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King of Kings Majesty_ Jesus’ Ascension
We can use many scriptures to build a picture of Christ’s ascension from both the Old and New Testament and today’s post will tell the story through the Scriptures, beginning first with the words of Jesus. During His farewell speech to Disciples Jesus tells them though there will be much reason to fear they are to hold on to their belief in God… His death and departure from this earth is not without purpose. ‘I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.’
A series of events have unfolded as Jesus foretold. Jesus is crucified. Jesus is risen and the Disciples are witnesses of His Resurrection, they have spent 40 days with Him being taught of the Kingdom of God. And now finally they have come to the time of His physical departure from the Earth and are witness to another spectacular event. “…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.”
Jesus rises from Earth into the Heavens, the Heavens open … and the words of Psalm 24:9-10 seem an fitting chorus for His welcome. “Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle, the Lord of hosts. He is the King of glory!”
From this Psalm It can be said that it is only Jesus who could rightly ascend to heaven with pure hands and a perfectly clean heart. Jesus’ Ascension, though without the visible pomp and ceremony of a coronation procession, it is none the less an event that marks his crowning and his rise to the Throne of the Kingdom of God. Both Old and New Testament speak prophetically and interpretatively of Jesus’ kingly authority and reign. The Book of Daniel and the Letter to the Philippians provide for us further support and commentary…
“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:13-14
God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.’ Phil 2:11
There is more to Jesus’ Ascension than His Enthronement and Jesus foretold of the importance of His departure, “It is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you” John16:7
The Helper who Jesus says will come is the promised Holy Spirit for whom He tells the Disciples they must wait. But for now, Jesus must depart, His Disciples stand and become witness to this historic event; a divinely orchestrated shift taking place right before their eyes. Heaven and Earth meet in Christ’s Ascension as Angels verify that the way in which the disciples see Jesus leave the earth will indeed be the way he returns. Jesus’ Ascension carved a legitimate, cleared pathway for the rule of the Kingdom of God on earth, made possible by His death and Resurrection. A Pathway has been forged and within the next 10 days the Disciples will experience the coming of the promised Holy Spirit who will be Jesus’ presence on the Earth. The Holy Spirit is assigned to be the Disciples, to empower, to accompany and be with them forever, though Jesus has departed they have not been abandoned or left alone. And this will be the same for all who will believe in their Testimony of Jesus Christ and the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. Since then it remains possible for all that the Disciples received and experienced through the presence of the Holy Spirit, to be available by the same promise for all believers to experience. Believers can experience spiritual realities of the Kingdom of God especially, as we partner with Christ and pray ‘let your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven’. We do so, in the full knowledge that the Kingdom that we speak of, has a legitimate King Who is enthroned with dominion, power and authority over all things in Heaven and Earth.
King of Kings Majesty – Jarrod Cooper https://youtu.be/1QXgWQbFNBM
(Posted 24th May)
We may not be meeting at present but we will be continuing to Pray for the present situation.
If you are looking for Spiritual support, especially at this time, please contact Pastor Joyce on 07904996026 or email Pastor@hobc.org.uk
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God meets you where you are.
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble"
Psalm 46. V1
Our Motto for 2020 Image- Fota Gardens, Cork, S.Ireland
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