Whatever evil and rebellion he now permits is either a merciful patience by which he calls us to repentance, or a holy demonstration of the hardness of people’s hearts, by which he affirms the justice of his judgement.
Jesus is Lord!
I will Build my Church
And, his ascension empowers and directs the growth of his kingdom in every tribe, tongue and nation.
The ascension raises the locus of the kingdom of God, from any particular place or people in this world to omnipresence of heaven. As Jesus said to Pilate, “my kingdom is not from this world”. No one can say, ‘here it is’. No one can call people to fight for it to defend it. It cannot be encompassed by any human organisation or institution. It is not limited to any culture, or language.
Perhaps, if Jesus had not ascended, if he had continued to gather disciples around him on earth it would have been different. But that was not God’s plan. Jesus’ ascension calls forth and builds a church that is truly international, from every tribe and tongue and nation. There are no Christian nations and never have been. There is no Church of England. We may speak of the Church in England, but we are all strangers and aliens here, citizens from another place.
Because of Christ’s ascension the church is all the more clearly not from this world or of it. We are defined by his Spirit and his Name. So, Jesus prays to the Father for us, “keep them in your name”
It’s Meaning for Us
I feel that I have barely scratched the surface. But before I finish, I must ask one further question. Given all of this, what does Christ’s ascension mean for you, for us, in our here and now?
Can I suggest three final things to ponder on.
His Glory
First, in all of the above, Christ’s glory is no incidental thing. Clearly it was so important to Jesus, that it was the first thing that he prayed for. In us, praying for our glory might seem odd, but not for him. It is only right and proper.
In our current circumstances – both in the state of our world, and in the particular challenges facing us as church in this place – we need a glorious Christ. We need to know that he is great – in his power, his love, his wisdom. Where else but to a glorious saviour, can we take our anxieties, or fears, our confusion, our grief? We need to know how great is our God.
We need to know that whatever happens to us, he will never forsake us, and that nothing can pluck us from his hands. We need to know that whatever happens to us, in the end he “will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish” us. Unless he is big enough for this, life may crush us.
We need to know that when we step out in faith – in our limited faith and understanding – he will catch us. We need to know that he will work all things for good. Unless he is big enough for this, we will never have the courage to do what he calls us to do.
We need to know that, when we forsake the pleasures that this world offers, he will satisfy us with a weight of glory that makes them look like dust on the scales.
We need to know his glory.
His Purpose
Second, when the disciples wanted to know times and seasons (don’t we all), Jesus said that these things were not for us to know. But he gave us a purpose to pursue. As he said to Peter at the lakeside, regarding John – “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!” (Jn 21:22)
God has called us to follow Jesus. He has given us a purpose, and for each one of us a part in it. It does not matter if we cannot see clearly where this is leading, we are called to follow him.
Those first disciples, after Jesus has ascended, returned to Jerusalem. They did not have a clear plan, just instructions to wait for the Holy Spirit, and the assurance that the Holy Spirit would show them what to do. So, they gathered together and prayed – they devoted themselves to prayer.
In his ascension, the work that Jesus has accomplished has begun to be unfolded and fulfilled. The times and seasons are in his hand. We are merely called to follow him and fulfil our part. Nothing less than a life that is devoted to prayer will accomplish his purpose in us.
His Presence
And finally, though the ascension may seem to be about Jesus leaving us and going to heaven, in reality it is all about his presence. Jesus was leaving us in a physical way – a way in which he could be with us sometimes and not with us at other times. But he was coming to us in a new way, by his Spirit, in us.
In Christ, each one of us now is a bearer of his presence. We are temples of his Spirit presence. What should that mean for our lives, our thoughts, our words?
We have this treasure in earthen vessels (2 Cor 4:7) – and many of us are cracked pots – but what a treasure. Let us not grieve his presence in us, but rather cherish him and pursue knowing more and more of his glory.
In revelation, we see the bridegroom coming to receive a bride who has made herself ready. We so need to take seriously the reality that he is in us and among us together by his Spirit. In our own lives, we need to hunger for the holiness and righteousness that befits his presence. And among us as church, we need to pursue the truth and love that unites us in him and reveals him to the world.
Set your minds on things above
So, let us all, recognising Jesus ascension and glory, set our minds on the things that are from above. He has left us here for a purpose, as ambassadors and representatives of a new kingdom. And he will return, just as he promised.
I believe that we are facing a momentous season of change in church and in the world. Things that we, here on earth, have regarded as precious may fail and go. But we are not from this world, and our Lord is not of this world. He is glorious I heaven, lord over all the heavens and the earth.
Let us devote ourselves to Prayer, to the Word of the Spirit, and pursue the purpose that he has given us. May he return to find us active in his service, passionate in our worship, a bride ready for her husband.