Ascensions

Dear Brethren,

We are very familiar with the history of the three and a half year public ministry of Jesus Christ.  And we know that Jesus ascended into heaven and now sits at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19).  But, what we do not often recognize is what took place between those two occurrences.

God the Father demonstrated His exceeding great power toward us when He raised Jesus Christ from the dead, and then set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:20).  But there is a little recognized period of almost six weeks between these two events of first, raising Christ from the dead, and second, setting Him at His own right hand.  What can we learn from the works of Jesus Christ during this transitional period?

This interim fully took place in the time period between the Feasts of Passover and Pentecost.  We understand correctly that Jesus was raised to life after being buried, not less, not more, but exactly three days and three nights.  (For proof see: Matthew 12:39-40, 16:21, 27:63, Mark 8:31, 9:31, John 2:19, 1Corinthians 15:3-4, Jonah 1:17)  Jesus' resurrection occurred in the evening at the end of the weekly Sabbath during the Days of Unleavened Bread.

There are fifty days from the Wave Sheaf offering until Pentecost.  We are told to count from the morrow after the Sabbath within the Days of Unleavened Bread to know when to observe and keep Pentecost.  The Wave Sheaf offering is always on a Sunday, and it is day "number one" of fifty days in the counting.  Jesus first ascended to His Father on the morning of the Wave Sheaf offering.  The word “ascend,” simply means to go up.  The word, “ascension,” takes on a much grander meaning when it refers to going up to God the Father in heaven. 

This subject is important because it has to do, not only with the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ on the Wave Sheaf day, but also the yet future resurrection and ascension of the Church of God on Pentecost (Leviticus 23:17).  “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”  (1Thessalonians 4:16-17)  This is also the time that the Church will be called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:9, Exodus 19:17).

Jesus, the first of the firstfruits, is represented by the Wave Sheaf of the firstfruits of the harvest that is waved before the Lord, and accepted on behalf of the brethren (Leviticus 23:10-11).  Fifty days later, the Church of God is represented by the two wave loaves – the completion of the spiritual harvest of the firstfruits.  "They shall be of fine flour; they shall be baked with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the Lord.  And ye shall offer the bread [two wave loaves]… unto the Lord."  (Leviticus 23:17-18)  Just as the Wave Sheaf represents Christ’s 1st ascension to the Father in heaven – the two wave loaves at Pentecost represent our ascension and acceptance by God the Father.

"Jesus saith unto [Mary Magdalene], Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God [Please notice how Jesus is careful to include us].  (John 20:17)  And here is where we find that Jesus – as the Wave Sheaf offering – had to be presented and accepted by God the Father.  Then, about mid morning on the first day of the week there was the first ascension of Jesus Christ to the Father – and it was for the very purpose of fulfilling the meaning of the Wave Sheaf Offering.

As high priest, Jesus will present us to the Father at our ascension.  "We have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens..."  (Hebrews 4:14)  Why did Jesus appear to so many after His death and resurrection?  The reason was to demonstrate by many infallible proofs to many witnesses that, beyond a doubt, He had been raised alive (Acts 1:3).  Most religious leaders are amazed that the very first person that Jesus appeared to was not Peter, but Mary Magdalene out of whom he had cast seven demons.  (Mark 16:9)

Jesus was accepted by the Father as the first of the firstfruits – clearly indicating that there would be other firstfruits [the Church brethren] accepted by the Father.  Jesus did not remain in heaven – but came back down to the earth to finish His work with the disciples.  "For as yet they knew not the scripture, that He [Jesus] must rise again from the dead."  (John 20:9)  Jesus appeared unto the eleven disciples as they sat at meat, and upbraided them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen Him after He was risen.  (Mark 14:16)

It is not surprising how little the disciples understood after three and a half years, when we consider that they had not yet received the Holy Spirit.  "Then the same day at evening, [this is exactly 24 hours after Christ's resurrection from the tomb] being the first day of the weeks, [Gr. 'te mia ton Sabbaton' – this is the first day of the first week of seven, counting to Pentecost] when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you."  (John 20:19) 

With all that Jesus had taught the disciples – they did not understand that Jesus would rise from the dead!  Can you imagine the incredible loss and feeling of hopelessness the disciples must have experienced over the previous three days that Jesus' body lay in the sepulcher (John 16:20)?  Jesus had foretold His ascension:   "What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?"  (John 6:62)

Paul explains:   "[Jesus] was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:  After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.  After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles.  And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time."  (1Corinthians 15:4-8)

Why were many of the saints resurrected from their graves after Jesus’ resurrection (Matthew 27:53)?  It was for the purpose of receiving God’s Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and having the opportunity to become converted saints of God!

Luke records some of the things Jesus did after His resurrection:  "Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Spirit had given commandments unto the apostles whom He had chosen: To whom also He shewed himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith He, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days hence."  (Acts 1:2-5)

When Jesus ascended for the final time on the fortieth day, there were only ten days remaining until the establishment of the New Testament Church with the coming of God’s Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost.   "When [Jesus] had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight."  (Acts 1:9)  "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book."  (John 20:30)

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Sabbath Sermon:	"Ascensions"
Pentecost Sermon:	"Miracle of Our Calling"