Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive;
thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also,
that the Lord God might dwell amongst them.--Psalm lxviii. 18.
We find amid the records of the Old Testament, very distinguished
honour was conferred by God on two illustrious personages, whom
he was pleased to exempt from the common lot of humanity, and
admit into the Celestial City, by a new, and, till then, untrodden
path. Their way led not across the dark valley of the shadow of
death; they entered Canaan without passing the banks of Jordan's
stormy waters. God was pleased to translate the bodies of Enoch and
Elijah to heaven, without an execution of the sentence "dust thou
art, and unto dust shalt thou return." This was assuredly a high
mark of favour; but we are in this verse presented with an event,
in comparison with which, the cases of Enoch and Elijah sink into
insignificance. It is a description of the return of a great and
mighty conqueror, who, surrounded by the trophies of his victories,
appears at court to receive the thanks and rewards his services so
well deserve. And who is this mighty conqueror? It is Jesus! See
him surrounded by the little band of faithful followers, on whom he
bestows his parting blessing; having bidden them an affectionate
farewell, he, with conscious majesty, mounts the air, and soars
beyond the eagle's path, through the vast extent of space. Though he
goes forth unattended, it is not long a secret that the victorious
Saviour is on his way to the heavenly kingdom; for the myriads
of spirits, who are anxiously watching his motions, no sooner
observe that he bends his course toward the Celestial City, but they
instantly proclaim the joyful news to its inhabitants; who, with
holy impatience, are all anxious to fly on the wings of love and
adoration to meet and welcome this illustrious Conqueror back to
the realms of bliss. Wide are thrown the golden gates, and as they
open, ten thousand voices are heard chaunting in chorus; "Lift up
your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty; the Lord, mighty in battle. Lift up
your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors;
and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory?
The Lord of Hosts, he is the King of glory." Forth from heaven's
portals there issued a goodly band, singing as they advance to meet
and welcome their victorious King, whom they convey in celestial
triumph to the presence of the eternal Father; seated on his throne
of glory, he receives, with ineffable delight and joy, this, his
only-begotten, always well-beloved, but now still more endeared Son,
the Glorious Deliverer of the children of men. Great was the joy of
that illustrious day, when the eternal Son of God, entered the city
of the new Jerusalem, as the victorious Conqueror of sin, death, and
hell, whom he led as captives to adorn his triumph, for, "having
spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly,
triumphing over them, and ascended on high, leading captivity
captive." Then the eternal hills resounded to the melodious sound of
ten thousand times ten thousand voices, who sing aloud, "Worthy is
the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom,
and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing." Then all in
heaven said, "Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto
him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever,
and ever." The spirits of the redeemed vie with elect angels, in
testifying their love, reverence, and gratitude to the God of their
salvation. They knew, if the eternal Son of God had not become their
surety, not one of Adam's race could ever have entered the realms of
bliss.[107] But in the eternal council of peace, he did covenant and
promise, in the fulness of time, to become a sacrifice, and God who
knew him to be faithful, did, on the credit of that promise, save
all the Old Testament saints.[108] Jesus had now fulfilled that
engagement; paid the full price of their redemption; "blotted out
the hand-writing of ordinances that was against them, taking it away
by nailing it to his cross." What wonder, if his return was hailed
with rapturous delight; his presence could not fail of adding fresh
joy to the happy spirits of the redeemed in glory. Yes! Jesus has
"ascended on high, he has led captivity captive, and received gifts
for men." It is as the God-Man, it is in his human nature, that he
is said to receive gifts; for, as God, all is his in common with
the Father. It is in the office of Mediator, that he has "all power
given him in heaven and on earth." It is as God-Man, that the Father
set him "at his right hand, in the heavenly places; far above all
principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name
that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to
come; and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the
head over all things to the church." He is made the great Almoner of
heaven, and he disposes of his gifts to the children of earth. He
has received freely, and he gives freely,--witness the showers of
ascension gifts, on the day of Pentecost. He then, as the apostle
quotes the words, "gave gifts to men, yea, to the rebellious also,
that the Lord God might dwell among them." But while we view Christ
as glorified, let us not fail to connect the scenes of Gethsemane
and Calvary. The new song in heaven, to which their golden harps are
ever tuned, is to the praise of him "who was slain, and has redeemed
us to God by his blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation; and has made us unto our God kings and priests
for ever."
[107] John xiv. 6.
[108] Psalm xl. 7, 8.