ASCENSION AND DESCENSION OF CHRIST. 2023.
ASCENSION OF CHRIST. 2023. CHRIST’S DESCENT AND ASCENT
Most believers are quite familiar with the records in the bible concerning the ascension of Christ, how he prepared them for his death, resurrection and ascension, and how he was taken up in a cloud while blessing the onlookers. This didn’t happen in secret. It happened in front of reliable witnesses. The resurrection was followed by his appearance to his disciples. He also appeared to more than 500 people during a 40 day period, before he ascended into heaven to take seat at the right hand of God to proceed with His work as Head of the church, High Priest to intercede for us, as King to rule over his people, giver of the Holy Spirit and as Prophet to His church as the Word of God. In this article the focus will be on two events that is also related to his ascension; his descent to hades prior to his ascent and his entrance into the sanctuary to appear before God.
Scripture reading
Christ’s descent to hades.
Acts 2:3
Eph. 4:9
1 Pet. 3:19 and 20
Jud. 1:6
Christ’s ascend to the heavenly sanctuary.
Heb. 9:11 But Christ has arrived as a high priest of the good things to come. Through the greater and more perfect tent (tabernacle) not made by hands, that is, not of this creation,
Heb. 9:12. and not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, he entered once for all into the most holy place, obtaining eternal redemption.
Heb. 9:23 It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. Heb. 9:24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us.
His descent to hades
There are also some other interesting acts of Christ that were only mentioned by the Apostles which need more explanation namely his descent into hades. Unfortunately his descent into Hades caused a lot of different opinions amongst theologians and churches. His descent probably happened before His ascend and it is not clear what he precisely did during this event. What we can say with certainty is recorded in Revelation 1:18:”and the one who lives, and I was dead, and behold, I am living forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and of Hades.” (LEB) This event must have been a great shock to Satan. He thought that by Christ’s death he is the victor, but to his surprise Christ left with the keys of death and hades.
His Ascension to the heavenly sanctuary
Another event that is also related to the ascension of Christ is his homecoming and entrance into the Holy of Holies , the heavenly sanctuary, the place of God’s throne. It can be imagined that this is the first stop for Christ to unite to his father and present the evidence to him and the celestial beings that he accomplished his mission. The long expected longing of the Godhead for reconciliation effected by Christ between God and humans. If we are allowed to speak about God in human terms. Sorrow and disappointment curse and judgement wasn’t meant for God to experience before the fall. Humans unlocked those feelings in God with the rebellion in the garden of Eden. With longing and sorrow he looked upon humans longing to reconcile, longing for the moment of truth, the moment of proof, it is finished, it has been accomplished, it is fulfilled. Maybe we will understand the word satisfaction better when we ponder on this decisive moment in history. At this moment the accomplished mission was authenticated.
Hebrews 9:23 referring to the heavenly things to be purified with the sacrifice of Christ’s blood is also difficult to understand. We can not imagine that the sanctuary in heaven needs purification. Researchers came to different conclusions on this issue. Some suggested that it refers to the opening of the sanctuary into the presence of God to sinful humans when they approach God in prayers through the blood of Christ, Christ’s sacrificial blood cleanses sinful people approaching the throne of grace. Others belief that human sin provokes the anger of God and that atonement through the sacrificial blood of Christ might refer to the purification of heaven. This idea needs more clarification in the following sense:
Human sin created a tension or alienation between God and humans. God is holy and righteous. Sin must be punished in an orderly universe. A judge can’t just let a transgressor free. The deserved judgement and penalty demanded by the law must first be dealt with or satisfied. Christ’s sacrifice was substitutionary ( vicarious ). He didn’t just die for us but died in our place and took the judgement upon himself. He gave his life as a ransom. The ransom price was paid to the righteous law of God, the demand of the law has been met. In a certain sense we can say that Gods righteous wrath has been dealt with in a legal or just way. This took the disorder out of the relationship. This rectified the legal aspect of the Heavenly Justice System. The penalty or fine has been paid. Christ was the substitute for our sin. He paid for our sin with His life. This reconciled God with us and us with God. Now God can justly grant undeserved grace to us. There is no tension between God and Christ in the sense that He is seeking for revenge and Christ is the gracious one. He so loved the world that He sent His son to reconcile us with Him and Christ loved us so that he willingly gave himself as a sacrifice for our sin.
This purification referred in Heb. 9:23 could probably mean that the relationship between God and humans was obscured or spoiled or contaminated and not sacred or pure any more because of the sin of humankind. The sacrificial blood of Christ removed the obstacles and alienation. The relationship between God and humans was intended to be a covenant relationship, something sacred like the marriage. Human sin harmed or damaged this holy and sacred relationship. Human sin is described as adultery in the book of Hosea. In this sense humans defiled the sacred relationship and in this sense it needs purification. This has been done by Christ in the heavenly sanctuary in the presence of God and approved and endorsed by Him. He accepted the sacrificial blood of Christ. God’s will has been done. The way to the sanctuary has been opened. By the blood of Christ we may approach the throne of Grace where God sits in the sanctuary with Christ at his right hand. The appeasing of Divine wrath which bars the entrance of mankind has been dealt with. The transgression of the law by humans demand punishment and evokes the wrath of God. The law and Gods demand for justice must be satisfied. This has been done by Christ’s Sacrificial death and shedding of his blood and him that took judgement in our place.
The true tabernacle ( in heaven and also the congregation of the believers) may be said to be purified with Christ’s blood in this sense, that his atonement has made it a righteous act of God to receive sinful men into his favour, give them grace and glory, and meet with them in the sanctuary, his dwelling place. The wrath of God has been appeased.
The ascension is the consummation of The Lord’s redemptive work. At the right hand of God endowed with Godly power since he is the son of God and one with the Father and the Holy spirit and God himself. As God he is capable to realise everything he achieved on the cross. As discussed in a previous post he is now exalted as High Priest to intercede for us on a continuous basis. As the Prophet, the Word of God, communicating to us the will of God through the Holy Spirit, the written Word and the activities in the church. Also as King. He is now the exalted and glorified Christ.
He descended from heaven and returned there to do very important work . He primarily and firstly ascended to the heavenly sanctuary to appear in the presence of God to attend to the most important matter in human history. The matter which has always been of primary concern to the Godhead; to rectify the estranged and alienated relationship between God and his creation, humanity. This was the moment that heaven and earth was waiting for ages. His homecoming after he has accomplished His Mission.
As declared by the writer of the book of Hebrews Heb.9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.(KJV) He offered himself to God. He is the mediator of the new testament. Through his death and shedding of his blood we become heirs of an eternal inheritance and receive forgiveness of sins and reconciliation with God. And almost all things are by the law purified with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
Benefits of Christ’s Ascension
On ascension day and the year to come this gives us a lot to ponder on. There are so many benefits that resulted from His descent and ascension. So many things to thank him for. To mention a few; He descended to take the keys of hades and death. He went to heaven to take up his glorified position as Head of the church, King, High Priest, the Prophet of God invested with Godly authority, as God, with all the power to realise what he has promised. He went there to prepare a dwelling for us. His redemption work has been accepted and authenticated by God. He opened the sanctuary for us so that we can approach the throne of grace with boldness through our faith in the redemptive blood of Christ. As High Priest he is interceding for us on a continuous basis. He is the Head of the church and endows his church with gifts and grace. He is in a position to give us His Holy Spirit. We are awaiting his second coming.