Title: The Essential Ascension
Subject: Five reasons why the ascension is essential
Bible Passage: Various
1. His ascension was his heavenly
a. Psalm 110:1 – 4
b. Acts 2:29 - 36
c. Hebrews 2:8 – he put everything in subjection to Christ and there is nothing outside his control even though we can’t yet see everything in subjection to him
d. Philippians 2:5-11 – “God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name above every name”
e. Ephesians 1 – He is above all authorities and names and God has put all things under his feet.
2. His ascension signals the
a. Acts 1:1-2 - “In the first book I have dealt with all that Jesus BEGAN to do and teach until the day he was taken up”
b. Matthew 28:19 – 20 – Go make disciples…surely I am with you always even to the end of the age
c. Galatians 2:20 - it is no longer I who live but Christ who LIVES in me
“The small but important word began signals that Jesus’s ascension does not mark the cessation but the continuation of his work as Lord and Messiah. That’s what Luke’s second book is all about, the “Acts of the risen Lord Jesus,” which he works from heaven, through his people, by the Holy Spirit, for the accomplishment of God’s purposes.”
3. His ascension makes Him our heavenly
a. Hebrews 4:14-16
b. Hebrews 7:15-8:2
c. Hebrews 9:11-12, 9:24
d. Hebrews 10:19-23
4. His ascension led to the sending of the
a. Acts 1:8 – “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.”
b. John 14 – the HELPER will guide you and teach you the truth – the paraclete – the one who comes alongside.
c. John 16:4 – 15
* Verse 7: Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.
5. His ascension reminds us He will
Acts 1:9 – 11 9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Hebrews 1 says He is currently seated at God’s right hand. However, when He stands up again, every creature and molecule in the universe will know it.