What Heaven Saw

Introduction

I’m confident that some of your favorite portions of Scripture, favorite things to study would be the life of Christ. What if I were to ask you this morning, what part of that part of Scripture is your favorite? What part of the life of Christ compels you the most? To some it would be maybe the story of his miraculous birth. How that fulfilled prophecy and that ignoble beginning in no way indicated the true glory of who he was to be. To some, it would be his miracles. The walking on water, the turning water into wine, the healing the sick, raising of the dead. To others it might be his teaching, his parable. And that how those who observed his teaching, though they had heard some of the best teachers of their day, would say, no man teaches like this man.

Maybe for the majority of the audience, the favorite part of the story of the life of Christ would be the death of Christ. The mixed emotions of such a sorrowful event and yet such a wonderful result for you and I.

That one day, like on that third day, our tomb will be found empty.

This morning I want to talk to you about a portion of the life of Christ. One that I would argue is maybe one of the most important aspects of the story of Christ. And yet one of the most neglected. Because I want to talk to you about his life, not his death or his burial or resurrection. I want to talk to you about the ascension of Jesus Christ. We know about his death.

We see the power of his resurrection. But this morning I want us to feel and to see the impact of his ascension. In Luke chapter 22, when Jesus was on trial before the Jewish officials, those scribes and elders. And he was asked that question in Luke chapter 22 if he was the Christ. Jesus’ reply in Luke chapter 22 began in verse 67. They posed to him the question if you are the Christ, then tell us. And as Jesus often would do, did not answer the question directly, but in a roundabout way, he said this. He said to them, If I tell you but will by no means believe, and also if I ask you will by no means answer me, or let me go.

Then he answers the question, Are you the Christ? But notice how he answers. Verse 69 of Luke 22, he says, Hereafter, the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God. In answering the question, are you the Christ? I believe Jesus was saying, the ascension will demonstrate that I am the Christ. You will see me or understand me to be sitting at the right hand of God. He spoke of his ascension back to his Father. The apostles who had been commissioned to go and preach of him. Turn to Acts chapter 2. They preached not just his death, not just his resurrection, they preached the ascension. In Acts chapter 2, the most famous of all gospel sermons. In Acts chapter 2, begin reading with me in verse 33.

After having said that he had been taken by lawless hands and crucified, and after having said that God raised him up, Peter and the apostles included this. Acts 2, verse 33, therefore, being exalted to the right hand of God. And having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured out this which you now see in here. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God had made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. How was he made Lord in Christ? By the ascension. Being exalted back to the Father, declared him to be Lord and Christ.

You see, the ascension is so important, but so neglected.

But the scriptures speak of the impact of that event. And so I think it’s worthy of our consideration this morning. As we talk about his being exalted back to the Father.

As he is continuing discussing with his apostles about that great commission that they are to be entrusted with, it says in Acts 1, verse 9, now when he had spoken these things, while they watched, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you saw him go into heaven. I want you to try to visualize that moment, see that experience that they saw. As they’re standing there talking to him, he just begins to rise from the earth and get higher and higher, and smaller.

Ever watch the balloon that just drifts away, and you try to see it at its last moment, and it begins to fade from side, and you think maybe you can see it, but you’re not sure. What happened to our Lord on this occasion? Until finally, he just passed through the clouds and could be seen no more. And as the text says, the angels interrupted them, they were still just looking into those clouds as Jesus had passed through the clouds into the heaven. That’s what they saw. That’s what earth saw as Jesus ascended back to the Father.

But this morning, I’d like for us to consider what heaven saw. As these disciples saw Jesus’ diminishing figure rise to the heavens and pass through the clouds. What did he see on the other side of those clouds on this momentous occasion? As Jesus passed through those clouds out of sight of earth and into the sight of heaven.

1. Heaven Saw an Obedient Son Returning

Left those glories that he did not selfishly cling on to, but came and partook of flesh and blood, humbled himself, lived, labored, fulfilled, and glorified. But now he’s coming back. And what did heaven see on that occasion? First of all, heaven saw an obedient son returning to do had been accomplished. This gives greater meaning to those simple words that were uttered on the cross, it is finished, that maybe Jesus was not simply saying, My life is finished, it’s over for me. Maybe he was saying, My work here on earth is done. The gospel of John follows that path as Jesus was saying over and over again, I’ve got to do what my Father sent me to do. I am here to accomplish that. Not my own will, but his.

