Paul the
apostle told the Ephesian church members when Jesus “ascended up
on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men”.
Before Jesus “ascended” he first “descended into the
lower parts of the earth”, and in chapter four and verse ten
Paul gave the reason he did so, “to fill all things” where
we read:
He that
descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens,
that he might fill all things.)
The
verse begins, “He that descended is the same also that
ascended up far above all heavens,...” Paul
began with the phrase, “He that descended”
which literally means “Jesus who came down” and
metaphorically means “to be cast down to the lowest state of
wretchedness and shame” “is the same also”
or “even and indeed” “that ascended up”
or “rose up, mounted, borne or sprung up” “far above”
which means “upward, greatly
higher and over” “all heavens”
or “each, every, any, the whole and everyone of the
vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it, and the
region above the sidereal heavens which is the seat of order of
things eternal and consummately perfect where God and other heavenly
beings dwell”.
The
verse continues, “...that he might fill all things.)” Paul
added, “that he might fill” which means “make full,
cause to abound, furnish and supply liberally” “all things”
which refers to “each, every, any, the whole and complete
everything”. The reason Jesus “descended” before He
“ascended” was to “fulfill” everything that was
necessary to bring mankind into fellowship with God.
When
we meditate upon these words of Paul, we see the plan of God to send
His Son into the world before receiving Him back into heaven again.
Mankind needed a Savior, and God made provision for Him to be in
fellowship with Him by sending Jesus. Jesus came to the earth, died
for man's sin, rose from the dead and “ascended” back to
the heaven that is far above all others. May we see the value of
Jesus' “ascension” and the blessing of God's grace that
has been given to us because of it.
Next
time Paul shares how Jesus gave leaders to the church, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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