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Ascension of Christ

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The ascension of Christ is the ‘transference of the resurrected body of Jesus from this world to heaven.’

It is described in Acts 1:9–11 (but see also Lk 24:50f), where Jesus is described as being “taken up” and disappearing into a cloud. This event took place near Bethany, on the Mt of Olives.

John’s Gospel records Jesus’ own comments regarding his ascension:

  • he has departed, but he will return (21:22);
  • he cannot be touched, for he must ascend (20:17);
  • many will believe without having seen him (20:29).
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Flavel: the ascension of Christ

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A summary of chapter 40 of The Fountain of Life, by John Flavel.

John 20:17 – ‘Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.’

The persons to whom this message was sent: ‘My brethren’; a sweet term, and full of love.

The message itself: ‘Tell my brethren, I ascend to my Father, and your Father; to my God, and your God.’…

‘Immediately’

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In Jesus, Interrupted (HarperCollins), Bart Ehrman has this to say about the length of Jesus’ public ministry, as indicated in the canonical Gospels:

‘Our earliest Gospel, Mark, does not give an explicit indication of the length of Jesus’ public ministry, but does give some suggestive comments. At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, in chapter 2, his disciples are going through the wheat fields and eating the grain, to the consternation of the Pharisees, who believe they are violating the Sabbath.

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Discussion starters – 1 Kings 17 – 2 Kings 2

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In 1 Kings 18:17 King Ahab says to Elijah, “Is that you, troubler of Israel?”

  1. In what ways was Elijah a ‘troublemaker’?
  2. In what ways were Jesus and his early followers ‘troublemakers’? (Note, for example, Acts 17:6).
  3. In what ways are Christians today called to be ‘troublemakers’?
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10 flavours of works-based salvation

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What are some of the different ways in which we imagine that we can commend ourselves to God and merit our salvation?

1. The Work of Philanthropy

“I’m going to give money.  I’m going to help the needy.”

2. The Work of Service

“I’m going to volunteer.  I’m going to give my time, my skill, my expertise.  I’m going to get my hands dirty.”

3. The Work of Ritual

“I’m going to be committed to confession, communion, prayers, church attendance.”…

Wait

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It is often said that God always answers prayer, and when he does so it will be with one of three answers: ‘Yes’, ‘No’, or ‘Wait’.

That’s too simplistic.  In particular, it leaves out the possibility that God may not answer prayer.

Psalm 66 teaches us to take a more realistic approach:

66:18 If I had harbored sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened.
66:19 However, God heard;
he listened to my prayer.…

Genesis 5 – The ages of the antedeluvians

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Aside from textual difficulties (there are many differences between the most ancient texts on this matter) we are faced with the question of how to explain these exceptionally long life spans (all these individuals were at least 65 when their first child was born, and most lived for up to 1,000 years!).  The problem is compounded by the fact that if we put the various data together, we come up with a date for the creation of Adam (about 4004 BC) which would be even more recent if we assumed normal life spans for his descendants!…

Spurgeon: a bee-line to Christ?

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C.H. Spurgeon is often quoted as saying: “I take my text and make a beeline to the cross.”

Indeed, for Albert Mohler, this expression summarises Spurgeon’s entire preaching method.

For the record, I can find no evidence that Spurgeon ever said it (see here for corroboration).

But is it the sort of thing that the great preacher might have said?  Well, kind of.

Perhaps the nearest thing we can find comes in a story told (with obvious approval) by the 24-year-old Spurgeon:

A Welsh minister who was preaching last Sabbath at the chapel of my dear brother, Jonathan George, was saying, that Christ was the sum and substance of the gospel, and he broke out into this story:—

A young man had been preaching in the presence of a venerable divine, and after he had done he went to the old minister, and said, “What do you think of my sermon?”

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1 Corinthians 15:29 – ‘Baptized for the dead’

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What will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they baptized for them?

As Thiselton (Shorter Commentary) says, Paul’s main point is clear enough:

“baptism for the dead” (whatever this means in detail) would be pointless and senseless if there were no resurrection. But since, evidently, they have themselves baptized for the sake of the dead, either some people tacitly assume the truth of the resurrection or else their action is self-contradictory.

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Acts 5:1-11 – Ananias and Sapphira

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5:1 Now a man named Ananias, together with Sapphira his wife, sold a piece of property. 5:2 He kept back for himself part of the proceeds with his wife’s knowledge; he brought only part of it and placed it at the apostles’ feet. 5:3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back for yourself part of the proceeds from the sale of the land? 5:4 Before it was sold, did it not belong to you?…