The Road to the Cross A Survey of the Final Days of the Earthly Life of Jesus from the Gospel of Luke March 19 – April 23

Ifeoma White-Thorpe

The Road to the Cross The Grand Exit (But Is He Really Gone?) (Luke 24:50-53) March 19 – April 23

Is the ascension of Jesus all that important? Luke 24:50-53 And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. 51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.  52 And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple blessing God. Is the ascension of Jesus all that important?

Ascension Day observed in the United States

The Apostle’s Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. The third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

Two Foundational Realities of the Ascension 1. Jesus ascended to a real place called heaven. WHERE?

WHERE is heaven? Luke 24:51 While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. 2 Kings 2:11 And as they still went on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

WHERE is heaven? Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 

WHERE is heaven? “Admittedly the earth is round and it rotates, so where heaven is we are simply unable to say more precisely — Scripture does not tell us. But the repeated emphasis on the fact that Jesus went somewhere and the fact that the New Jerusalem will come down out of heaven from God (Rev. 21: 2), all indicate that there is clearly a localization of heaven in the space-time universe.” (Wayne Grudem)

WHERE is heaven? (Elijah’s Servant) 2 Kings 6:15b-17 And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” 16 He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 

WHERE is heaven? (First Martyr Stephen) Acts 7:55-56 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Heaven is a very REAL place! John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

Two Foundational Realities of the Ascension 1. Jesus ascended to a real place called heaven. 2. Once he ascended he sat down at the right hand of God.

Jesus sat down at the right hand of God! Psalm 110:1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.”

The “Big Deal” of Jesus sitting down at God’s right hand? 1. Sitting down at God’s right hand signifies that Jesus completed his work of redemption! Hebrews 1:3b After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Sitting down at God’s right hand signifies that Jesus Sitting down at God’s right hand signifies that Jesus completed his work of redemption! 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-6 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you . . . 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time . . .

The “Big Deal” of Jesus sitting down at God’s right hand? 1. Sitting down at God’s right hand signifies that Jesus completed his work of redemption! 2. Sitting down at God’s right hand signifies that Jesus has been given authority over the universe by God Himself!

Sitting down at God’s right hand signifies that Jesus has been given authority over the universe by God Himself! The Apostle Paul writes that God . . . Ephesians 1:20-21 . . . raised him (Jesus) from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Sitting down at God’s right hand signifies that Jesus has been given authority over the universe by God Himself! The Apostle Peter writes that Jesus . . . 1 Peter 3:22 . . . has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

The “Big Deal” of Jesus sitting down at God’s right hand? 1. Sitting down at God’s right hand signifies that Jesus completed his work of redemption! 2. Sitting down at God’s right hand signifies that Jesus has been given authority over the universe by God Himself!

But what does the ascension of Jesus Christ NOT signify? It does NOT mean that Jesus is done working on our behalf! His work of redemption is done. But he is still at work! So what has he done since his ascension to heaven and taking his seat at the right hand of God the Father Almighty?

What has Jesus done (or is still doing) since his ascension to his seat at God’s right hand? 1. Jesus sent his Holy Spirit to help his disciples to follow Him! John 16:7 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.

“The three persons of the Trinity experience fellowship among themselves in the dance of their mutual indwelling, so that, though they are distinct persons, it can rightly be said that if you've seen the Son, you’ve seen the Father, and if you have the Spirit, you have the Son. By his Spirit, then, Christ is not absent from us for a moment, though, in one sense, he has gone to ‘live’ in heaven.” (Kevin DeYoung)

What is Jesus still doing since his ascension to his seat at God’s right hand? 1. Jesus is preparing a place for us

Jesus is preparing a place for us! John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 

What is Jesus still doing since his ascension to his seat at God’s right hand? Jesus is preparing a place for us Jesus is praying for us!

Jesus is praying for us! Romans 8:34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

What is Jesus still doing since his ascension to his seat at God’s right hand? Jesus is preparing a place for us! Jesus is praying for us! Jesus is pleading for us! (against accusations of Satan)

Jesus is pleading for us! (against accusations of Satan) Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.”

Jesus is pleading for us! (against accusations of Satan) Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world . . .

Jesus is pleading for us! (against accusations of Satan) 1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 

Is the ascension of Jesus all that important? Absolutely!

The ascension of Jesus is important because: It confirms the reality of the REAL place called heaven!

The ascension of Jesus is important because: It confirms the reality of the REAL place called heaven! 2. It confirms the lordship of Jesus as he received the authority to rule over all from His Father.

The ascension of Jesus is important because: It confirms the reality of the REAL place called heaven! 2. It confirms the lordship of Jesus as he received the authority to rule over all from His Father. 3. It confirms that all which was required for our redemption has been completed!

The ascension of Jesus is important because: 1. It confirms the reality of the REAL place called heaven! 2. It confirms the lordship of Jesus as he received the authority to rule over all from His Father. 3. It confirms that all which was required for our redemption has been completed! 4. It opened the door for Jesus to send His Spirit to help us follow him!

The ascension of Jesus is important because: 5. It enabled him to continue his ongoing ministry for us of: preparing a place for us! praying for us! pleading for us!