Jesus ascends to heaven on the morning of his resurrection.
Jesus ascended to heaven on the day of his resurrection to enter the Most Holy and open the door for all. Unfortunately, not all want to enter through the door that Jesus opened. When Mary recognized Jesus in the garden, she fell at his feet. Jesus told her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.” John 20:17. Jesus spoke in the present tense, “I am ascending,” indicating that he ascended to heaven on the morning of his resurrection. Jesus, our High Priest, has just offered the sacrifice for our sin. Therefore, he had to enter the Most Holy, the Heaven, to have his sacrifice for the sin of humankind accepted and receive the power to rule. By ascending to heaven on the morning of his resurrection, Jesus completed his service as our High Priest. Jesus remains the High Priest forever because he does not have a successor. However, he does not officiate as the high priest. Now, as the representative of the new humankind, he rules the Kingdom of God as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
Did Jesus ascend to heaven on the day of his resurrection? Jesus proved that he had ascended to heaven. On the morning of Jesus’ resurrection, Mary could not touch him. However, on the evening of the same day, Jesus entered the room where the apostles were gathered. He told them they could all touch and verify that he had the cross’s wounds on his hands. They were able to touch him because he had ascended to the Father. John 20:19. Chapter four (4) of the book of Revelation describes the preparation for Jesus’ arrival to heaven to present himself to the Father. This event fulfilled the prophecy given to Daniel.
Daniel was watching in the night vision, and he saw one like the son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven and approaching the Ancient of Days. Daniel 7:13. “To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty. All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him. His authority is eternal and will not pass away. His kingdom will not be destroyed.” Daniel 7:14, NET. When the disciples went to Galilee, as Jesus instructed them, Jesus met them. “Then Jesus came up and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Mathew 28:18, NET. Therefore, Jesus confirmed that he had gone to heaven on the day of his resurrection. Later, at the end of forty (40) days, Jesus ascended to heaven visibly.
Was the door to heaven open? Read the next blog.
