CHRIST'S RESURRECTION AND ASCENSION

“God highly exalted Him” (Philippians 2:9).

Christ’s resurrection and ascension were the first two steps of His exaltation. The first step on Christ’s progress from humiliation to exaltation was His resurrection. In Acts 13 Paul preached on the resurrection of Christ, declaring: “[God] raised up Jesus. . . . Therefore He also says . . . ‘Thou wilt not allow Thy holy one to undergo decay.’ For David, underwent decay; but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. Through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, and everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which the Law of Moses could not do” (vv. 33-39). Christ’s death and resurrection provided forgiveness and freedom from sin, the law, and death. Acts 1:9-11 records the second step in the exaltation of Christ. As a cloud received Christ  from His disciples’ sight, two men in white clothing stood beside them; and said, ‘Men of Galilee, why are you looking into the sky? Jesus will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.’” Just before He ascended, Christ spoke these final words to His disciples: “You shall be My witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

Until He comes again, let’s be witnesses who maintain a positive testimony for the sake of the gospel. Praise God “who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).