What is the meaning and importance of the ascension of Jesus Christ?

It is of this entrance into heaven after resurrection that the epistle to the Hebrews speaks, — an entrance by ascension, which the Lord in His words to Mary on the day of His resurrection denies having yet taken place: "Touch Me not," He says, "for I am not yet ascended to My Father." With His ascension is connected His session at the right hand of God: "He was received up into heaven," says Mark, "and sat on the right hand of God." This was necessarily a thing done once, not needing to be repeated, and so is spoken of always in Hebrews: "We have such a High-Priest who is set down on the right hand of the Majesty in the heavens;" "by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place;" "but this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down forever" — or has taken His seat in perpetuity" — "at the right hand of God." This is the true force of the last verse, though in the R.V. only given in the margin.

C.C. — In Mark 16:19-20 we are told that He was received up into heaven and put on the right hand of God. The word means to place, to put, to cause to sit. It was what the Father did for Him, the resurrected man.

Several things "pertaining to the kingdom of God" having been spoken of between the Lord and His apostles, He ascends to heaven, and a cloud receives Him out of their sight. The Lord's return is also most plainly and distinctly taught at the same time. "And when He had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven." It is quite evident from these words, that He ascended personally, visibly, bodily, and that He shall so come again in like manner — that He will again appear beneath the heavens, and be manifested to people on the earth, personally, visibly, and bodily; but then it will be in power and great glory.

But here we have an immense fact: a man, the Son of man, is seated at the right hand of God in the divine glory.

We now see Him in heaven, having accomplished the work which the Father gave Him to do; we see Him at God's right hand, our sins abolished, waiting until His enemies shall be made His footstool.

During the forty days between His resurrection and ascension the Lord had "presented Himself living" to His own; had spoken to them of the things concerning the kingdom of God and had then instructed them to await the coming of the Holy Spirit, the power in which they should go out as His "witnesses … unto the uttermost part of the earth." Christ Himself had been "received up in glory," and from a glorified Christ the Holy Spirit came down to indwell those who were Christ's, fitting and empowering them to represent Him in the world from which He had been cast out. This was the commencement of an era distinct from every other dispensation. There was, and now is, a blessed glorified Man in heaven, and God the Holy Spirit is here in the saints.

As forerunner He has entered into heaven for the saints, and has been made a high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. Heb. 6:20. His ascension assured, according to His promise, the descent of the Holy Spirit, which was accomplished at Pentecost. John 16:7; Acts 1:4, 8; Acts 2:1-47. As ascended He became Head of His body the church, Eph. 1:22, and gave gifts to men, among which gifts are evangelists who preach to the world, and pastors and teachers to care for and instruct the saints. Ps. 68:18; Eph. 4:8-13.

This Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God (v.33). Luke describes this in his gospel and also in the Acts. It is a wonderful scene. Our Saviour went out to Bethany with His disciples and then He lifted up His hands and blessed them and was taken up into heaven. God put Him into the place of honour. It is a very important fact in Christianity that now there is a man in heaven. This makes clear that Christians have a heavenly character, but it shows something else, namely, that the end of every Christian is heaven.

So here we look into the open heaven and see the Son, in whose person God has given a final and complete revelation of Himself (v.1) and who has brought about a complete cleansing of sin for us. Sitting at the right hand of God emphasizes and confirms that it is a “fait accompli”.

Above all, the ascension is a glorious fact for the blessed Lord Himself. Jehovah said unto Him, "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Ps. 110:1. He has taken His place as man where man never was before, and He is also glorified with the glory which He had before the world was, besides the glory which He graciously shares with His saints. John 17:5, 22.