Notes compiled by Martzy Zide and Steve McAtee
After Jesus was resurrected, He continued on earth for 40 more days. He then led His disciples up to the Mount of Olives and from there He ascended back to heaven with the promise that He would one day return.
Acts 1:9-11 - And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.
Luke 24:50-51 - And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
The Ascension Brought Jesus Glory and Honor
In eternity past, the Son had glory with the Father. That was veiled while Jesus was here on earth. This was something that Jesus anticipated again when He went back to be with His Father.
John 17:5 - Now, Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
Acts 2:33 - Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
Phil 2:9 - For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name.
Rev 5:11-12 - Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.
His Ascension Assures Us of Our Being Taken to Heaven
Jesus promised that when He went away, He would one day return for us. His ascending to heaven also tells us where our future and eternal home will be if we are truly saved.
1 Thess 4:16-17 - For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Messiah will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
Because of His Ascension, We Are Seated in the Heavenlies
Because of our union with Jesus, we are presently seated with Him positionally in heavenly places. This is our current standing and it guarantees our future reality of one day being with Him in heaven.
Eph. 2:6 - and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Jesus.
Eph. 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Messiah.
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