Here is the sermon I preached yesterday for Ascension.Today is known as Ascension. We are celebrating Jesus Christ ascending into heaven.
Ascension Day is forty days after Easter, which means that technically, Ascension Day is always on a Thursday. Some churches hold services on Thursday to celebrate Ascension, but most churches celebrate on the next Sunday, which is six weeks after Easter.
To many people, the word ascension means “to go up,” as in to ascend a ladder or staircase. In this sense, Jesus did ascend on a cloud. His disciples were left looking “up” in the sky to where Jesus had ascended.
However, there is a more profound meaning to the word ascend. When a prince is crowned as king, he is said to have ascended to the office of king. In history books, we read about such and such a king ascending to the throne. Since the king is the “highest” office, the word ascend is appropriate to the action.
When Jesus ascended to heaven, both of these definitions of ascend were fulfilled. Jesus literally rose into the clouds and was taken up into heaven. He physically ascended. The disciples were left looking up at the clouds where he departed.
Moreover, when Jesus ascended to heaven, this also marked his ascension to the throne of King. He sat down at the right hand of God and received a kingdom. He became King.
So, for Jesus, his ascension into heaven was also his ascension to the throne of the Universe as the King.
Therefore, as we celebrate Ascension today, we are doing far more than just remembering the occasion when Jesus rose on a cloud into heaven.
Today, we celebrate the crowning of Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
Ascension Day is forty days after Easter, which means that technically, Ascension Day is always on a Thursday. Some churches hold services on Thursday to celebrate Ascension, but most churches celebrate on the next Sunday, which is six weeks after Easter.
To many people, the word ascension means “to go up,” as in to ascend a ladder or staircase. In this sense, Jesus did ascend on a cloud. His disciples were left looking “up” in the sky to where Jesus had ascended.
However, there is a more profound meaning to the word ascend. When a prince is crowned as king, he is said to have ascended to the office of king. In history books, we read about such and such a king ascending to the throne. Since the king is the “highest” office, the word ascend is appropriate to the action.
When Jesus ascended to heaven, both of these definitions of ascend were fulfilled. Jesus literally rose into the clouds and was taken up into heaven. He physically ascended. The disciples were left looking up at the clouds where he departed.
Moreover, when Jesus ascended to heaven, this also marked his ascension to the throne of King. He sat down at the right hand of God and received a kingdom. He became King.
So, for Jesus, his ascension into heaven was also his ascension to the throne of the Universe as the King.
Therefore, as we celebrate Ascension today, we are doing far more than just remembering the occasion when Jesus rose on a cloud into heaven.
Today, we celebrate the crowning of Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.
The Right Hand of God
This morning, we are going to trace an Ascension theme through the Scriptures. We are going to look at what it means that Jesus is currently at the right hand of God.
This truth is well-known to us, but the church as a whole regularly misses the full impact of this truth.
The phrase “Right Hand of God” appears eight times in the NT. This concept is referenced a minimum of twenty times. We are going to be examining many of these this morning, but we will start by reading Mark’s brief account of the ascension.
This morning, we are going to trace an Ascension theme through the Scriptures. We are going to look at what it means that Jesus is currently at the right hand of God.
This truth is well-known to us, but the church as a whole regularly misses the full impact of this truth.
The phrase “Right Hand of God” appears eight times in the NT. This concept is referenced a minimum of twenty times. We are going to be examining many of these this morning, but we will start by reading Mark’s brief account of the ascension.
"So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God" (Mark 16:19).
What does it mean that Jesus is at the right hand of God?
The Blessing of the Right Hand
We do understand that the right hand is a place of blessing.
Jacob Blessed Ephraim
When Joseph brought his sons to Jacob for a blessing, Jacob blessed the younger instead of the older by putting his right hand on the younger son, Ephraim.
"And Joseph said to his father, 'Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.' But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations'" (Genesis 48:18-19).
The right hand was the place of blessing.
Jesus Will Bless the Sheep
At the final judgment, Jesus will place the sheep at His right hand.
"And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world'" (Matthew 25:33-34).
