The Sovereign Love of God

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T he S eason from E aster to P entecost

Proofs of the Resurrection, Promises of the Spirit’s Coming For forty days following his resurrection from the dead, the risen Jesus provided the apostles with a number of convincing proofs of his return from death, and taught them concerning the Kingdom of God (Acts 1.3). He commanded them to stay in Jerusalem until the promise of the Father (i.e., the Holy Spirit) would be granted to them (cf. Acts 1.5; John 14.16; 15.26; 16.7). They questioned him concerning the timing of God’s restoration of the Kingdom, revealing the close con­ nection in their minds of the promised outpouring of the Holy Spirit and the end of the age, climaxed with the coming of the promised Kingdom of the Father (cf. Isa. 32.15-20; 44.3-5; Ezek. 39.28-29; Joel 2.28-3.1; Zech. 12.8-10). After commanding his apostles to share the Good News to the ends of the earth, starting at Jerusalem, Jesus ascended as they looked on, and was lifted up with a cloud taking him out of their sight (Acts 1.9). As firsthand witnesses, the apostles saw the risen Christ ascend. According to Luke’s account, “two men in white robes” [i.e., angels of God] made the following affirmation: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven” (Acts 1.10-11). This doctrine is critical for Christian worship, spiritual warfare, and fruitful mission. Christ ascended to the Father’s right hand in order to fulfill his promise of his return to the Father (John 6.62; 14.2, 12; 16.5, 10, 28; 20.17), to vindicate his messiahship and sonship, and to pour out the Holy Spirit upon the Church for worship and witness (cf. John 16.7 with Acts 1.8; Acts 2.33). As conquering Lord, Christ now spreads abroad the “spoils” of his divine triumph over the devil and the forces of evil (Eph. 4.8-10), and he now prepares a place (i.e., the New Jerusalem) for his redeemed company and body, the Church (John 14.2-3; Acts 3.21). Because he has ascended, he can now empower all members of his Church with his divine presence through the Spirit (Matt. 28.20, cf.