Death on the cross. That’s what Jesus did here. But read the next verse 9. Therefore, God has also highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those in heaven and those on the earth and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Why was he exalted? Why should every knee bow and every tongue confess? Because he was an obedient son that did what was told of him. And now he is returned back to the Father to receive his glory. Isn’t that the scene that we see pictured in Revelation chapter 4 and 5? Turn with me there.

Revelation 4 and 5 gives us a glorious, mind-boggling scene of the throne room of heaven. But I want us to not just focus upon the glory and of where, but I want us to think about the timing of when this is happening. In Revelation chapters 4 and 5. Begin reading in verse 8 of chapter 4. Revelation 4, verse 8 says, the four living creatures, each having six wings were full of eyes around and within, and they do not rest day and night, saying, Holy, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come. Whenever the living creatures give honor and glory and thanks to him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the 24 elders fall down before him who sits on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, casting their crowns before the throne, saying, You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.

These heavenly beings are bowing down before the Father, seated on his throne. Chapter 5 continues. Now in verse 1, it says, Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seal. And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or to even look at it. But one of the elders said to me, Do not weep. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.

And I looked. And behold, in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb, as though it had been slain. Having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. I want to ask you this morning, what’s the timing of that? If it was not when he was exalted back to his father at the right hand of God. Here is the Lamb. Here is the Son returning to glory, having been obedient to everything his father had asked of him to do. And so what did they do? Verse 8, when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints, and they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priest to our God, and we shall reign on the earth.

2. A King Returning to Receive His Kingdom

Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elder, and the number of them were 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands saying, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and glory and blessing. When the Son ascended back to the Father, he received his glory. We might compare this to a hero returning from maybe a rescue mission and receiving a kicker-take parade and a hero’s welcome. That’s the scene that’s pictured in heaven. And so those apostles saw Jesus disappear from their midst and pass through the clouds. And at the same time, this is what heaven saw: an obedient son returning to glory. Heaven also saw a king returning to his father to receive his kingdom.

We read Acts’ account of the ascension. Mark’s is brief, but look at it. Mark chapter 16. The Gospel of Mark, chapter 16. And in verse 19. After giving them that great commission, it is said of him, Mark 16, verse 19, so then, after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. That’s a king. That’s the status, that’s the position and the place of a king. Returning to receive his kingdom.

It’s kind of similar to the parable of the talents, but differs in some areas. But look at the point that’s made in Luke chapter 19. In the telling of this parable. Luke chapter 19. Look at verse 11 beginning.

Luke 19, verse 11 reads, Now, as they heard these things, he spoke another parable because he was near Jerusalem, and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately. Therefore he said, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return. Now it’s not our point this morning to really look at the parable itself, but look at the timing that he says there. This nobleman that represents the Son of God himself, that represents Christ, it says that he went into a far country to receive a kingdom, and then return. When was Christ crowned as king? Are we waiting for that event yet to come? Will he become a king when he returns to this earth? Or do the scriptures teach that he became a king when he ascended to his father?

He is now reigning in his kingdom. That’s the prophecy of the Old Testament. Notice Daniel chapter 7. The grand messianic prophecy of Daniel in Daniel chapter 7 speaks of the timing of him becoming king. Daniel 7, let’s look at two verses, 13 and 14. Daniel 7, verses 13 and 14 say this. Daniel is seeing this vision, the vision of the ancient of days. That’s the Father. And in this vision of the ancient of days, it says in Daniel 7, verse 13, I was watching in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. And he came to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him, and then to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him, his dominions, an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom the one that shall not be destroyed.

Daniel saw the Son of Man being exalted and crowned and given a kingdom. When? Compare the language of Daniel chapter 7 to the language that we looked at in Acts chapter 1. Daniel chapter 7 says that he saw one like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. And what did we read that those disciples saw? He was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. I believe Acts 1 and Daniel 7 are talking about the same day, just on different sides of the cloud. What earth saw was the Son of Man ascending through the clouds. What heaven saw was him coming with the clouds to receive a kingdom.

Just 43 days earlier. Where do we see Christ? On the cross, beaten, bloody, humiliated, nails, thorns, insults.

And now, 43 days later. He’s exalted to the right hand of God. Angels and elders and living creatures are bowing down and worshipping him. The head that was crowned with thorns is now crowned with glory. And that’s what heaven saw. Look at the prophecy in Psalm chapter 2. Too many today are waiting for him to be made king when he returns. When the scriptures say he’s already king.

Psalm 2 reads this way, beginning in verse 1. Why do the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall hold them in derision, then he shall speak to them in his wrath and distress them in his deep pleasure. Yet I have set my king on the holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree. The Lord has said to me, You are my son. Today I have begotten thee. The New Testament helps us to understand that begetting had to do with his resurrection.

