Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven. It took place on Mount Olivet (Acts 1:12), witnessed by His disciples (Acts 1:9). In Luke 24:51, we read, “Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.”

That’s the last picture we have of Jesus before He ascended: He was blessing His people. Now that He has ascended to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God the Father, Jesus our Lord continues to bless us:

[I] By being the King of the Universe.

Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And He put all things under His feet . . .  (Ephesians 1:20-22)

He is not just above all principality and power and might and dominion, but FAR above! All things are put under His feet. In simple words, He is the King of kings, the Lord of lords, the Ruler of this universe! When? Both in this age and in the one to come!!

Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour now reign as the King of the Universe. When you read your newspaper, when you hear or watch your news, do not lose sight of this great truth! According to Revelation 5, events happened on earth as it is decided in heaven (the opening of the seals). Who opens the seals? Who decides? The Lamb!!

Nothing happens in this world without His knowledge and permission. The world, haphazard as it may seem, is going somewhere. We may not understand all things but He who loves you so much as to go up to the Cross to die for you is He who now rules this universe!

[II] By being the Head of the Church.

After telling us that He put all things under His feet, Ephesians 1:22 continues: And gave Him to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.  God put all things under His feet and made Him head over all things, to the church, for the church! He rules this world, with the church in view, for the welfare of the church, with the well-being as His priority and goal! “Christ was taken up into heaven, not to enjoy blessed rest at a distance from us, but to govern the world for the salvation of all believers,” says John Calvin

As Head of the Church, He upholds and protects the church. What Psalm 129 says is true for the Church: Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth. The next sentence is also true: Yet they have not prevailed against me. The only reason and explanation why the Church remains until this day is found in one Person — Jesus Christ, the Ascended Lord.

As Head of the Church, He adds and increases the church. Who causes the church to expand and increase? Acts 2:41 says, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.” The church did not add the 3,000 souls to itself, it was added to them. Acts 2:47 says it most plainly, “And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” When King Jesus decides that the gospel will go there, no one can stop it! When He decides that His body the church will be planted here, Satan may rage and roar, but all to no avail!

To Ponder

• How can we “link” the ascension of Christ to our daily Christian life?

• Colossians 3 calls us to set our minds things above. Why? For that is where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God! Is my mindset on things above or things of the earth?

WEI En Yi