The Glory of His Ascension
The Reign of Christ · AD 30
He … is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords.
1 Timothy 6:15
Christ was born to be King, but He did not take the throne of David the way earthly monarchs do. He secured the right to reign when He rose victorious over death, and He sat down upon His throne when He ascended to heaven on Thursday, May 18, AD 30. In this unit we follow the risen Lord as He restores Peter by the Sea of Galilee, commissions His church, ascends from Bethany, is enthroned as King, and pours out His Spirit to reign from heaven until He returns.
Read: John 21:1–19; Matthew 28:16–20; Luke 24:44–53; Acts 1:1–11
By the Sea of Galilee
The disciples had returned home to Galilee to await further instructions. Seven of them, including Peter, went out fishing on the Sea of Galilee near Capernaum, but caught nothing all night. At daybreak a man on the shore called out to cast the net on the right side of the boat — and it filled with so many fish they could not haul it in. John exclaimed, “It is the Lord!” and Peter plunged into the water to reach Him.
They dragged in a catch of 153 large fish, and the net was not torn. On the beach the risen Lord had already prepared a charcoal fire with bread and fish, and He fed them breakfast. No one dared ask who He was, for they knew it was the Lord.
After breakfast Christ asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” — one question, tenderly, for each of Peter's three denials. Grieved but sincere, Peter answered, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Each time the Lord charged him, “Feed my sheep,” recommissioning the fallen disciple not to return to fishing but to shepherd His people, and finally calling him again, “Follow me.”
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” … and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”
John 21:17
The Great Commission
Christ had directed the disciples to a mountain in Galilee — most likely the Mount of Beatitudes near Capernaum — where the eleven, and perhaps as many as five hundred, gathered to meet Him. When they saw Him they worshiped Him, though some still had doubts in their hearts.
Until now Christ had sent His disciples only to the lost sheep of Israel. But in His death and resurrection He had triumphed over the powers of darkness, and God's ancient promise to Abraham — that in his seed all nations would be blessed — was now being fulfilled. The ruler of this world had been cast down, and God was drawing all peoples to Himself.
The new King's first command was that His disciples go, on the strength of His authority, into every nation to make disciples — baptizing believers and teaching them all He had commanded. They would not go alone, for He promised His Spirit and His presence to the end of the age.
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18–20
The Ascension
Back in Jerusalem, Christ told the disciples not to depart but to wait for the promise of the Father. John had baptized with water, but He would baptize them with the Holy Spirit in a few days' time, clothing them with power from on high for their mission.
Leading them out to the Mount of Olives and on to Bethany, Christ answered their question about restoring the kingdom: it was not for them to know the times, but they would receive power when the Spirit came and be His witnesses to the end of the earth. Then He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
As He blessed them He began to rise, ascending until the clouds hid Him from sight. While they gazed up, two angels in white stood by them with a promise: this same Jesus would come again in the very way He had gone. So the disciples worshiped the unseen Christ and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, waiting on the promised Spirit.
And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.
Luke 24:50–51
and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Acts 1:11
Enthroned and Reigning
When Christ ascended on high, He led a host of freed captives in His train, and the gates of heaven opened to the King of glory amid the worship of the whole angelic host. The Father bestowed on Him dominion, glory, and a kingdom — as Daniel had foreseen — an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away.
From His throne Christ kept His promise. Ten days after His ascension, at the Feast of Weeks — Pentecost — the Holy Spirit descended in power as divided tongues of fire, enabling the disciples to declare the mighty works of God. Filled with the Spirit, Peter took the keys of the gospel and proclaimed that God had made this same Jesus, whom they crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Even now Christ reigns over all things at the Father's right hand, and He will reign until He has put every enemy under His feet. We wait for the blessed hope of His return, when He will raise the dead, judge the world in righteousness, and make all things new — a new heaven and a new earth where God dwells with His people and wipes away every tear.
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!
Revelation 5:12
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
1 Corinthians 15:25
For Reflection
Down, down, down the Son of God descended to us — veiling His glory, serving, and dying the most shameful death for our sins. Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.