Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."
Acts 1:9-11
What did Jesus do for those He came to save? The first and obvious answer is that He died for us. But that isn’t all. We are considering five components of what Jesus did for the redeemed that are absolutely essential. Previously we considered the fact that Jesus was born for us, that He lived for us, that He died for us, and that He rose for us.
Number Five: He ascended. This fifth component of what Jesus did for the redeemed is actually what prompted this mini-series on: “Often overlooked. Absolutely essential.” Jesus’ ascension is easily the most overlooked of the five components. Few, if any, evangelicals think about the ascension, but it is “absolutely essential!” Here is why:
That Jesus ascended for us reminds us that our Savior is still very much alive and personally involved. He ascended into Heaven where He is at the right hand (the position of honor) of God the Father (Acts 2:33, 7:55-56, Romans 8:34, Ephesians 1:20, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 1:3, 1:13, 8:1, 10:12, 12:2, 1 Peter 3:22, and Revelation 3:21). Does the number of verses that affirm this fact help instruct us just how important this is?
And what is Jesus doing there in Heaven? He intercedes for us (Hebrews 7:25). We are comforted by the thought that fellow believers pray for us,. How much more ought we be comforted that the Lord Jesus Himself “Ever lives to make intercession for us (Hebrews 7:25)? Our prayers for each other are not all the time, nor are they ever perfect. Jesus prays all the time, and His prayers are indeed perfect!
What else does He do for us in Heaven? He is our “Advocate with the Father.” (1 John 2:1). As our Advocate, when Satan and our sins accuse us, Jesus defends us—not merely asking the Father not to hold our sins against us, but standing as the One who has already borne the complete and eternal penalty for all the sins committed by everyone who has ever or will ever trust in Him!
As our great High Priest, He finished the work of atoning for our sins while on the cross. He now continues to serve as our great High Priest, as our Intercessor and Advocate, always and forever!