Jesus, the Ascended One, Part Two

This is the continuation of last week's blog.

The Ascension of the Incense



Old Testament Levitical sacrificial system are types and shadows that reveal much to us of Jesus Christ, the Sacrifice to end all sacrifices.

When we peer into what ascended, we note that incense was offered. How did it ascend?  Upon fire.

 ^"And he shall put the incense upon the fire before the Lord, that the cloud of the incense may cover the mercy seat that is upon the testimony, that he die not," (Lev. 16:13).

God "smelled" the incense that was commanded upon the fire and which created a cloud of smoke to cover the mercy seat created by human hands.  How much sweeter the Incense that was Jesus?

"...Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour," (Eph. 5:2).

Can you imagine that day?  Jesus' soul is in hell; his body is in the tomb; and his Spirit alone had returned to the Father.  Yet, while in hell, a smoke began to arise... the Incense upon the fire released an aroma that was well-pleasing to the Father.  

My former pastor once asked our congregation, "Have you ever "smelled" God?"   He had gone to a solitary place along with another pastor for a week, fasting and seeking directions from God for that season of his life.  Towards the end of the fast, an aroma filled the room where they prayed.  No scented candles had been lit; no earthly incense or aerosol sprays.   Yet it filled the room.

My husband and I were alone in our dining room sharing about the goodness of the Lord when we both began to  feel a gently breeze like someone had opened a window; and then, the fragrance of roses filled our nostrils.   At first we didn't say anything; but about fifteen minutes later it happened again.  We knew we were smelling the Rose of Sharon.    Have you ever "smelled" God?

A New Voice in Heaven

 

Jesus' victory on earth and in hell reverberated into the heavens.  His blood never died and His blood never lied.   Jesus' mouth spoke on earth, but he allows his Blood to  speak in heaven.

 

"And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel," (Heb. 12:24).  cp. Gen. 4:10

 

 

Jesus won.  Satan lost.  Hell and the kingdom of darkness have never been the same.

 

 ^"And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it," (Co. 2:15).

 

The Apostles Are Witnesses of Jesus' Bodily Ascension

1 "The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

² Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
³ To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
⁴ And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.
⁵ For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence," (Acts, Chapter 1).

Last week we showed how that, after Jesus' resurrection, he had been seen of Mary.  She was not allowed to touch or embrace him at that time because he had not yet ascended (John 20:17).  Yet, when he appears before his disciples ten verses later, he invites Thomas to touch him (John 20:27).

Somewhere between those verses, Jesus had to have completed an "ascension" process.  How far did he ascend?

"He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things," (Eph. 4:10).

FAR ABOVE ALL HEAVENS! 

Jesus has a place that is "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come," (Eph. 1:21).

FAR ABOVE ALL OTHER POWERS.  FAR ABOVE EVERY OTHER NAME

This status had been earned by Jesus.

^{8 "}And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
⁹ Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth," (Eph. 2:8-10).

After returning in His glorified body, Jesus remained among his apostles for forty days, proving that He was very Christ and speaking to them of the kingdom of God.  Afterward, they witnessed the bodily ascension of Jesus.

^{9 "}And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
¹⁰ And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;
¹¹ Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven," (Acts 1).
While we wait for His appearing, we join with the worship of heaven,  "Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing," Rev. 5:12.


Even so.  Amen.  and Amen.





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