3. A High Priest Coming Into the Presence of God

After his resurrection, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possessions, and you shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel. Now therefore, be wise, O kings, and be instructed, you kings of earth. Let the Lord or serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. What did he see? A king returning to his father to receive his kingdom. What else did heaven see as those disciples saw him pass through the clouds out of their side? They saw a son returning to glory. They saw a king returning to receive his kingdom, and heaven also saw a high priest coming into the presence of God to make atonement for us.

The Hebrew writer helps us to understand this, and not only this, turn to Hebrews chapter 4. Not only this, but really the whole meaning of those Old Testament sacrifices, the meaning of the priesthood itself, the meaning of the tabernacle in the temple. All come into focus in the ascension. Hebrews chapter 4 and in verse 14 says, seeing then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens. Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. An obedient son came through the clouds and passed into heaven. A king returning to receive his kingdom passed through the clouds. And came with the clouds to the ancient of days, but also a high priest has passed through the heavens. Do you remember that day of atonement in the Old Testament?

That one day a year that the high priest could go into that most holy place where the presence of God dwelt.

And another would be brought the sin offering, and it would be sacrificed, and his blood would be shed for the sins of the people. And then the high priest would take that blood, and he would go into the most holy place to offer that blood for the sins of the people.

And when did he do that? When he ascended back to his Father. Peter says, we won’t turn back over to Acts chapter 5, but when Peter was told not to preach the gospel anymore, he said, not only will we preach Jesus Christ, but he said in Acts 5 and verse 31, they would preach Christ who was exalted as prince and Savior. Peter says, we’re going to preach about the ascension. About the Savior who went back to our Father, to whom the prophet said of God that he had laid on him the iniquity of us all. The Hebrew writer goes on, turn from chapter 4 to chapter 10 of Hebrews. In Hebrews chapter 10, we have the high priesthood of Jesus Christ contrasted with the high priest of the Old Testament, of the Levitical Order.

There’s a lot of contrast. But notice this one, Hebrews 10, verses 11 and 12. And every priest, that’s those old Levitical priests, every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices which can never take away sin. I want you to see the redundancy and the ineffectiveness of those old priests. He says that they stood daily ministering and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices which he said could never take away sin. But look at the contrast in verse 12. But this man, this high priest, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God. Have you observed that contrast between standing and sitting? The old high priests were constantly standing. Why? Because their work was not done, their work was never done.

But what did our high priest do when he took his own blood into the most holy place, into the very presence of God Himself? It says that he sat down. The implication surely is his work was done. He offered it once for all. He doesn’t need to stand daily offering sacrifices. He can sin.

4. What Heaven Sees When a Faithful Christian Passes

A king, a high priest coming back. Worthy art thou. Worthy of Christ. A praise is Christ our Redeemer, worthy of glory, honor, and power, worthy of all our souls’ adoration. Worthy art thou. Worthy art thou. Lift up the voice and praise and devotion. Saints of all earth before him should bow. Angels in heaven, worship him, saying, Worthy art thou. Worthy art thou. Lord, may we come before thee with singing filled with thy spirit, wisdom and power. May we ascribe thee glory and honor? Worthy art thou. Worthy art thou. Before we close this morning, I want to make one other application of what we’ve studied this morning. Because he just became the first fruits of those that sleep. What does heaven see? When a faithful Christian passes from this life, we know what we see.

Who are tear-filled eyes? We see one who will no longer be able to assemble with the saints here upon earth. We see absence and sorrow, a missed voice, a missed smile, a missed hug, and a pat on the back and an encouragement. But what does heaven see when a faithful Christian passes? Heaven sees a faithful Christian coming home to his or her reward. Heaven sees a faithful soldier laying down his armor, coming home to victory. Heaven sees a laborer in the vineyard of the Lord coming to rest, his or her labor. And heaven sees a pilgrim and a sojourner coming to their permanent home. Let’s never forget what heaven sees. Heaven sees one who loves the Lord coming to be with his or her Lord for an eternity.

Conclusion

Our vision is so limited here upon earth. But the scriptures help us to see and to understand what heaven see. If you’re not a Christian this morning, you can benefit not just by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, but you can benefit from his ascension.

If you obey the gospel this morning and live in the grace and the obedience of God, that when your time to leave has come, what a wonderful sight heaven will see. If we can help you as you respond to the gospel call in any way this morning, why not let it be known right now as together we stand and as we sing.