He Ascended into Heaven - Part 2

The bodily Ascension is most strongly emphasised by certain Christian denominations and traditions, such as the Calvinists. Karl Barth wrote that Christ’s humanity is “to all eternity … a clothing which He does not put off. It is His temple which He does not leave. It is the form which He does not lose.”

What about Methodists? Article III of our Articles of Religion states that “Christ did truly rise again from the dead, and took again his body, with all things pertaining to the perfection of man’s nature, wherewith he ascended into heaven, and sitteth until he return to judge all men at the last day.” The phrases “took again his body” and “wherewith” point to the bodily Ascension of Jesus.

Why then the apparent lack of emphasis on the Ascension? We should certainly emphasise this more. Methodists are interested in the key emphases of the Ascension – regarding the present rule of Christ, Christ as the forerunner and head of His body on earth, and His bodily return to judge all the earth. John Wesley, as far as I know, never preached a sermon specifically on the Ascension, though he

included Ascension in the liturgical calendar for Methodists. Charles Wesley, however, wrote seven hymns on the Ascension in 1746.

Reading these hymns will give an idea of the Methodist perspective on the Ascension. The last two stanzas of the seventh hymn are worth noting:

By faith already there

In thee our head we are,

With our great forerunner we

Now in heavenly places sit,

Banquet with the deity,

See the world beneath our feet.

Thou art our flesh and bone,

Thou art to heaven gone!

Gone that we might all pursue,

Closely in thy footsteps tread,

Gone that we might follow too,

Reign triumphant with our head.

The word ‘forerunner’ appears a few times in Charles’ Ascension hymns. Also the emphasis is our present identification with Jesus (cf. Ephesians 2:6) and the anticipation of our future union with Him as our Head. Note that the focus is on our sanctification and perfection, not on speculation on how precisely Jesus is both human and divine in His exalted state.

In summary, the bodily Ascension of Jesus and His continuing Incarnation as fully human and fully divine is in line with our doctrines, though we do not know everything about this doctrine. Even Luther and Calvin differed in their opinions whether Christ’s ascended body is limited by space. The Methodist emphasis has been not as much on speculative theology as on practical (experiential, or

as John Wesley would say, ‘experimental’) theology. That is to say, the

emphasis is on the practical implications for us.

With regard to the Ascension, the implications (and these are important) should be on trusting the sovereignty of Christ, His current ministry of being an advocate for us, our call to be identified with Him, and our hope of final union with Him (the Body with the Head). He indeed is the Forerunner, and in that is our hope for heaven and union with God.

Discussion Questions:

Discuss the statement: “Jesus is still fully God and fully man – today as he was 20 centuries ago … He ascended bodily and remains in that state today.” Do you agree? What evidence can you find in Scripture to support this? What is the ascended Jesus doing now (Romans 8:34) and how does this affect you?

How do you understand the way Charles Wesley used the word ‘forerunner’ to describe Jesus? Discuss the practical implications (mentioned at the end of the chapter) of the doctrine of the Ascension of Jesus. Share how you have experienced such implications.