[Featured art by Jen Horton, “The Lion of Judah“]
I recently learned that the number eight in biblical numerology represents the supernatural as well as new beginnings and covenant.1 Even Holy Week holds deeper meanings when looked at through Hebrew symbolism. The actual days of the week, for instance.
On the first century Jewish calendar, Good Friday would’ve been the sixth day of the week. Just as God declared creation finished by calling it ‘good’ on the sixth day, Jesus declared the new creation He’d ushered in as finished on the cross (John 19:30). Just as God rested on the seventh day of Creation, Jesus ‘rested’ in the tomb on Saturday.
So…while Easter Sunday would certainly have been the first day of the new week, we could also call it the eighth day – the culmination of all Jesus had endured and accomplished during Holy Week. And this holy, eighth day contained all the supernatural, new life, and covenant happenings we could’ve ever hoped for. Jesus’ resurrection!
As life-changing, earth-shattering, and jaw-dropping as the Resurrection is, we would be remiss if we didn’t see earthly-Jesus’ story all the way to the end. Too often we stop at Easter. We sing the ‘hallelujahs’ then go home for the holiday dinner, neglecting to remember that Jesus still walks the earth for forty more days. The New Testament documents eight different ‘appearances’ of Jesus with other people. The Gospel of Luke records one such appearance on the road to Emmaus at length, as well as Resurrected Jesus’ first, face-to-face meeting with His disciples (Luke 24).
Then suddenly, Luke ends his narrative – as Jesus is blessing His disciples, He leaves them. He is “taken up into heaven” (v.51).
However, as Luke continued his writing in Acts, he further elaborated on this moment of Jesus leaving earth:
“He was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. [The disciples] were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. ‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’”
Acts 1:9-11
This singular moment, often described as Christ’s Ascension, holds more meaning than most of us would know by a simple reading of the passage. As Jesus ascends to heaven, He is not only taking up His rightful place on the heavenly throne but fulfills prophecy, upholds millenia of symbolic meaning, and extends to all who believe in Him an invitation to ascend with Him.
Old and New, Spiritual and Natural
Any time we recite the Nicene or Apostles’ Creeds, we verbalize our belief that Jesus “ascended into heaven.” And it’s no small thing to affirm such a belief as it aligns our hearts and minds with Christians who have gone before us for nearly two thousand years. In other words, such affirmation anchors us in this ancient facet of our Christian faith – and Jesus’ actual reality.
More than we realize, so much of what we place our faith and hope in as Jesus followers has roots that go beyond Jesus – as in, back to the actual beginning. When God spoke creation into being, He began with creating the skies and the land, aka: ‘the heavens’ and ‘the earth’ (Genesis 1:1). Biblical authors use such language to delineate between ‘God’s space’ and ‘humanity’s space’.2 Additionally these writers often used physical locations to represent a transcendent, higher reality, which is why God’s space is often described as being ‘up’ in the heavens.
And while we certainly have a physical reality of sky and earth, God’s vision of our two spiritual spaces is not one of separation – but integration. It’s how Creation began in Eden. God’s space and humanity’s space completely overlapped.2 Of course, once sin entered the world and humanity was cast out of the Garden, the spaces did, in fact, separate. It’s not, literally speaking, that we on earth are ‘down’ here and God is ‘up’ there, but figuratively, this language helps us comprehend and talk about the separation that exists because of sin. Our spiritual spaces are no longer united.
Such words and imagery also help us wrap our minds around what Luke means when he says that Jesus was taken up into heaven. Jesus, in his glorified, human body leaves the ‘land’ and returns to the ‘skies’. And while Jesus actually moves about freely in both spaces now, we don’t often see ourselves as having a foot in both the spiritual realm and the natural realm.2 But Paul assures us that we are seated in the heavenly places with Jesus even now (Ephesians 2:6). With Holy Spirit in us, we are both flesh and spirit!
While both ‘spaces’ have converged more since Jesus’ holy sacrifice, they won’t fully merge until the end of this era when the New Heaven and the New Earth come together. And humanity will, once again, be fully present with God. At one with Him.
All the ‘Ups’
Let’s get a little more word-nerdy by honing in on the little word ‘up’ as it’s used in Scripture. And we’re gonna do it at the highest speed possible, so buckle up (wink, wink). Let’s not forget to keep in mind that biblical authors were known to use geography as a way to depict a transcendent, unrivaled reality.2
- Ezekiel tells us that Eden was located ‘up’ on a mountain (Ezekiel 28:14,16).
- Moses climbed ‘up’ Mt. Sinai to meet with God (Exodus 24).3
- The high priest, on the Day of Atonement, would make an annual sacrifice to cover the sins of Israel, providing a way for people to live in God’s presence. By entering the Holy of Holies, the high priest symbolically went ‘up’ into the cosmos by going past the veil in the tabernacle that divided humanity’s space from God’s space – ‘up’ into the transcendent presence of God.2
- King David went ‘up’ into the literal hills of Israel to establish the capital city, Jerusalem (2 Samuel 6). It’s here that King Solomon constructed God’s temple – modeled after the Garden of Eden and pointing ahead to the New Heaven and New Earth.
