BOOK 8. THE ASCENSION.
CHAPTER 1.
8.1.1. Of Christ's Ascension, and of the Manner how.
Of Christ's Ascension, and of the Manner how.
Looking unto Jesus, -- who is sat down at the right hand of the Throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2
Thus far we have traced Jesus in his actings for us, "Until the day in which he was taken up," Acts i. 2. That which immediately follows, is his ascension, session at God's right hand, and mission of his holy Spirit; in prosecution of which, as in the former, I shall first lay down the object, and secondly, direct you how to look upon it.
The object is threefold: He ascended into heaven (this section and the next 2 sections). Following sections will address the other two main headings: He sat down at God's right hand; and, He sent down the Holy Ghost.
For the ascension of Christ, this was a glorious design, and contains in it a great part of the salvation of our souls. In prosecution of this, I shall show, (this section); 1. That he ascended. and 2. How he ascended. (And in the following 2 sections: Whither he ascended; and, Why he ascended.)
1. That he ascended.
(a). The types prefigure it, "Then said the Lord to me. This gate shall be shut, it shall not be opened; it is for the prince, the prince he shall sit in it to eat bread before the Lord, he shall enter by way of the porch of that gate, and shall go out by the way of the same," Ezek. xliv. 2, 3. As the gate of the holy of holies was shut against every man but the high-priest, so was that gate of heaven shut against all, so that none could enter in by their own virtue and efficacy, but only our prince and great high priest, the Lord Jesus Christ, indeed he hath opened it for us, and entered into it in our place and steady "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus made an high priest forever after the order of Melchisedec," Heb. vi. 20.
(b). The prophets foresaw it, "I saw in the night-visions, and behold one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him, and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom," Dan. vii. 13, 14.
(c). The evangelists relate it, "He was received up into heaven," Mark xvi. 19. "He was carried up into heaven, Luke xxiv. 51.
(d). The eleven witness it, "For while they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight," Acts i. 9.
(e). The holy angels speak it, "For 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 up from you into heaven, shall come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven," Acts i. 10, 11.
(f). The blessed apostles in their several epistles ratify and confirm it, "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men, -- he that descended, is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens," Eph. iv. 8, 10. "Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God, angels, and authorities, and powers, being made subject unto him," 1 Pet. iii. 22.
2. How he ascended. The manner of his ascension is discovered in these particulars:
(a). He ascended, blessing his apostles. "While he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven," Luke xxiv. 51. It is some comfort to Christ's ministers, that though the world hate them, Christ doth bless them; yea, he parted with them in a way of blessing; as Jacob leaving the world, blessed his sons, so Christ leaving the world, blessed his apostles and all the faithful ministers of Christ, unto the end of the world. Some add, that in these apostles, not only ministers, but all the elect to the end of the world are blessed: The apostles were then considered as common persons, receiving this blessing for all us; and so those words uttered at the same time, are usually interpreted, "Lo, I am with you always even to the end of the world," Matth. xxviii. 20. This was the last thing that Christ did on earth, to show that by his death, he had redeemed us from the curse of the law, and that now going to heaven, he is able "to bless us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places" Eph, i. 3.
(b). He ascended visibly in the view of the apostles, "While they beheld, he was taken up," Acts i. 9. He was not suddenly snatched from them, as Elijah was, nor secretly and privily taken away as Enoch was; but in the presence of them all, both his apostles and disciples, he ascended up into heaven: but why not in the view of all the Jews, that so they might know that he was risen again, and gone to heaven? Surely this was the meaning, God would rather that the main points of faith should be learned by hearing, than by seeing; however Christ's own disciples were taught the same by sight, that they might better teach others which should not see, yet the ordinary means to come by faith is hearing, how should they believe in him of whom they have not heard? -- So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. And as for the Jew's (saith the apostle) "Have they not heard? Yes, verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the end of the world," Rom. x. 11, l7, 18.
(c). He ascended principally by the mighty power of his Godhead; thus never any ascended up into heaven but Jesus Christ; for though Enoch and Elijah were assumed into heaven, yet not by their own power, nor by themselves, it was God's power by which they ascended, and it was by the help and ministry of angels, "There appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven," 2 Kings ii. 11.
(d). He ascended in a cloud, "While they beheld, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. Acts i. 9. Hereby he shows that he is Lord of all the creatures; he had already trampled upon the earth, walked upon the sea, vanquished hell or the grave, and now the clouds received him, and the heavens are opened to make way for this King of glory to enter in. When Christ shall come again, it is said that he shall come in the "clouds of heaven, with power and great glory," Matth. xxiv. 30. "Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven," Matth. xxvi. 24. Which verifies that saying of the angel, "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," Acts i. 11. He went up in clouds, and he shall come again in clouds.
(e). He ascended in the sound of a trumpet; not on earth, sounding Hosanna, but in heaven crying Hallelujah, so the Psalmist, "God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet," Psal. xlvii. 5. Certainly great joy was in heaven at Christ's ascending thither; the very angels struck up their harps, and welcomed him thither with hymns and praises.
(f). He ascended in triumph, as a Roman victor ascended to the capital, or as David ascended after his conquest up to Zion. Now we read of two triumphal acts in Christ's ascension, whereof the first was his leading of his captives, and the second was the dispensing of his gifts; the apostle and the Psalmist join both together, "When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men," Psal. lxviii. 18. Eph. iv. 8.
(i). He led them captive, who had captivated us, death was led captive without a sting, hell was led captive as one that had lost her victory, the law was led captive, being rent and fastened to his cross, (as it were) ensign-ways, the serpent's head being bruised, was led before him in triumph, as was Goliath's head by David returning from the victory; and this was the first act of his triumph.
(ii). He gave gifts unto men: this was the running of conduits with wine, or as the casting abroad of new coin, or as the shutting up of Christ's triumph in his ascension up to heaven: what these gifts were, we shall speak in his mission of the Holy Ghost; only thus much for the present.