Doctrines Bound Up to the Ascension of Jesus, a quick list

Doctrines Bound Up to the Ascension of Jesus, a quick list

  1. Throne
    1. Jesus sits at the Father’s right hand. This is not a place, but the Father’s authority. The entire person of Jesus, including His human nature, takes up the full use of His divine attributes.
      1. This is called “the majestic genus,” genus maistaticum.
    2. The Ascension marks the entering into the fullness of the state of exaltation.
      1. Jesus is omnipresent, everywhere. Thus He keeps His promise “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
      2. Jesus is also thusly able to place His body and blood wherever He wants, which includes on our altar and in your mouth tonight!
    3. Jesus rules all things.
      1. Psalm 110:1 is thus fulfilled.
      2. Jesus rule is for the sake of the Church. (Ephesians 1:21-23)
      3. Although Jesus via His divine nature already ruled all things, He now receives this rule and authority according to His person as a gift from the Father (Matthew 28:19f), which means that He rules as the one who was crucified. (Consider Revelation, the Lamb who sits on the throne.)
    4. Jesus brings to completion the work of redemption.
      1. He “leads captivity captive.”
      2. He “sits” at the Father’s right hand, finished with His appointed work (Hebrews 10:12)
    5. Jesus is worshiped by men and angels.
  1. Advocate
    1. We have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous one (1 John 2:1).
    2. Jesus’ work at the Father’s throne is judicial.
      1. He presents His blood as the price for our atonement. (Hebrews 9:14)
      2. He pleads our case before the Father. (Romans 8)
      3. He removes Satan and his accusations from the throne room of heaven (Revelation 12)
  1. Priest
    1. Jesus intercedes for us before the Father’s throne (Hebrews 7, Romans 8)
    2. Jesus hears our prayers. He answers them.
    3. Jesus sympathizes with us. His hands raised in blessing as He ascends indicate that His ascension is an act of grace.
  2. Sending
    1. Jesus sends the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. (John 14, 16, Acts 2, Pentecost)
    2. Jesus sends the prophets, apostles, evangelists, pastors and teachers. (Ephesians 4)
  3. Exaltation
    1. Jesus restores the way for humanity to return to the Father. “Lift up, your heads, you mighty gates.” Psalm 24:7
    2. So all the talk of a man on the throne of God.
    3. Just as Jesus resurrection assures our resurrection (He is the “firstfruits”, 1 Corinthians 15:23; 1 Thessalonians 4:14), so His ascension assures our ascension.

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller
Bryan Wolfmueller, pastor of St Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX, author of "A Martyr's Faith for a Faithless World", "Has American Christianity Failed?", co-host of Table Talk Radio, teacher of Grappling with the Text, and theological adventure traveler.