- Jewish pilgrims would go ‘up’ to Jerusalem for festivals three times a year, singing the “Psalms of Ascent” as they traveled (1 Kings 12:27; Psalm 122:1; Isaiah 2:3). No matter if the pilgrims actually traveled north or toward a higher elevation to get to Jerusalem, they used the language of ‘ascending’ to God’s presence.
- Jesus is described as going ‘up’ to Jerusalem for trial (Mark 10:33) and ‘up’ to Golgotha (a hill near Jerusalem) for crucifixion (Mark 15:22) where He was lifted ‘up’ on a cross (John 3:14, 8:28, 12:32). Three days later He was raised ‘up’ from the grave (Luke 24:7).
Then we get to Luke’s description of Jesus leaving humanity’s space to return to God’s space – as “taken up into heaven” – and the pattern becomes clear.
Like so many before Him, Jesus ascends to His Father’s presence. Literally or not, Jesus’ going ‘up’ tells Luke’s audience that Messiah is entering a transcendent, non-earthly space. In a resurrected, glorified, human body, Jesus heads to heaven’s Holy of Holies! Talk about supernatural!
A Coronation
Beyond all the word-nerdiness of ‘up’ noting the transcendent and pointing to the spiritual, so much of what Jesus does – offering a sacrifice, stepping into God’s presence – reveals Himself as the High Priest. Only this Great High Priest doesn’t just perform the rite of offering, He also becomes the sacrifice.4
Additionally, while Jesus is our Lamb of God and the Great High Priest, He, simultaneously, is our King of Kings. Luke’s way of describing Jesus’ lifting ‘up’ at the cross, resurrection, and ascension paints an evocative picture of Jesus’ enthronement as King.2 And our author uses much of the same imagery as found in the prophets:
“As my vision continued that night, I saw someone like a son of man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient One and was led into his presence. He was given authority, honor, and sovereignty over all the nations of the world, so that people of every race and nation and language would obey him. His rule is eternal—it will never end. His kingdom will never be destroyed.”
Daniel 7:13-14 NLT
“Look, my servant will succeed!
Isaiah 52:13-15 NET
He will be elevated, lifted high, and greatly exalted—
(just as many were horrified by the sight of you)
he was so disfigured he no longer looked like a man;
his form was so marred he no longer looked human—
so now he will startle many nations.
Kings will be shocked by his exaltation,
for they will witness something unannounced to them,
and they will understand something they had not heard about.
Jesus’ ascension, then, is an event that “signifies His exaltation to the right hand of the Father.”5 Paul describes this moment as God exalting Jesus “to the highest place,” giving Him “the name above all names” (Philippians 2:9, emphasis mine). Jesus reigns so ‘up’ there that every knee will bow ‘low’ before Him (v.10). Biblical word choices – they are consistent and intentional.
Jesus’ ascension might also be seen as a coronation – a ceremonial-like event where Jesus is crowned King. It’s the moment Jesus takes His rightful place on the throne of all creation and is fully recognized for His royalty and divine authority. This is when God seats His Son “at his right hand in the heavenly realms far above all rule and authority, power and dominion” (Ephesians 1:20-21, emphasis mine), which is a direct fulfillment of Psalm 110:1. Jesus at the right hand of God. All His enemies ‘beneath’ Him. Amen! And as the most quoted Old Testament verse in all of the New Testament, Psalm 110:1 obviously held great significance to the early church – because it validates Jesus as the divine Messiah.
The ascension is also known as the ‘glorification of Christ’, and this God-given glory carries beyond the grave and into eternity. It’s why John is sure to describe to us his vision of the throne room – the heavenly worship of Jesus:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
Revelation 5:12,13
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
Eternal glorification means that Jesus is not only who He says He is but is worthy of all worship and honor – because He is Christ the Redeemer and King!5 His glory and power are infinite (and the sign for infinity is an ‘eight’ laid on its side – more winks).
Ascending in Life
My friends, all this ascending is not just for Jesus! Every single believer will follow His lead; we’ll be raised ‘up’ from our graves in our glorified bodies. We’ll ‘ascend’ to heaven with our High Priest and King where we’ll reign in glory with Him forever and ever amen (2 Timothy 2:12). And this is the hope He has called us to, what Paul calls “the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people” (Ephesians 1:18).
Until that time, Jesus invites us to ‘ascend’ into a holy way of life with Him – here and now. As the “head over everything for the church,” Jesus calls us to Himself (Ephesians 1:22, emphasis mine). To live set apart in the world. To be His Church, which “is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence” (Ephesians 1:22-23 MSG).
