“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.” Acts 1:9
April 21, 2025
The fully glorified and deathless Jesus Christ is in heaven. He is a real male-person at the right hand of the Father. It was on the Mount of Olives from which Jesus ascended to heaven. It was in that extraordinary moment that marked the close of His redemptive work (Heb. 1:3) and exalted Him as Head over all things (Eph. 1:20-23). It inaugurated Him into His high-priestly work (Heb. 8:1-4) and made possible Christ’s present work through the Holy Spirit (Jn. 16:5-7). Equally important, Jesus resumed the glory which He had with the Father (Jn. 17:5). This involved the glorification of His humanity. The ascension of Christ into heaven bodily was the first resurrected man to enter heaven. This speaks to the redeemed that Jesus is the Forerunner of all believers who will follow (1 Cor. 15:53). All fears of what awaits Christians after death are swept aside. We have the assurance of our ultimate destination. This should make us steady on our feet in the walk of faith toward our heavenly home.
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Take encouragement all who belong to Christ. “In sovereignty he now lavishes upon us the benefits that his suffering won for us.” J.I. Packer