June 18, 2006
THE GLORY OF CHRIST'S ASCENSION
Hebrews 9:24

 

   Much attention is paid to the birth of Christ and even more is paid to His death, burial and resurrection. But His ascension to the right hand of God is somewhat neglected. Yet it is from that exalted place that His ministry of intercession is conducted. Members in the Body of Christ rejoice because "It is Christ Who died, yea rather, Who is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God...making intercession for us" (Rom. 8:34).
   In almost the same words Christ's high priestly ministry is carried on in behalf of Hebrew saints. For "when He had by Himself purged our sins, He sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Heb. 1:3), a seated priest in heaven! In perfect sympathy with our infirmities, "we have a great high priest, Who is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God" (Heb. 4:13-14). Again, "We have such an high priest, Who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; a Minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man" (8:1-2). And in that true tabernacle "Christ is not entered into holy places made with hands...figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (9:24).
   Israel's Levitical priests stood daily offering repeatedly the same sacrifices that could not take away sins, yet "this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down in perpetuity on the right hand of God... For by one offering He has perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (10:12). The reality of Christ's ascended heavenly ministry in the true tabernacle accomplished by His cross and intercession what centuries of the imposed carnal ordinances of meats and drinks and various baptisms could not do. They could not make "those who did the service perfect as pertaining to their conscience" (9:9).
   The Hebrew saints were to "run with patience the race that is set before [them], looking to Jesus the Leader and Perfecter of (the path of) faith; Who, in contrast to the joy that had been His portion, endured crucifixion, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (12:1-2). The ministry from this ascended, glorious, exalted, great, seated, crowned, High Priest is able to perfect them for ever, who come to God by Him. This heavenly ministry deals with purging sins in sanctifying, not redemption. The Passover settled that issue long before.

 

Ivan L. Burgener