The Desire of Ages
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 87: "To My Father, and Your Father"
This chapter is based on Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-12.
The time had come for Christ to ascend to His Father's
throne. As a divine conqueror He was about to return with the trophies of
victory to the heavenly courts. Before His death He had declared to His Father,
"I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do." John 17:4.
After His resurrection He tarried on earth for a season, that His disciples
might become familiar with Him in His risen and glorified body. Now He was
ready for the leave-taking. He had authenticated the fact that He was a living
Saviour. His disciples need no longer associate Him with the tomb. They could
think of Him as glorified before the heavenly universe. {DA 829.1}
As the place of His ascension, Jesus chose the spot so often
hallowed by His presence while He dwelt among men. Not Mount Zion, the place of
David's city, not Mount Moriah, the temple site, was to be thus honored. There
Christ had been mocked and rejected. There the waves of mercy, still returning
in a stronger tide of love, had been beaten back by hearts as hard as rock.
Thence Jesus, weary and heart-burdened, had gone forth to find rest in the
Mount of Olives. The holy Shekinah, in departing from the first temple, had
stood upon the eastern mountain, as if loath to forsake the chosen city; so
Christ stood upon Olivet, with yearning heart overlooking Jerusalem. The groves
and glens of the [830] mountain had been consecrated by
His prayers and tears. Its steeps had echoed the triumphant shouts of the
multitude that proclaimed Him king. On its sloping descent He had found a home
with Lazarus at Bethany. In the garden of Gethsemane at its foot He had prayed
and agonized alone. From this mountain He was to ascend to heaven. Upon its
summit His feet will rest when He shall come again. Not as a man of sorrows,
but as a glorious and triumphant king He will stand upon Olivet, while Hebrew
hallelujahs mingle with Gentile hosannas, and the voices of the redeemed as a
mighty host shall swell the acclamation, Crown Him Lord of all! {DA 829.2}
Now with the eleven disciples Jesus made His way toward the
mountain. As they passed through the gate of Jerusalem, many wondering eyes
looked upon the little company, led by One whom a few weeks before the rulers
had condemned and crucified. The disciples knew not that this was to be their
last interview with their Master. Jesus spent the time in conversation with
them, repeating His former instruction. As they approached Gethsemane, He
paused, that they might call to mind the lessons He had given them on the night
of His great agony. Again He looked upon the vine by which He had then
represented the union of His church with Himself and His Father; again He
repeated the truths He had then unfolded. All around Him were reminders of His
unrequited love. Even the disciples who were so dear to His heart, had, in the
hour of His humiliation, reproached and forsaken Him. {DA 830.1}
Christ had sojourned in the world for thirty-three years; He
had endured its scorn, insult, and mockery; He had been rejected and crucified.
Now, when about to ascend to His throne of glory,—as He reviews the
ingratitude of the people He came to save,—will He not withdraw from
them His sympathy and love? Will not His affections be centered upon that realm
where He is appreciated, and where sinless angels wait to do His bidding? No;
His promise to those loved ones whom He leaves on earth is, "I am with you
alway, even unto the end of the world." Matthew 28:20. {DA 830.2}
Upon reaching the Mount of Olives, Jesus led the way across
the summit, to the vicinity of Bethany. Here He paused, and the disciples
gathered about Him. Beams of light seemed to radiate from His countenance as He
looked lovingly upon them. He upbraided them not for their faults and failures;
words of the deepest tenderness were the last that fell upon their ears from
the lips of their Lord. With hands outstretched [831] in
blessing, and as if in assurance of His protecting care, He slowly ascended
from among them, drawn heavenward by a power stronger than any earthly
attraction. As He passed upward, the awe-stricken disciples looked with
straining eyes for the last glimpse of their ascending Lord. A cloud of glory
hid Him from their sight; and the words came back to them as the cloudy chariot
of angels received Him, "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the
world." At the same time there floated down to them the sweetest and most
joyous music from the angel choir. {DA 830.3}
While the disciples were still gazing upward, voices
addressed them which sounded like richest music. They turned, and saw two
angels in the form of men, who spoke to them, saying, "Ye men of Galilee,
why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from [832]
you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into
heaven." {DA 831.1}
These angels were of the company that had been waiting in a
shining cloud to escort Jesus to His heavenly home. The most exalted of the
angel throng, they were the two who had come to the tomb at Christ's
resurrection, and they had been with Him throughout His life on earth. With
eager desire all heaven had waited for the end of His tarrying in a world
marred by the curse of sin. The time had now come for the heavenly universe to
receive their King. Did not the two angels long to join the throng that
welcomed Jesus? But in sympathy and love for those whom He had left, they
waited to give them comfort. "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent
forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" Hebrews 1:14.
{DA 832.1}
Christ had ascended to heaven in the form of humanity. The
disciples had beheld the cloud receive Him. The same Jesus who had walked and
talked and prayed with them; who had broken bread with them; who had been with
them in their boats on the lake; and who had that very day toiled with them up
the ascent of Olivet,—the same Jesus had now gone to share His
Father's throne. And the angels had assured them that the very One whom they
had seen go up into heaven, would come again even as He had ascended. He will
come "with clouds; and every eye shall see Him." "The Lord
Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the
Archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise."
