Convincing Ascension Proofs

Previously stated, is the fact that unless we truly believe that Jesus descended from above, we really cannot believe, without dispute, that Jesus, Son of God, ascended back to heaven.

Giving infallible, or convincing proofs, was Jesus’ chosen method of personally informing His disciples that He had risen from the dead. In Acts 1: 3 NIV, this is what is recorded. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. Here is the point. Jesus went over and over again to His disciples, convincing them that He was truly risen from the dead, and teaching them on one single topic, before He ascended back to heaven.

Following His example, we will continue in this offering, to bring more convincing proofs about the fact that Jesus descended to earth from heaven.  These come to us from three unquestionable, infallible and reliable sources.

The Prophetic Word

We know Isaiah’s prophecy about Messiah, but do we ever see and hear that Messiah, in order to fulfill all these prophecies, had to come down from heaven to earth? Feast freely on these familiar prophetic words, and with every bite, every taste, every feel, every smell and every swallow, know that nothing of them would ever be possible, had Messiah, Jesus not come down to earth from heaven above. Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of the ground. He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him. Isaiah 53: 1 – 2.  I ask you! Who is the arm of the LORD? If we believe that it is Messiah, Jesus, then nothing prophesied here could ever be fulfilled if Jesus, Messiah, did not come down from heaven. Indeed! We know that Jesus truly descended from heaven because prophecy speaks it. 

The Personal Word

Here is Jesus Himself, speaking clearly and openly to a crowd of people who have tracked Him down, and want to be fed more of Him and by Him. In all that He says to them, feed on these words which Jesus testifies about Himself as descending from above. Then Jesus said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. John 6: 32 – 33.

Jesus also went on to feed them with these most sweet and life-savouring words. All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to me I will by no means cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. John 6: 37 – 38. I ask you! Who is the sent One? If we believe that it is Jesus, He who came in our likeness, then we know that He had to leave His home on high, to live in human flesh.

Then we listen to Jesus as He plainly testifies to the place from which He came and the fact that He is returning there. I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father. John 16: 28. Indeed! We know that Jesus truly descended from heaven because of His personal testimonies.

The Professed Word

We have the testimony of many professors, disciples and apostles of Jesus, who have professed this truth long after Jesus ascended into heaven. These have been recorded for us, for our edification and celebration.

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, the Ascended Lord, is a servant who never knew Jesus in the flesh. Nevertheless, he became one with Jesus in the Spirit, and professed this fact boldly to the believers in Ephesus. But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says: When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men. Ephesians 4: 7 – 8. What Paul professes here is truth, for if he is telling us about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, as ascended into heaven, then it stands to good reason that he is also telling us that Jesus first descended to earth.

Let’s now listen to Peter, a disciple and apostle, of Jesus, who knew Him in the flesh and who received all his tuition from Him as he lived with Him. This is what Peter professes and proclaims to the believers, as he encourages all who suffer for the sake of the Gospel. He encourages them through Jesus, who suffered greatly when He was on earth, in flesh. There is also an antitype which now saves us – baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him. 1 Peter 3: 21 – 22.

I ask you! Who is the Ascended One? If we believe that it is Christ, known by and indwelt by His apostles, then we can fully and confidently believe all that they have professed about their Lord and Master, being ascended back to heaven. Indeed! We know that Jesus truly descended from heaven because of the professions of His faithful apostles. 

We continue tomorrow with Jesus’ Ascension and how it affected His disciples.