MY PERSPECTIVE, Gary Damron
For several months, we've been looking at Jesus who is best described as God-man, both fully divine and fully human. After Jesus' ascension into heaven, there were three biblically documented appearances to people on earth. One was to Stephen as recorded in Acts 7:55. "Being full of the Holy Spirit, [Stephen] gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God." A second appearance was to Saul of Tarsus, on the road to Damascus, in Acts 9:3-5. And the disciple John recorded in Revelation 1:12-16 that Jesus appeared as a person, but more than revived in flesh, He was spiritual in nature.
Though those three views were the last recorded in the Bible, the union of God with man continues. Paul raised the question of the resurrected body in one of the earliest New Testament writings. "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?" The fairly long passage continues, and can be summarized that the dead are raised with an imperishable body - in glory and in power - with a spiritual body that bears the image of the heavenly. Paul answers his own question. "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you a mystery...we shall all be changed, ...the dead will be raised...and this mortal must put on immortality" (1 Corinthians 15:35-53).
Paul had not yet experienced resurrection, but his understanding came from revelation, as well as his experience with the risen Lord. Jesus "took on flesh" so He could die for our sins and then return to a purely spiritual existence. But the incarnation continues, as the same Jesus sits on the throne on high. Peter in Acts 2:36 said, "'God has made Him both Lord and Messiah'" with authority and power.
The writer of Hebrews said after Jesus' work on earth was finished, He "sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3). He claims victory over all powers hostile to the church. "'I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it'" (Matthew 16:18). Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus of God's power, "...which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body" (Ephesians 1:19-23). Peter echoed that Jesus "is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him" (1 Peter 3:22).
The exalted Messiah now gives gifts to His followers, the most important the Holy Spirit. In Acts chapter 2, Peter was preaching to people who had not seen the risen Jesus, yet they marveled at the signs of Spirit-filled believers. Peter quoted from Joel 2:28-32 and pointed out that this outpouring of the Holy Spirit was foretold as part of the messianic age. Thousands that day repented and were baptized with the Holy Spirit. Paul quoted Psalm 68:18 and wrote, "When [Christ] ascended on high...He gave gifts to men" (Ephesians 4:8).
Other gifts were bestowed, based on the needs of the church. "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ" (Ephesians 4:11). Additionally, followers received the fruits of the Spirit in order that people would recognize them as disciples of Christ. "'By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22).
Since ascending, Jesus has become the great high priest, who not only provides salvation but is a continual support for our growth in grace. "Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16). On the throne, Jesus is our advocate before the Father (Hebrews 9:24).
While on earth, Jesus, said He would prepare a place for us, where we will abide with Him always (John chapter 14). He now secures our heavenly dwelling place. "This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever..." (Hebrews 6:19-20).
Finally, the exalted Christ will return as king over all the earth. No matter how difficult life is, "Christ shall appear a second time for salvation...[for] those who eagerly await Him" (Hebrews 9:28). The One who came to earth in flesh is still Jesus, now reigning on high. Each one who believes can look upward in faith and expectation, each day knowing that our faith is being perfected and we will join the Son of Man, Son of God, for eternity.