"The Son of man shall come in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him,
then shall He sit upon the throne of His glory." Revelation 1:7; 1
Thessalonians 4:16; Matthew 25:31. Thus will be fulfilled the Lord's own
promise to His disciples: "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will
come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be
also." John 14:3. Well might the disciples rejoice in the hope of their
Lord's return. {DA 832.2}
When the disciples went back to Jerusalem, the people looked
upon them with amazement. After the trial and crucifixion of Christ, it had
been thought that they would appear downcast and ashamed. Their enemies
expected to see upon their faces an expression of sorrow and defeat. Instead of
this there was only gladness and triumph. Their faces were aglow with a
happiness not born of earth. They did not mourn over disappointed hopes, but
were full of praise and thanksgiving to God. With rejoicing they told the
wonderful story of Christ's resurrection and His ascension to heaven, and their
testimony was received by many. [833] {DA 832.3}
The disciples no longer had any distrust of the future. They
knew that Jesus was in heaven, and that His sympathies were with them still.
They knew that they had a friend at the throne of God, and they were eager to
present their requests to the Father in the name of Jesus. In solemn awe they
bowed in prayer, repeating the assurance, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the
Father in My name, He will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My
name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full." John 16:23,
24. They extended the hand of faith higher and higher, with the mighty
argument, "It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is
even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us."
Romans 8:34. And Pentecost brought them fullness of joy in the presence of the
Comforter, even as Christ had promised. {DA 833.1}
All heaven was waiting to welcome the Saviour to the
celestial courts. As He ascended, He led the way, and the multitude of captives
set free at His resurrection followed. The heavenly host, with shouts and
acclamations of praise and celestial song, attended the joyous train. {DA 833.2}
As they drew near to the city of God, the challenge is given
by the escorting angels,—
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors;
And the King of glory shall come in." {DA 833.3}
Joyfully the waiting sentinels respond,—
"Who is this King of glory?" {DA 833.4}
This they say, not because they know not who He is, but
because they would hear the answer of exalted praise,—
"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." {DA 833.5}
Again is heard the challenge, "Who is this King of
glory?" for the angels never weary of hearing His name exalted. The
escorting angels make reply,—
"The Lord of hosts;
He is the King of glory." Psalm 24:7-10. {DA 833.6}
Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and the
angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst of rapturous music. [834]
{DA 833.7}
There is the throne, and around it the rainbow of promise.
There are cherubim and seraphim. The commanders of the angel hosts, the sons of
God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, are assembled. The heavenly
council before which Lucifer had accused God and His Son, the representatives
of those sinless realms over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion,—all
are there to welcome the Redeemer. They are eager to celebrate His triumph and
to glorify their King. {DA
834.1}
But He waves them back. Not yet; He cannot now receive the
coronet of glory and the royal robe. He enters into the presence of His Father.
He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His
hands, bearing the print of nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He
presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of
that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming.
He approaches the Father, with whom there is joy over one sinner that repents;
who rejoices over one with singing. Before the foundations of the earth were
laid, the Father and the Son had united in a covenant to redeem man if he
should be overcome by Satan. They had clasped Their hands in a solemn pledge
that Christ should become the surety for the human race. This pledge Christ has
fulfilled. When upon the cross He cried out, "It is finished," He addressed
the Father. The compact had been fully carried out. Now He declares: Father, it
is finished. I have done Thy will, O My God. I have completed the work of
redemption. If Thy justice is satisfied, "I will that they also, whom Thou
hast given Me, be with Me where I am." John 19:30; 17:24. {DA 834.2}
The voice of God is heard proclaiming that justice is
satisfied. Satan is vanquished. Christ's toiling, struggling ones on earth are
"accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. Before the heavenly angels
and the representatives of unfallen worlds, they are declared justified. Where
He is, there His church shall be. "Mercy and truth are met together;
righteousness and peace have kissed each other." Psalm 85:10. The Father's
arms encircle His Son, and the word is given, "Let all the angels of God
worship Him." Hebrews 1:6. {DA 834.3}
With joy unutterable, rulers and principalities and powers
acknowledge the supremacy of the Prince of life. The angel host prostrate
themselves before Him, while the glad shout fills all the courts of heaven,
"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and
wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing." Revelation
5:12. {DA 834.4}
Songs of triumph mingle with the music from angel harps,
till heaven seems to overflow with joy and praise. Love has conquered. The lost
is found. Heaven rings with voices in lofty strains proclaiming,
"Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon
the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever." Revelation 5:13. [835]
_______ {DA
835.1}
From that scene of heavenly joy, there comes back to us on
earth the echo of Christ's own wonderful words, "I ascend unto My Father,
and your Father; and to My God, and your God." John 20:17. The family of
heaven and the family of earth are one. For us our Lord ascended, and for us He
lives. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come
unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them."
Hebrews 7:25. {DA 835.2}
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