THE GREATNESS OF CHRIST AS ASCENDED

A. P. Grant

Hebrews 7: 26; Ephesians 4: 8–12

These two scriptures refer to the great height to which Christ has gone. In Hebrews 7, He has “become higher than the heavens”, and in Ephesians, He has “ascended up above all the heavens”. We know that for us the heavens would be the highest point, but these scriptures speak about the glory of the person of Christ, His deity, who He is. As it says in Hebrews, “become higher than the heavens”, beyond the created sphere; that is the glory of Christ that He has gone there as Man, a contemplation for us. Hebrews 7 refers to the moral beauties that marked Him, such a One who has “become higher than the heavens”. These moral beauties are for our occupation and food, “For such a high priest became us, holy, harmless, undefiled, separated from sinners”. These are features that we see in Christ down here—these beauties show how pure He was. We sang of One who was here for the benefit and blessing of men in displaying love and grace, as the scripture says here, “For such a high priest became us”. We have often been reminded this scripture speaks of the greatness of the saints requiring such a distinguished High Priest, such a great Person—the One that is serving us as it says in the previous verse, “Whence also he is able to save completely those who approach by him to God, always living to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7: 25). This is the One who is so great, serving the saints in love in view of our approach to God and in view of us enjoying our heavenly portion. The Hebrew saints were being encouraged to enjoy the fulness of Christianity, and it is beautiful the way that the glory of Christ is brought before them. In verse 26 the moral beauties are brought before us for our occupation and food, and then such a One has “become higher than the heavens”; what a contemplation for us! May we be encouraged to have our view directed to Him.

In Ephesians, it is, “who has also ascended up above all the heavens, that he might fill all things”. What I was impressed with again is the greatness of His person that is referred to, going “up above all the heavens”. Then there is what is for the benefit of the saints from Him; “he has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints; with a view to the work of the ministry, with a view to the edifying of the body of Christ”. This scripture speaks about His descent, and we are reminded of the strength of His love that took Him to the lower parts of the earth. His descent would include His going into death and into the grave, the lower parts of the earth; that is how He descended in love. We think of the power that marked Him and it is such a One that “has also ascended up above all the heavens”. What a place He has and what glories are His. He is unique in this—we do not go above the created sphere, we are limited to the creation. What a place we have in the heavens. Paul went as far as the third heaven. But Christ “has given gifts to men ... he has given some apostles, and some prophets, and some evangelists, and some shepherds and teachers”. We know in some measure what these things are, these features coming out in the saints in view of the edifying of the body of Christ. I thought this would encourage us to see what is flowing from such a One who has been so exalted and, in the right of His person, has such a place. He has in view the edifying and blessing of His own, of the assembly. So may we be encouraged as having our view directed on Him and all that flows from Him, for His name’s sake.

Word in meeting for ministry, Dundee
18 January 2011