Mark 16:19 - Ascension and Session

Mark 16:19
So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.

Message: Ascension and Session

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is crucified and then rises again. He appears to a woman first and it is women that first hear of him. He appears later to 2 of the disciples and then the rest and starts out by speaking a work of reproof towards them because they did not believe others. His complaint was over the hardness of their hearts in not even giving others an opportunity to present their evidence. But, he commissions them to preach the gospel, telling them that belief is followed with baptism as unbelief is followed with condemnation. He remarks that a believers life will simply look different and that person will be able to do things, radical things, and have a radical effect on other people's lives.

Jesus had declared that eventually He would sit at the right hand of God. Back in chapter 14 when He was taken before His accusers, Jesus answered the question of whether he was the Christ, the Son of God with I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Jesus had an eternal position with God. And following His speaking with the disciples the writer here remarks So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 

Some may have thought that Jesus was appearing to them and now would be with them again and walk with them. But, Jesus clearly has a purpose that goes beyond His time on earth. His crucifixion and resurrection fulfilled His mission on earth - to be offered as the Lamb of God and conquer sin. Jesus bore the wrath of God on the cross. In the end, it killed Him. But, days later He rose. Sin had not defeated Him. It did kill him but it didn't defeat Him for He rose again. The resurrection is central to the gospel message.

I've noticed in our world today that much of life is about living a good life. The message of tolerance has invaded our church to the point that we no longer contrast the sinner and the saved. Our church songs and worship songs are focused more on enjoying God's presence and glorifying God. It is less and less about confronting our culture with the message of the Gospel - that God hates sin, but God loves sinners. Jesus spent much of His time on earth correcting thinking. He challenged the thinking that goodness is found in keeping a set of rules. Instead He preached that we need to embrace the rule-keeper. Our sins must be forgiven and can be forgiven once and for all. Once this happens we are to live for Him which means following Him in however He commissions us.

Jesus would eventually leave earth and go to sit at the right hand of God. Even as He walked on the earth His authority was different. He spoke of it often and he showed His authority in casting out demons, raising people from the dead, walking on the water, calming storms. Today, Jesus still has authority over our lives and wants us to continue to change our world. I'm concerned instead that we are being changed by our world.

In reality, Jesus is presently seating at the right hand of God. He has previously descended to earth but now He takes up His home with God. In the future there will be judgment but for now He resides, as a person of the trinity, with God. Jesus lived on earth to speak to us. It says So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them. The author could have been really only speaking of His most recent conversation with the disciples but in reality Jesus had spent His time on earth speaking to us. God in flesh was speaking to His creation in flesh, walking with them, experiencing what they experience, showing them a different way of living.

He was received up into heaven - He had completed the work on earth. He had lived, been accused, defended Himself, but still declared guilty, received punishment, mocked, crushed, and then received the complete wrath of God and felt the rejection by God in the process, and died. It was over, finished. But then as He predicted He rose again. He commissioned His disciples to now carry on the message. And He was received into heaven. His work was done. As in the creation story, after 7 days there was rest or rather there was the realization that everything had been done. We rest often declaring that there is nothing more that needs to be done. Christ did it all. And we can rest.

He sat down at the right hand of God. What a comfort it is to know that Jesus sits at the right hand of God. He is not shaken or stirred by the events of this world. He is steadfast and firmly planted at the right hand of God. He cried aloud, "It is finished." He remains at the right hand of God now as our intercessor.

Summary - Jesus work on this earth is complete. And witness to this is his ascension into heaven and then a seat at the right hand of the Father.

Promise: Only One deserves unquestioned allegiance - Jesus Christ. Let us resolve in our hearts now that we will serve Him as Lord of all so that we will be prepared to stand if we must ever suffer for our faith.

Prayer: Lord, you came to this earth, not because you had to but you did to walk with us and show us yourself and more clearly what it means to live with God. Emmanuel is God with us and you did that, you came to us. I am forever grateful. I am forever changed. Lord, help me to not acquiesce into this world and become a part of it. It wants to bend me in its direction. And Lord, out of own concern now for safety and comfort, relaxing and entertainment, I find myself often not living a manner that I believe you have called me to live: a radical life. Lord, I want to obey You.