We understand from these passages and others that the right hand is the hand of blessing. However, the fact that Jesus is at the right hand of God means far more than simply he is blessed.
Let’s go back to the Scriptures and determine what this means. Where does this concept come from? Who talks about Jesus being at the right hand of God.
Psalm 110
David was the first one to write about Jesus sitting at the right hand of God.
"Yahweh said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool'" (Psalm 110:1).
The New Testament writers quote Psalm 110:1 more than any other OT text. This verse must contain a foundational theme for understanding the New Testament.
This verse is easy to misunderstand. The Lord said to my Lord. Yahweh said to my Lord. Yahweh said to David’s Lord.
Who is David’s Lord? Does he have any Lord’s but God? No.
This is a reference to a distinction among God. We understand that David’s Lord is Jesus. Yahweh is a reference to the Father.
Thus, David is writing that the Father will say to the Son, “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.”
We learn two significant things from this verse:
1) Jesus will sit at God’s right hand at a certain point in time.
2) Jesus will sit at God’s right hand until a certain point in time – namely, until God makes all of Jesus’ enemies “his footstool.”
What does it mean “till I make Your enemies Your footstool?” This is common battle language to describe the defeat of enemies. The defeated kings would be brought before the victor, and the victor would place his foot on their neck, signifying total victory.
Thus, Jesus will sit down at the Father’s right hand and stay there until the Father has defeated all of Jesus’ enemies.
We now have three remaining questions related to chronology:
1) When did Jesus sit or when will he sit at the right hand of God?
2) When did the Father or when will the Father defeat all of Jesus’ enemies?
3) What happens after the Father defeats all of Jesus’ enemies?
1) When Did Jesus Sit at the RH of God?
When did Jesus sit down at the right hand of God? Think back to the brief description of Mark.
"So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God" (Mark 16:19).
After Jesus was ascended, he sat down at the right hand of God. Mark holds that Psalm 110:1 began to be fulfilled in the ascension.
Peter says the same thing at Pentecost, even quoting Psalm 110.
"This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 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 and hear. 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 has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:32-36).
Peter said the same thing to the Jewish Council.
"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:30-31).
Paul says that Jesus is currently at the right hand of God.
"Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us" (Romans 8:34).
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1).
The author of Hebrews says that Jesus sat at the right hand of God at his ascension.
"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:1-3).
"Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens" (Hebrews 8:1).
"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
What is Jesus Doing at the Right Hand of God?
Some have the idea that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, biding his time, waiting to return to the earth so that he can set up his kingdom on earth. However, this is not what the Scriptures teach.
Jesus has already been given all authority.
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth'" (Matthew 28:18).
Just before Jesus was ascending, he told the disciples that all authority in heaven and earth were given to him.
Peter affirms this:
"Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him" (1 Peter 3:22).
All authority has been given to Jesus Christ.
Paul goes further:
"Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:20-23).
Paul makes it explicit that because Jesus is at the right hand of God, he is now ruling over the universe. He is over every other power and over every other name. All things have been placed under his feet.
2) When Will the Father Defeat All of Jesus’ Enemies?
Now that we have confirmed that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, we need to ask, how long will Jesus sit at the right hand of God? The answer is until God defeats all of Jesus’ enemies.
The author of Hebrews states this:
"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool" (Hebrews 10:12-13).
Jesus is at the right hand of God waiting until his enemies are defeated.
Now, waiting does not describe all that Jesus is doing. He is interceding for us. He is ruling over his Kingdom. He is building his church.
What does it mean that Jesus is at the right hand of God?
The Blessing of the Right Hand
We do understand that the right hand is a place of blessing.
Jacob Blessed Ephraim
When Joseph brought his sons to Jacob for a blessing, Jacob blessed the younger instead of the older by putting his right hand on the younger son, Ephraim.
"And Joseph said to his father, 'Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.' But his father refused and said, 'I know, my son, I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations'" (Genesis 48:18-19).
The right hand was the place of blessing.
Jesus Will Bless the Sheep
At the final judgment, Jesus will place the sheep at His right hand.
