1. 3.6 Exaltation of Christ

4. A. The exaltation of Jesus Christ began with his Resurrection

5. 1. On the day of His resurrection He appeared to…
Mary Magdalene
The women returning from the tomb
Simon Peter
The disciples on the road to Emmaus
The Apostles

6. 2. Between the day of His resurrection and the day of His ascension (about 40 days) He appeared to…
Thomas
Seven disciples by the Lake of Tiberius (Sea of Galilee)
About 500 hundred believers at once
James
The eleven Apostles

7. 3. At His Ascension
The eleven Apostles saw Him

8. 4. After His ascension He appeared to…
Stephen
Paul
John, on the island of Patmos

9. B. The exaltation of Jesus Christ continued with His ascension
The ascension of Jesus Christ was the return of Jesus Christ to heaven forty days after His resurrection

10. 1. The circumstances of the ascension

11. a. It occurred forty days after His resurrection
After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
Acts 1:3

12. b. It occurred on the top of the Mount of Olives
Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day’s walk from the city.
Acts 1:12

13. c. It pointed towards His second coming
“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:11

14. The clouds
In the Ancient Near East, the clouds are often associated with the presence of a deity. In the Old Testament, a cloud in the temple indicated the presence of God.
When the priests withdrew from the Holy Place, the cloud filled the temple of the Lord. And the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled his temple.
1 Kings 8:10-11
Clouds accompanied His ascension so clouds will accompany His return to earth. The cloud imagery hints that Jesus is God.
Look, he is coming with the clouds,”     and “every eye will see him, even those who pierced him”;     and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.” So shall it be! Amen.
Revelation 1:7

15. 2. The importance of the ascension

16. a. It provided the unlimited power of the Holy Spirit
Jesus said it would be better for Him to go away because the Holy Spirit would come. That mean that God’s presence would live inside all believers.

17. a. It provided the unlimited power of Jesus Christ as our intercessor
Jesus is now sitting at the right hand of His father. He talks to the Father and intercedes for us constantly.

18. C. The exaltation of Jesus Christ will continue in the future

19. 1. Jesus will ultimately return in power

20. 2. Jesus will reign on earth for 1,000 years

21. 3. Jesus will be the object of glory and honor in heaven for all eternity