The Resurrection, Ascension, and Heavenly
Intercession
Without Easter and the resurrection, there is no Gospel,
Christianity, church, or relationship with God. The event and significance
of Christ’s own resurrection cannot be well overestimated in its
discussion on the doctrine, nor should anyone fail to note how
important it was in the first preaching of the apostles in Acts
(2:24, 32, etc.). To
fulfill numerous Old Testament prophecies, Christ needed to die and
be resurrected (i.e. Ps. 16:10-11). The first stage was Christ’s
humiliation which included leaving the glory of heaven and limiting
the use of his divine powers, being born as a human to Mary, living
as a human without sin, dying for sinners and being buried (Phil.
2:6-8). From
humiliation, Christ was then Exalted with numerous signs of his
resurrection. His
guarded tomb was empty (Matt. 27:66), and over the next forty days
after his resurrection he appeared to numerous people including Mary
Magdalene at the tomb, the other Mary in the garden, two disciples
on the road to Emmaus, ten disciples behind closed doors, Thomas,
and even more than 500 at one time (1 Cor. 15:6). When Jesus rose, he was not
just a spirit but he was a true body as well. He insisted to his disciples
that he was a real body (Lk. 24:39). By God’s power, his new body
was incorruptible, spiritual and glorious; also, his spiritual body
was not limited like his crucified body (1 Cor. 15:42-44).
The significance of the resurrection is multifold. Because Jesus rose from the
dead, it shows he has power over death, the message of the Kingdom
he preached during his ministry has a purpose, it confirms the
Father’s acceptance of who Jesus is, sinners through faith and
belief in Him are justified and made right with God, there will be a
believers resurrection, and all of history has a meaning. The resurrected Christ also
became the last Adam and the new head of the human race and
it signifies that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior over all. Finally it shows that Christ
will be the final judge and he will always have a presence within
the true church.
Forty days after the resurrection was God’s mighty act
concluding the incarnation: Christ’s ascension into heaven. Christ predicted his
ascension into heaven while he was with his disciples (Jn. 6:62) and
he was seen by numerous people (Acts 1:9-10). The ascension signaled the
end of Jesus’ earthly ministry but more importantly Jesus sat down
at the right hand of God (Mk. 16:19). More importantly it also
marked the beginning of Christ’s heavenly ministry as King and Lord
of all (Phil. 2:9-11).
Believers are now seated with Christ in heaven and he started
his ministries as the head of the church by interceding for his
people, giving spiritual gifts, and sending the Holy Spirit (Rom.
8:34, Eph. 4:11-12, Jn. 7:39).
The resurrection and ascension are looked upon as essential
parts in the one great fact of the glorification of the Son of God,
so that the resurrection apart from the ascension was not an end or
complete consummation in itself, but it was required the exaltation
to the right hand of God to perfect the
glorification.
The resurrection of Christ is at the center of
Christianity. It is
impossible to be a Christian and deny the resurrection. The resurrection gives us
today a hope of things to come in heaven along with asurrance that
we have peace with God and victory over Satan and death. Everyday, no matter how bad
one’s life may get, we have the joy of knowing Christ and knowing
what he did to save our lives (1 Pet. 1:8-9).
