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CHRIST’S ASCENSION TO GLORY
A REVELATION of God, by whatever means or instrument it may be communicated, demands our solemn attention. But Christianity requires the highest possible degree of reverence, because the Messenger, by whom it was promulgated, as far surpassed all other instruments in excellence, as the truths delivered by him are of deeper and more mysterious import. It is in this view that the Apostle introduces this sublime description of Christ; in which we may notice,
I. The dignity of his person—
We cannot conceive any expressions more grand than these which are here applied to Christ, and which set forth,
1. His essential dignity—
[The Father is the fountain, and the archetype of all perfection. Of him Jesus is a perfect copy. As the impression on the wax corresponds with all the marks and lineaments of the seal, so is Jesus “the express image” of the Father in every particular, insomuch that “he who hath seen him hath seen the Father [Note: Joh_14:9.].” But the Father is, in himself, invisible to mortal eyes [Note: 1Ti_1:17; 1Ti_6:16.]; it is in Christ only that he is seen: on which account Christ is called “the image of the invisible God [Note: Col_1:15.].” And as all the glory of the sun is seen in the bright effulgence of its rays, so is all the glory of the Godhead seen in the face of Jesus Christ [Note: Col_2:9. 2Co_4:6.].]
2. His official dignity—
[It was Jesus who made the worlds [Note: ver. 2 and Joh_1:3.]: and he it is who upholds them by the same “powerful word” that first spake them into existence [Note: Col_1:17.]. By him all things maintain their proper courses, and the order first assigned them. Nor is there any thing that happens either in the kingdom of providence or of grace, which does not proceed from his will, or tend to his glory. There is nothing so small but it occupies his attention, nothing so great but it is under his controul [Note: Mat_10:29-30.]. Every thing that is good owes its existence to his immediate agency, and every thing that is evil, to his righteous permission.]
Intimately connected with this is,
II. The diversity of his ministrations—
As in the Church there are “diversities of administrations and of operations [Note: 1Co_12:4-6.]” under Christ, who is the author of them, so in the work of Christ himself there is a diversity of ministrations.
1. He “purged our sins” by his blood on earth—
[Sin needed an atonement, and such an atonement as no created being could offer. Jesus therefore, the Creator himself, undertook to make an atonement for us, and such an one as should satisfy divine justice on our behalf, and put honour on that law which we had violated. For this end he assumed that nature which had sinned, and endured the curse due to our iniquities. When he had only to create or to uphold the universe, his word was sufficient: but when he came to redeem the world, nothing would suffice but his own precious blood. Other priests offered the blood of bulls and of goats as typical expiations: but, to make a true and proper atonement, Jesus was forced to offer up “himself.” His prayers and tears were insufficient: if he would purge away our sins, he must do it “by himself,” by “pouring out his soul unto death.”
This is what Jesus undertook to do; nor did he ever draw back till he could say, “It is finished.”]
He ascended to complete his work in heaven—
[The high-priest, after offering the sacrifice, entered within the vail, to present it there. Thus Jesus “passed into the heavens,” the place where he was to finish his ministrations. In the presence of all his disciples he ascended thither, giving thereby a decisive evidence that nothing further remained for him to do on earth. But a further evidence of this arises from the posture in which he ministers in heaven. The priests under the law stood, because they needed to repeat the same sacrifices continually: but Jesus having offered one sacrifice once for all, “sat down at the right hand” of God, the place of supreme dignity and power. From this we inter the perfection of his sacrifice on earth [Note: Heb_10:11-12.]; and are assured, that whatever remains to be done by him within the vail, is transacted in an authoritative manner, all power being given to him to “save to the uttermost” them that trust in him.]
We may learn from hence,
1. The security of those who believe in Christ—
[Who is it that interests himself for them? “Jehovah’s Fellow [Note: Zec_13:7.].” Who bought them with his blood? The God of heaven and earth [Note: Act_20:28.]. Who has undertaken to keep them? He that “upholdeth all things by his word [Note: Col_1:17-18].” Who is continually engaged in completing their salvation? He that is constituted Head over all things for this very purpose [Note: Eph_1:22-23.]. What then have they to fear either from their past guilt, or their present weakness? Let them only be strong in faith, and “none shall ever pluck them out of his hand [Note: Joh_10:28.].”]
2. The danger of those who are yet in unbelief—
[In proportion to the dignity of this adorable Saviour must be the guilt of rejecting him. This is frequently insisted on in this epistle [Note: Heb_2:3-4; Heb_10:28-29.]. Let us lay it to heart. To neglect this Jesus is such a mixture of folly and ingratitude, of impiety and rebellion, as involves in it the highest degree of criminality, and subjects us to the heaviest condemnation [Note: Deu_18:18-19.]. Let those who are guilty of this neglect remember that “the enemies of Jesus shall all become his footstool:” and let them kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and they perish without a remedy [Note: Psa_2:6; Psa_2:9-10; Psa_2:12.].]