May 9th, 2024
Today, Thursday, May 9, is Ascension Day, the fortieth day after the resurrection of Jesus, when he ascended into heaven. Today we remember that the risen Lord Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, has ascended to the right hand of the Father.
Hebrews 2 shows us the significance of his ascension by explaining the meaning of Psalm 8. In the psalm, David testifies to God concerning man:
You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honour, putting everything in subjection under his feet.
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. (Heb 2:7-8)
Even though man was created a little lower than the angels, it was God’s intended end for man to crown him with glory and honour and put everything in subjection to him. But we don’t see such honour or glory or subjection right now. On the contrary, not only is man a little lower than the angels, he has fallen in sin to the depths of Sheol.
“But,” the preacher continues, “we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honour because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Heb 2:9). We see Jesus, the Son of God – who came down from heaven, atoned for sin, tasted death, and conquered the grave – we see him crowned with glory and honour. He ascended into heaven and he is “bringing many sons to glory” (Heb 2:10).
He is the pioneer, who, as a man, goes ahead of us into heaven. And he promises, “I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:3). Thus, Leo the Great exhorted his congregation in fifth-century Rome: “Since the Ascension of Christ is our elevation, and since, where the glory of the Head has preceded us, there hope for the body is also invited, let us exult, dearly beloved, with worthy joy and be glad with a holy thanksgiving” (Sermon 74.4). He ascended into heaven and he is bringing many sons to glory. Let us rejoice and give thanks.