"And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on His right hand, 'Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world'" (Matthew 25:33-34).
We understand from these passages and others that the right hand is the hand of blessing. However, the fact that Jesus is at the right hand of God means far more than simply he is blessed.
Let’s go back to the Scriptures and determine what this means. Where does this concept come from? Who talks about Jesus being at the right hand of God.
Psalm 110
David was the first one to write about Jesus sitting at the right hand of God.
"Yahweh said to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool'" (Psalm 110:1).
The New Testament writers quote Psalm 110:1 more than any other OT text. This verse must contain a foundational theme for understanding the New Testament.
This verse is easy to misunderstand. The Lord said to my Lord. Yahweh said to my Lord. Yahweh said to David’s Lord.
Who is David’s Lord? Does he have any Lord’s but God? No.
This is a reference to a distinction among God. We understand that David’s Lord is Jesus. Yahweh is a reference to the Father.
Thus, David is writing that the Father will say to the Son, “Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.”
We learn two significant things from this verse:
1) Jesus will sit at God’s right hand at a certain point in time.
2) Jesus will sit at God’s right hand until a certain point in time – namely, until God makes all of Jesus’ enemies “his footstool.”
What does it mean “till I make Your enemies Your footstool?” This is common battle language to describe the defeat of enemies. The defeated kings would be brought before the victor, and the victor would place his foot on their neck, signifying total victory.
Thus, Jesus will sit down at the Father’s right hand and stay there until the Father has defeated all of Jesus’ enemies.
We now have three remaining questions related to chronology:
1) When did Jesus sit or when will he sit at the right hand of God?
2) When did the Father or when will the Father defeat all of Jesus’ enemies?
3) What happens after the Father defeats all of Jesus’ enemies?
1) When Did Jesus Sit at the RH of God?
When did Jesus sit down at the right hand of God? Think back to the brief description of Mark.
"So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God" (Mark 16:19).
After Jesus was ascended, he sat down at the right hand of God. Mark holds that Psalm 110:1 began to be fulfilled in the ascension.
Peter says the same thing at Pentecost, even quoting Psalm 110.
"This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. 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 and hear. 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 has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:32-36).
Peter said the same thing to the Jewish Council.
"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:30-31).
Paul says that Jesus is currently at the right hand of God.
"Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us" (Romans 8:34).
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God" (Colossians 3:1).
The author of Hebrews says that Jesus sat at the right hand of God at his ascension.
"God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:1-3).
"Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens" (Hebrews 8:1).
"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
What is Jesus Doing at the Right Hand of God?
Some have the idea that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, biding his time, waiting to return to the earth so that he can set up his kingdom on earth. However, this is not what the Scriptures teach.
Jesus has already been given all authority.
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth'" (Matthew 28:18).
Just before Jesus was ascending, he told the disciples that all authority in heaven and earth were given to him.
Peter affirms this:
"Who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him" (1 Peter 3:22).
All authority has been given to Jesus Christ.
Paul goes further:
"Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:20-23).
Paul makes it explicit that because Jesus is at the right hand of God, he is now ruling over the universe. He is over every other power and over every other name. All things have been placed under his feet.
2) When Will the Father Defeat All of Jesus’ Enemies?
Now that we have confirmed that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, we need to ask, how long will Jesus sit at the right hand of God? The answer is until God defeats all of Jesus’ enemies.
The author of Hebrews states this:
"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool" (Hebrews 10:12-13).
Jesus is at the right hand of God waiting until his enemies are defeated.
Now, waiting does not describe all that Jesus is doing. He is interceding for us. He is ruling over his Kingdom. He is building his church.
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it" (Matthew 16:18).
Jesus is building his church. We are his temple. He dwells in us through his Spirit, and we are being used by him to spread his kingdom.
In other words, how is God defeating all of Jesus’ enemies? This received an initial fulfillment in the first century as God destroyed the temple and Jerusalem.
The book of Revelation describes the destruction of the great harlot, which is Jerusalem. In a mighty way Jesus’ enemies were literally destroyed in ad 70.
