Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May 16/60

Contributor - Gerrit Rezelman

Title - Christ Ascended Into Heaven

Topic - Ascension

"For Christ is not entered into the holy placers made with hands ... but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us." (Heb. 9:24)

The entire life of our Lord Jesus is important and of value to all of His followers. While the Ascension was a new experience for His apostles to behold, yet it held as much meaning as His Birth, Baptism, Transfiguration, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. . The message of this beautiful verse gives us not only the fact and destination of His Ascension, but also the purpose for the same.

"Christ entered into Heaven itself." Scripture gives much testimony The actual Ascension is first recorded for us in Acts 1 :9, "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up.. and in vs. 11 " . . . this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into Heaven." We are told plainly that He has "not entered into the Holy Places made with hands." Truly, these were beautiful places in their day - the wilderness Tabernacle, Solomon's Temple, Herod's Temple. But into none of these, nor any such like, did Jesus enter in His Ascension. These were all but "figures of the true". For God "hath highly exalted Him". (Phil. 2 : 9)

"Christ entered into Heaven itself." Scriptures gives much testimony to this fact. According to Hebrews 9 : 24 He is "in the presence of God." Hebr. 4 : 14 speaks of our "Great High priest, that is passed into the Heavens". And Peter witnesses to our Saviour "Who is gone into Heaven. and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him." (I Petr. 3 : 22). From all this positive testimony we conclude that the return of our Lord to Heaven in His Ascension was an event of equal importance to His original coming in the flesh to earth.

What was the Purpose for His return to Heaven? And what the practical applications and benefits which we derive from it? "That He might appear in the presence of God for us."

He is now in Heaven our Advocate and Mediator. As sinners, lost and separated from our God, we would have no access to His throne and no possibility whatsoever to become reconciled with our Father God, unless we had someone to plead our case before God's throne of Justice. An earthly Advocate pleads his client's case before a judge., So "if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous". (I Jn. 2 : 1). He presents before His Father and ours the perfect righteousness which He obtained for us, on the basis of the sacrifice of His own body and blood on Calvary's Cross. This is not only a comfort, but a help. For He does for us what we could not do for ourselves. What makes it so precious is that He is our Personal Representative before The Father.

In this work Jesus also does what The Holy Spirit does for us, for we read in Rom. 8 : 2 6, "Likewise The Spirit also helpeth our infirmities, for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but The Spirit Himself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

As a final benefit to us we know that Jesus has also gone into Heaven "to prepare a place for us" (Jn. 14 :2). We are only "pilgrims and sojourners" on this earth and will have no permanent abiding place here. Therefore Jesus has gone before to make ready a Home in Heaven for all of His Redeemed. Immigrant fathers have sometimes gone before their families to prepare a home for them in Canada. Our Saviour has gone before us to prepare us a Home. His presence there is a Pledge that all true believers will someday occupy that Home with Him.

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