Exposition

The ascension of Christ into heaven is a visible, local and real translation of his body and soul from earth into that heaven, which is above all visible heavens at the right hand of God, in that light which is inaccessible, where he now is, and remains, and from which he will come to judgment. In this, as in the article of the resurrection of Christ, there are two things which chiefly claim our attention its history and fruits. In speaking of the history of the ascension of Christ, the following things are to be considered:

1. Who ascended? The very same person that suffered, and rose again.

2. According to what did he ascend? According to his human nature.

3. Whither did he ascend? Up into heaven, above these visible heavens.

4. By what help, or means? By the peculiar power of his Godhead.

5. For what purpose did he ascend? That he might be our Head, and High-Priest in heaven.

6. How did he ascend? Visibly, and whilst his disciples were beholding him, by a true, and local elevation or gradual ascent of his body from earth into heaven.

7. When did he ascend? The fortieth day after his resurrection.

8. From what place did he ascend? From Bethany, at the mount of Olives.

We shall speak of the fruits of his ascension when we treat upon the 49th Question of the Catechism. All the questions which we have here proposed in relation to the ascension of Christ, may be reduced to the following:

I. Whither did Christ ascend?

II. In what manner?

III. For what purpose?

IV. In what does the ascension of Christ differ from ours?

V. What are the fruits of his ascension?


I. Whither did Christ ascend?

After Christ had given many infallible proofs to his apostles of his resurrection from the dead, and of his true humanity, he ascended into heaven in the sight of his disciples, on the fortieth day after his resurrection, when he was with them in Bethany. The term heaven has, as it is used in the Scriptures, three significations.

It means first, the air. “Behold the fowls of the heaven.” (Matt. 6:26.)

Secondly, it signifies the etherial region beyond, including the celestial spheres. “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon, and the stars,”&c. “He ascended up far above all heavens,” that is, these visible heavens. (Ps. 8:3. Eph. 4:10.)

Thirdly, it means the place of the blessed, which is that immense, bright, clear, and glorious space which is without and above this world, and these visible heavens, the abode of God and of the blessed, in which God manifests himself immediately and gloriously to all eternity, and communicates himself to the blessed angels and men, and where the seat of our blessedness is prepared with Christ and holy spirits. It is in this heaven that God is said to dwell; not that he is contained, or circumscribed in any place, but because it is there that he especially manifests, and communicates his glory to the blessed angels and men. It is called in Scripture the new world, the new heaven, the heavenly Jerusalem, Paradise, Abraham's bosom, &c. This heaven is not everywhere, but above, and separate from earth and hell. “Between us and you there is a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot, neither can they pass to us that would come from thence.” “The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool.” (Luke 16:26. Isa. 66:1.) It was in this heaven that Elijah was taken. From this the Holy Ghost came on the day of Pentecost. Paul calls it the third heaven. It is in this third signification that we are to understand it, when used to express the place to which Christ ascended. Christ ascended, therefore, in that heaven which is the abode of the blessed. This is established by many and express testimonies from the word of God, such as the devil himself will never, to all eternity, be able to pervert. “While they beheld 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; which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.” “In my Father's house there are many mansions” (that is, many houses in which we may dwell and abide) “I go to prepare a place for you.” “He was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.” “He was received up into heaven.” “Stephen saw the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God” that is, he saw with his bodily eyes, to which was divinely given a new sight or vision, beyond and through all the visible heavens, Christ in the same human nature in which he had humbled himself and appeared in the form of a servant. “Seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” “He ascended far above all heavens.” “We have a great High Priest that is passed into the heavens.” “Made higher than the heavens.” “Christ is entered into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.” “Our conversation is in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 1:9, 10, 11. John 14:2. Luke 24:51. Mark 16:19. Acts 7:56. Col. 3:1. Eph. 4:10. Heb. 4:14; 7:26; 9:24. Phil. 3:20.)

Obj. But our conversation, to which reference is made in the last passage quoted, is on earth. Therefore heaven is on earth.

Ans. Our conversation is in heaven, first in the hope and certainty which we have of it; and secondly in the beginning we have of that heavenly life.

In this heaven, therefore, which is the abode of God, and of the blessed, Christ ascended, and is now there, and will come from thence to judge the world according to the testimony of the word of God.

God will have us know to what place Christ has ascended,

1. That it may be manifest that he continues true man, and did not vanish away, but remains and will for ever remain very man in heaven.

2. That we may know to what place our thoughts should be directed, and where we ought to come in our approaches to him, so as to avoid all forms of idolatry.

3. That we may know our home, or the house into which Christ will bring us and in which we shall dwell with him.