Jesus is the new humanity that we are invited into, that we are called to become even as we dwell in our human-space.2 Yet because we are ‘in Christ,’ we are able to enter beyond the torn veil and into God’s presence (2 Corinthians 5:17). And as we do, we take part in “God’s divine work of spreading his word and life here on Earth”.2
Friends, we now join our Great High Priest as His royal priesthood, filled with Holy Spirit, holy power, and holy authority (1 Peter 2:9). We have “become the place in the world where Heaven and Earth overlap.”2 And that means our salvation in Christ is waaaay more than a ticket to heaven. It’s a way of living as Jesus’ lights and love everywhere we find ourselves. It’s transcendent. It’s supernatural.
It’s us ascending with Christ to live set apart as holy in the world.
–This week we’ll use the lyrics from Bristol House’s song, “Great High Priest” as our prayer:4
Heavy is the burden carried by your pride
Patient is the father who longs to satisfy
Just call his name
On the road of mercy in a weary land
Grace on the horizon, redemption is at hand
Just call his name
Oh blessed be the name of Jesus Christ
He is the only way, the truth, and the life
Our great High Priest
Robed in majesty
Enthroned forevermore
Heavy was the burden carried on the cross
Patient is the shepherd gathering the lost
In his name
From the the throne of mercy the kingdom comes to earth
The fire and breath of heaven is breaking every curse
In his name
Oh blessed be the name of Jesus Christ
He is the only way, the truth, and the life
Our great High Priest
Robed in majesty
Enthroned forevermore
Every knee will bow down and every tongue confess
The glory of the father, he is our righteousness
All the saints and angels and those who cast their crowns
All thrones and all dominions, every nation crying out
That salvation is from God, and it belongs to him
The glory and the praise alone are his
Oh blessed be the name of Jesus Christ
He is the only way the truth and the life
Our great High Priest
Robed in majesty
Enthroned forevermore
Praying in the name that is above every other name, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, amen.
*This is the final post of our Set Apart series. But, never fear! Next week we’ll remain soaked in the holy as we begin an investigation of the Holy Trinity. Really, don’t be afraid. This will not be so lofty that we cannot comprehend the words I attempt to write. Rather, this will be a sincere effort to walk through Scripture with a lens for the Father, Son, and Spirit — to better understand how they work together and model for us holy living and holy unity. XOXO
Resources: I love sharing with you the books, podcasts, articles, and anything else that has inspired, encouraged, or taught me. These are humble offerings with no expectations.
- 1 – Other biblical ‘eights’ of note include the eight people on Noah’s ark who survive a supernatural flood and represent the new beginning and circumcision of Jewish male babies on the eighth day after birth which marks them for new life in God and the covenant with God. If you’d like to read more about this number in Scripture, this Biblehub article is helpful, as is this BibleStudy article. I actually first learned about the number eight from Rabbi Jacob Sobel in an interview with Annie F. Downs on this That Sounds Fun podcast episode. And…I did not plan for the post to fall on week EIGHT of this series. LOL.
- 2 – The Bible Project blog post, “Why Does the Ascension of Jesus Matter?” is packed with so much goodness. Oh my!
- 3 – The above source says of this meeting on Mt. Sinai, “we see human and divine in a mysterious togetherness with God’s space and humanity’s space integrated as one.” XOXO
- 4 – I’ve linked Bristol House’s song “Great High Priest” here, and it’s also on our series’ Spotify playlist, Set Apart As Holy.
- 5 – This Biblehub article on glorification
- Each Wednesday I upload a “Teacup” teaching video that carries on the topic here. You can find all the videos on my Facebook Author Page, Instagram, and YouTube.
- Many of you have found me on Substack. Thank you so much! And, if you’d like to listen to (rather than read) these weekly posts, you can do so on Substack. It’s easy to see and use the audio bar across the top of each post. While you’re on Substack, check out the ministry I’m blessed to be part of, the Devoted Collective.
- My monthly newsletter, The Abiding Life, goes to email inboxes the first week of each month to those who have subscribed on my website. I also post them on Substack. My most recent edition can be found there, and you can subscribe for future newsletters on Substack, here.
Rhythms: As my newsletter’s title infers, we seek to develop an abiding life in this space — a place where we can get informed but also be transformed as we learn to abide in God’s presence throughout our days. I like to think that developing rhythms is one way to aid us in our desire to become more Christlike.
- During Lent we leaned into the spiritual rhythms of fasting and praying. And since we’re now, officially, in the church season of Easter, it makes sense that we’d continue to seek more of God through such practices. In fact, I marvel in those moments of fasting and prayer when my heart is wholly surrendered and my mind is holy-focused and God breaks-in. With all this ‘up’ language now in my brain forevermore, I can more confidently say that those moments do feel as though I’m being swept up beyond my human-space and into God’s space. Or maybe it’s that the two spaces merge for a moment. The ancient Celts called those moments of heaven and earth convergence as ‘thin places’. Holy, holy, holy!
- We’re all called to share the truth about who Jesus is. One way you can do that is by sharing this site and telling others your own stories of faith experiences. May we use our whole selves to tell others about our holy God!!
Featured art by Jen Horton, “The Lion of Judah“
“All the Bits and Pieces” Photo by Aleksandra Sapozhnikova on Unsplash.