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rection, Christ appeared more thjin twelve times to different people during the forty days before His ascension (Mark 16:9;John 20:11-18; Matthew. 28:9- 19; Mark 16:12-18; Luke 24:13-33; Luke 24:34;John 20:19-24; Matthew. 28:16- 20; John 21:1-14; Mark 16:19; Luke 24:50; Acts 1:9;I Corinthians 15:5-8).
His death, burial and resurrection were not accidents, but was divine ly ordered for a purpose. Thescripture attests thatHe"...was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification" (Romans 4:25), and became our high priest, not only to deliver us from bondage, but also to intercede for us in times of need. His resurrection has provided us with the blessings of repentance, forgiveness, regeneration, gifts of the Holy Spirit, resurrection from death in the likeness of His body and the lively hope of
everlastinglife. (SeeIJohn3:1-3;Philippians3:20-21;IICorinthians5:1-5.)
VIII - The Ascension of Christ
His ascension is equally as important as His death, burial and resurrec tion. Christassuredusthat"...ItisexpedientforyouthatIgoaway;forif I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7). There areimportant reasons for His ascen
sion. •
He ascended because He declared, "I cameforth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father" (John 16:28). He was originally from heaven, from within the Father. It is also written in the gospel of John, "Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto theend...Jesus knowing thatthe Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from
God, and went to God" Qohn 13:1-3).
• He ascended to lead captivity captive and to give gifts to men (Ephesians 4:8; John 7:37-39; John 16:7-14; Luke 24:44; Acts 2:33; Acts 1:1-8).
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He ascended because He is able to be in heaven and on earth (John 3:13; Mark 16:19-20).
He ascended to assume His heavenly high priest ministry. "Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek" (Hebrews 6:20; 7:23-28; 9:23-25; I
John 2:1; Romans 8:34).
HeascendedtoprepareaplaceforHissaints. Jesusdeclared,"Igoto prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself; that where I anv there ye
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