KNOWING GOD – THE GOD OF MIRACLES – Lesson Seventeen
MIRACLE OF THE ASCENSION
Psalm 68:18 – When you ascended on high, you led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious– that you, O LORD God, might dwell there.
When you ascended on high – The significance of the Ascension: John 16:5-7 – 5“Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?’ 6Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. 7But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
You led captives in your train; you received gifts from men, even from the rebellious – This was a portrayal of the custom of conquerors. See Genesis 14:21-24; 34:27-29; Exodus 15:9; Deuteronomy 20:10-14; 2 Chronicles 20:25.
Note Ephesians 4:7-13 – 7But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. 8This is why it says: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.” 9(What does “he ascended” mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? 10He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Accounts of the Ascension: Mark 16:19 – After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.
And he sat at the right hand of God – Peter adds: 1 Peter 3:22 – who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand–with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him. Note Hebrews 9:24 – For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence.
Luke 24:50-51 – 50When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.
Acts 1:1-11 – (V.9 – After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
He was taken up before their very eyes – Note John 6:62 – What if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before! See verses 56-61.)
It is inferred from the following passages that He ascended briefly on Resurrection Day.
John 20:17 – Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, `I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” Compare:
Matthew 28:8-9 – 8So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
Application: Let us thank the GOD OF MIRACLES as we heed Hebrews 4:14 – Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
Note 1 John 2:28-3:3 – 28And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.
29If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.
3:1How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.