Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ ” Acts 1:9-11 NKJV
The bodily ascension of Christ has brought unique New Testament blessings for us.
I. THE BODILY ASCENSION OF CHRIST MEANS A NEW HIGH PRIEST-MEDIATOR
For Christ has not entered the holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us; not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another—He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Hebrews 9:24-26 NKJV
“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25 NKJV 25
“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,” I Timothy 2:5 NKJV
AND WE ARE RULING AND REIGNING WITH JESUS, WITH HIS AUTHORITY! AMEN.
and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,”
II. THE BODILY ASCENSION OF CHRIST MEANS A NEW HEAVENLY KING
Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Acts 2:30-32 NKJV
“which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church,” Ephesians 1:20-22 NKJV
III. THE BODILY ASCENSION OF CHRIST MEANS A NEW HOLY SPIRIT RELEASE AND OUTPOURING
‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams. And on My menservants and on My maidservants. I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.’” Acts 2:17-18 NKJV
“Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.” Acts 2:33 NKJV
IV. THE BODILY ASCENSION OF CHRIST MEANS A NEW HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.’ ” Acts 1:11 NKJV
“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.” II Corinthians 5:8 NKJV