Creed: He Ascended to Heaven

First Presbyterian Church

Acts 1:6-11

What Happened, and Where Did Jesus Go?

Acts 1:9, says that Jesus “was lifted up, and a cloud took him out” of the disciples’ sight. Does that mean heaven, the place where God dwells in all His majesty and glory, is in the sky somewhere, or in outer space perhaps? No, no Soviet cosmonaut would find Jesus in orbit around the earth. It is more mysterious than that. Quite simply put, the manner in which Christ departed points not to a location we can currently search out so much as to a status and position we can logically understand. He who, in his humiliation (his incarnation, suffering, and death), descended to earth had now, in his exaltation, ascended to heaven. While his ascension is mysterious and supernatural, it was still physical and historical, not metaphorical or analogical. It really happened. He really is ascended and seated at the right hand of God.

So, What?

Jesus ascended to heaven. What does it matter?

(1) Jesus ascended to heaven so that he might sit at the right hand of God the Father (Ephesians 1:20; see also, Psalm 110:1 and Acts 2:33) and rule as King of kings, receiving the name above every name (Ephesians 1:22; see also Daniel 7:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:25-27; and Philippians 2:9-11) and having all things put under his feet.

Jesus defeated sin on the cross and death at the empty tomb. He has conquered our greatest enemies. For now, we still see the vestiges of their power in our own lives, our families, the workplace, and certainly in the world around us. We might long for a great leader, someone who can make things right. There is good news! That someone is Jesus. He is already sitting on the throne, ruling over heaven and earth, working in all things for the glory of God and the good of those who love him.

(2) Jesus ascended to heaven to be head particularly of the Church (Ephesians 1:22-23; see also Colossians 1:17-18). Christ is not with us physically but as our head he sent the Holy Spirit to be our Helper and Comforter (John 16:7) and to equip us to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8 and Matthew 28:18-19). Because Christ is our head in heavenly places and we have been raised up with him – even seated with him in the heavenly places! (Ephesians 2:6) – we can seek the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1-2).

(3) Jesus ascended to heaven to be our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14-16; 6:19-20; 7:24-25; 8:1-2; and 9:24). He holds His priesthood permanently. He holds His priesthood in the heavenly, holy place, not an earthly copy. He is worthy to hold this heavenly, high priesthood because he has been tempted in every way, yet is without sin in himself.

As high priest in heaven he makes intercession for us with God. By his intercession we are counted as righteous and are adopted as sons of God the Father. Through his intercessory work he is preparing a place for us in the house of God (John 14:2). It is Jesus’ permanent, exalted status as loving intercessor that gives us the assurance in the face of Satan’s accusations and the trials of this life that we are saved and that we will persevere into eternity as more than conquerors (Romans 8:33-37).

Discussion Questions

1. How strong is the enemy of guilt in your own life? What hope is it (should it be!) to you that Jesus is the ascended, great high priest, interceding on your behalf at the right hand of God?

2. Describe the nature of Christ’s headship over his church. In what ways do you see the Holy Spirit’s work in your own life, the body life of First Pres, and in the church of Christ as a whole?

3. How does your being raised up and seated in the heavenly places in Christ empower you to set your heart and mind on the things that are above?

4. How does the reality of Christ’s ascended kingship affect you in your home life? In the workplace? Your neighborhood? When you watch the news?

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