Yet, this does not describe the complete fulfillment of Psalm 110:1. Jesus continues to have enemies today. There are many who hate the Jesus and the gospel.
How is Jesus defeating his enemies? Through the gospel, through the spread of the church.
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19).
Jesus said that he would build his church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. He continues to build the church and to rule it by his Spirit working through us.
We are ruling and reigning with Jesus Christ right now. We are participating in the kingship of Jesus at this moment.
We are worshiping him as our King. As we go out from here, our task is to declare to the nations that there is one King. We are to disciple the nations, to bring them to the feet of King Jesus.
So, Jesus is reigning from heaven at the right hand of God. We do not know how long this will take, but he will stay there until all his enemies are defeated.
3) What Happens after All of Jesus’ Enemies are Defeated?
Jesus said that he would return.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them" (Matthew 25:14).
"After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them" (Matthew 25:19).
An angel explained it to the disciples like this:
"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" (Acts 1:11).
After Jesus’ enemies are defeated, then Jesus will return to the earth.
When will Jesus return? The Bible teaches us that we need to be agnostic when it comes to predicting when Jesus will return. We do not know.
I believe that Jesus could return right now. The Father could cataclysmically and catastrophically defeat Jesus’ enemies in one moment, just like he did in ad 70.
I also believe that Jesus could return a long ways from now, perhaps thousands or millions of years from now. As one pastor quipped, we may still be in the early church. The Father could gradually defeat all of his enemies.
However, Jesus will remain in heaven until all his enemies are defeated. Only then will he return.
Jesus is building his church. We are his temple. He dwells in us through his Spirit, and we are being used by him to spread his kingdom.
In other words, how is God defeating all of Jesus’ enemies? This received an initial fulfillment in the first century as God destroyed the temple and Jerusalem.
The book of Revelation describes the destruction of the great harlot, which is Jerusalem. In a mighty way Jesus’ enemies were literally destroyed in ad 70.
Yet, this does not describe the complete fulfillment of Psalm 110:1. Jesus continues to have enemies today. There are many who hate the Jesus and the gospel.
How is Jesus defeating his enemies? Through the gospel, through the spread of the church.
"And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:18-19).
Jesus said that he would build his church on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. He continues to build the church and to rule it by his Spirit working through us.
We are ruling and reigning with Jesus Christ right now. We are participating in the kingship of Jesus at this moment.
We are worshiping him as our King. As we go out from here, our task is to declare to the nations that there is one King. We are to disciple the nations, to bring them to the feet of King Jesus.
So, Jesus is reigning from heaven at the right hand of God. We do not know how long this will take, but he will stay there until all his enemies are defeated.
3) What Happens after All of Jesus’ Enemies are Defeated?
Jesus said that he would return.
"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them" (Matthew 25:14).
"After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them" (Matthew 25:19).
An angel explained it to the disciples like this:
"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" (Acts 1:11).
After Jesus’ enemies are defeated, then Jesus will return to the earth.
When will Jesus return? The Bible teaches us that we need to be agnostic when it comes to predicting when Jesus will return. We do not know.
I believe that Jesus could return right now. The Father could cataclysmically and catastrophically defeat Jesus’ enemies in one moment, just like he did in ad 70.
I also believe that Jesus could return a long ways from now, perhaps thousands or millions of years from now. As one pastor quipped, we may still be in the early church. The Father could gradually defeat all of his enemies.
However, Jesus will remain in heaven until all his enemies are defeated. Only then will he return.
Paul describes what happens at his return after enemies have been defeated.
"Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet" (1 Corinthians 15:24-25).
After Jesus’ enemies are defeated. The Father has placed everything under Jesus’ feet, and then Jesus returns to the earth, executes the final judgment, and then delivers this kingdom back to God the Father.
We see that history is fulfilled in God defeating and subduing all of Jesus’ enemies. Then Jesus returns to earth, judges the nations, completes the final unification of heaven and earth.
Then Jesus turns and gives the kingdom back to God as a gift.
"Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28).
The purpose of history is that God may be all in all. The purpose of history is the glory of God.
The chief end of the universe is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever.
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