How was Jesus exalted? By ascending to prepare a place for us

We've been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. In particular we've been looking at how Christ was exalted by his visible ascension. We've also seen that the purposes behind Christ's ascension exalt him further, namely his giving gifts to humans and his raising our thoughts heavenward. This week I want to look at another reason Jesus ascended to heaven: to prepare a place for us.

People often exalt those who prepare a place for them to live. Architects who design beautiful houses and builders who build them are given great honour.

Thus Jesus also naturally deserves our praise once we understand that part of the reason for his ascension into heaven was to prepare a place for us. Jesus says: 'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am' (John 14:1-3).

The apostle Paul also describes this heavenly home built by God: 'Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked' (2 Corinthians 5:1-3).

Sometimes we  might  be  tempted  to think that it would have been better for Jesus to stay here on earth with us. But he tells us in that passage in John's gospel that we should not be troubled in his absence. Why? Because his ascension means he has gone to prepare our new home in heaven.

The burning question then is, how do I make sure Jesus prepares some real estate in heaven for me? Jesus goes on in the same passage in John's gospel to answer this question. He tells his disciples they know the way and then clears up some confusion: 'You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me"' (John 14:4-6).

So Jesus is the way to heaven. But how do we walk in Christ to heaven? By faith. Jesus says earlier in John's gospel: 'For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day' (John 6:40). If you believe in Jesus' death for you, you are on the path that leads to a heavenly home built by God.

So how is Christ exalted in his ascension? By going to heaven to prepare a place for you to live in for eternity.

So do you praise Christ for his ascension? Do you exalt him because you believe in him which means he has gone to prepare a place for you in heaven?                        Joel Radford.

How was Jesus exalted? By ascending to raise our affections

We've been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. In particular we've been looking at how Christ was exalted by his visible ascension. Last week we started to look at the purposes behind Christ's ascension, which then exalt Christ even further. Namely we saw that one of the reasons Christ ascended was to give gifts to humans. This week I want to show you that Jesus also ascended to raise our thoughts toward heaven.

If someone is able to focus your attention onto what is good and true, you usually will praise them for it. This principle may be seen by the way children praise school teachers who were able to help them greatly in understanding the world. Or how people will exalt artists who have heightened their joy about beauty.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, he went with the purpose of raising our thoughts toward heaven. The apostle Paul says: 'Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived' (Colossians 3:1-7).

Thinking about Christ should make us think about things above because that is where Christ is. It is kind of like if someone you love goes away on holidays. You will think of them from time to time and you will inevitably think about where they currently are. And so if we think about Christ, we will think about heaven – an excellent place for our minds to get lost in meditation. Paul then goes on to say that such thinking will also lead to putting to death the behaviours of the sinful nature as your mind will be focused on good things, not evil things. For example, if you're thinking about Christ and heaven you won't be thinking about  sexual immorality and greed.

Paul says something similar in his letter to the church in Philippi: 'For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body' (Philippians 3:18-21).

So how is Christ exalted in his ascension? Well, one way is by focusing our attention on where it should be, his reign in heaven.

So do you praise Christ for his ascension? Do you exalt him because he encourages your thoughts to rise heavenward?

Joel Radford.

How was Jesus exalted? By ascending and giving gifts

We've been going through an old list of questions and answers contained in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. In particular we've been looking at how Christ was exalted by his ascension. Last week we saw that Christ was exalted by visibly ascending into heaven. This week I want to show that Christ is exalted in his ascension by giving gifts to humans.

When you ascend higher than others there is a feeling of exaltation. An example of this is kids in playgrounds shouting 'I'm the king of the world' from the tip of the play equipment.

Now when Christ ascended to heaven, he certainly was exalted by being physically higher than us. But ascending to higher levels often serves a purpose, it is not simply a demonstration of status. For example, I don't like climbing the stairs in our home unless it serves a purpose. I go upstairs when I need to get something that belongs in our upstairs bedroom, like a jacket. Otherwise, it's too much effort.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, he went with a purpose. One of those purposes was to give gifts to his church. Paul says: 'But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. This is why it says: "When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men." (What does "he ascended" mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions? He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) It was he who gave some  to  be  apostles,  some to  be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up  until 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. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ' (Ephesians 4:7-15).

This passage teaches us that Christ's ascension led to Christ giving grace to his church in the form of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. The allusion is to the triumphal entry of Roman conquerors into their cities with captives in chains and free gifts for the cheering crowds.

So Christ gave much more in his ascension than I achieve by going upstairs to get a jacket. He gave people to his church who would help it mature and grow. Thus Christ is greatly exalted by his ascension. Yes, it was quite an achievement for him to go up to heaven in the first place, and for that, he is worthy of praise. But he is all the more praiseworthy for the gifts that he has blessed the church with as he ascended.

So do you praise Christ for his ascension? Do you praise Christ for the gifts that he has given to his church as part of his ascension?

Joel Radford

How was Jesus exalted? By ascending visibly

We've been going through an old list of questions and answers contained
in the Westminster Larger Catechism published in 1648. In particular
we've been looking at how Christ was exalted by his resurrection. This
week I want to begin looking at how Christ was exalted in his ascension,
namely, by ascending visibly.

After Jesus was raised from the dead he often and appeared to his
apostles and spoke with them. Luke tells us this in Acts: 'After his
suffering, he [Jesus] showed himself to these men and gave many
convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period
of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God' (Acts 1:3).

But what happened after that? Jesus ascended into the heavens. Luke
tells us: 'On one occasion [after his resurrection], while he was eating
with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait
for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.
For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized
with the Holy Spirit." So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord,
are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to
them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set
by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all
Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." After he said this, he
was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their
sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going,
when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of
Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This
same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in
the same way you have seen him go into heaven"' (Acts 1:4-11). Luke's
other account of the ascension reads: 'While he [Jesus] was blessing
them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him
and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at
the temple, praising God' (Luke 24:51-53). It is clear that Jesus
ascended into heaven, and he did it visibly.

Why does such an act exalt Christ? Most people would agree that going
into heaven is a praiseworthy act. Most of humanity is trying to get
into some form of paradise and would praise anyone who makes it there.
But why is it important to note that Christ's ascension was visible?
Lots of people claim to have gone to heaven. Many Christian bookstores
will happily sell you books written by people who make such a claim
(although one popular one was pulled from publication this year as its
author, Alex Malarkey, recanted his testimony). But to my knowledge,
none of those who claim to have been to heaven also claim to have
ascended visibly into heaven while others watched. Jesus' visible
ascension to heaven is unique and as a result he has received exaltation
through history.

So do you praise Christ for his visible ascension like the apostles did
many years ago?

Joel Radford