The Eighteenth Lord’s Day

18 The Eighteenth Lord’s Day
Mark 16:19
So then after the Lord had spoken to them, he was received up into heaven, and sat at the right hand of God.
Here is explicated a singular act of Christ after his resurrection. Notice 1. The motion in which the act is designed. And 2. The thing brought to pass by that motion. The motion is but the means. The thing done by the motion was its end. The motion was as it were the way. And the thing done by it, was the end of that way, and the rest and perfection that was to be attained by it. This motion was Christ’s ascending into Heaven. The thing brought to pass by it, was Christ’s sitting down at the right hand of God. The motion then is described from the term to which it was made, which was heaven. But the term from which it was made is also understood, which was the earth. The thing done by this motion is also explained by its adjuncts; namely, Christ’s glory and power, and his quiet and settled possession of these. All of which are metaphorically signified in these words: He sat down at the right hand of God. For being placed at God’s right hand signifies a communication of divine glory and power; and sitting at his right hand denotes the quiet and settled possession of this glory and power.
Doctrine 1. Christ ceased to be upon earth by his bodily presence after the fortieth day after his resurrection.
This is clearly enough signified in the Text by these words: He was received up into heaven, that is, he ceased to be here upon earth. The time is here only generally intimated Acts 1:3.1 We say, by his bodily presence, because by his spiritual and divine presence, by his Godhead and his Spirit, he is present with his own in a gracious manner according to his promise, even to the end of the world, Matthew 28:20. We also call it his bodily presence rather than his real presence, because real presence is more properly opposite to an imaginary, or only feigned presence, than it is to a divine and spiritual presence.
Reason 1 . Because it did not become Christ to abide longer on earth, when he had now left off being earthly, as he was in the state of his humility. By leaving off being earthly we do not mean the substance of his body, but of the manner, quality, and suit or garb, as it were of his body, which was now turned from being earthly or infirm, to heavenly and glorious.
Reason 2 . Because his bodily presence had not been for our good, but rather to our hurt; in as much as the Spirit, the Comforter, Christ’s true Vicegerent here on earth could not be poured out and given, before Christ ascended into Heaven, John 16:7.2
Reason 3 . Because Christ had now done the work which he had to do on earth for glorifying his Father there; and therefore he was now to return to what he had before the world was made, and manifest it by exaltation of his human nature, as much as before he had hidden it by laying it aside as it were, during the days of his weakness or humility, John 17:4.3
Use. Of Refutation: against Papists, Ubiquitarians, and other false Prophets who designing some definite and determinate places on earth, dare say behold, here is Christ bodily, and behold, there is Christ bodily, according to that warning in Matthew 24:23.1
1 Acts 1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
2 John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 
3 John 17:4 “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 
Doctrine 2. Christ, when he left the earth, went up into the highest Heavens. This is clear enough in the Text, compared with other Scriptures, where the Heaven of glory and of bliss is called the highest Heaven, and the third Heaven, which is all one.
Reason 1 . Because it is most fitting that his human nature, which is now made immortal and glorious, should be seized and possessed of a place that was convenient for itself and its condition; and only the highest or third Heaven was such a place, the other two being subject to corruption, or to change.
Reason 2. Just as he opened that Heaven for us, which was shut to us for our sins, so it was expedient that by his own proper ascension and going there, he would make this plain to us.
Reason 3 . He ascended so that he might, on our behalf, also take possession of the Kingdom of Heaven, and might raise us to a certain hope that through him, we would come to the same place and condition.
Reason 4 . He ascended so that he might dispatch such other things that still remained to be done for us. Now such were his intercession, and mediation at the right hand of his Father for us; his giving, and sending, and shedding abroad his Spirit, to take his place and be the Comforter of his people; lastly, the universal government of all things for our good, and the like.
Use 1 . Of Refutation: against those who would pretend to have Christ’s human nature in Heaven, and yet have it together and at the same time bodily on earth. That he might ascend to Heaven, it is clearly said that he was received up into Heaven. And therefore, that he might ascend into Heaven, he left the earth. For if the consequence is good, for which the good Angel declared, He is arisen, therefore he is not here, that is, he is not in the grave. So then, no more doubt can be made of this consequence: he is ascended into Heaven; therefore he is not here on earth.
Use 2 . Of Direction: in our Faith, and worshipping or adoring Christ; namely, that we do not now think of Christ carnally and in an earthly manner, but worship him in spirit and in truth, as placed in highest glory and divine power in the Heavens.
Use 3 . Of Admonition: that we may remove our minds and affections from earthly things, and set them on heavenly things that are above, where Christ our treasure sits at the right hand of the Father — so that our conversation may be there, and with him, Matthew 6:21; Colossians 3:1; Php_3:20.
Doctrine 3. Christ in Heaven has possession of all the highest glory that a created nature can be capable of.
This is hence gathered, in that he is said to be seated at the right hand of God. From this it is signified that he is next to God himself in dignity; and so he is not only above all men and their blessed spirits, but above the glorious Angels themselves.
Reason 1 . Because Christ’s human nature, which we specifically speak of here, came next in dignity to God himself, by free grace, and personal union and communion with the Godhead, and therefore it was most fitting also that in pre-eminence of glory and dignity, he should be next to God himself.
1 Matthew 24:23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or’There!’ do not believe it.
Reason 2 . Because Christ is the head of all Saints and blessed ones, both men and Angels, from whom is derived all dignity and glory upon all those who are gathered together in one body under him, as the Angels also are. It was necessary therefore, that just as he received the Spirit of grace without measure,1so also he should be adorned with glory and majesty above all other creatures.
Reason 3. Because both the grace and glory of the Church tends to the glory of Christ, just as the glory of Christ tends to the glory of God, 1 Corinthians 3:21-23.2
Use. Of Consolation: to all the faithful in Christ, because not only the glory of the head redounds to the glory of all its members, but we also have a sure promise concerning this, that as in this life we are partakers of the sufferings and patience of Jesus Christ, so also in the life to come we shall be made partakers of his glory, Romans 8:17.3
Doctrine 4. Christ together with his highest dignity, also has highest power.
The Text evidences this, in as much as God’s right hand signifies his power; and sitting down at his right hand signifies the highest communion and society with God that there can be in this power.
Reason 1 . Because dignity and power might thus have the same degrees. For dignity separated from power is no more than a dead title, and therefore, seeing that Christ has highest dignity and glory, it also follows that he is endued with highest power.
Reason 2 . Because Christ is constituted Lord, to correct and govern, as well as to preserve and glorify his Church. He must therefore of necessity have both the power of right, and the power of strength, fitting and competent for these ends. For the Lord has both a power of right and of might to exercise and execute all this, immediately and by himself, as well as mediately and by instruments or servants. And this is that power which Christ professes was given to him in Heaven and on earth, Matthew 28:18. Now this power is given to Christ, and most properly belongs to him as he is Mediator, or as man having the unity of one person with God — but not so properly as God; and therefore it is said to belong to him as he is the son of man, John 5:27.4
Use. Of Consolation: for though this divine power of Christ is terrible to his enemies, yet to believers it brings firm hope, and affiance, and comfort; because as Christ himself says in John 5:24, such a person has everlasting life and shall not come into condemnation, but has passed from death into life. And Romans 8:34-35 also tends towards this when the Apostle proves that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ because he sits at the right hand of God.
Doctrine 5. Christ has the quiet and unmovable possession of this power. 
1 John 3:34. 
2 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 …For all things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come – all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.
3 Romans 8:17 and if children, then heirs-- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. 
4 John 5:27 “and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man.” 
For in this sense he is said to sit at the right hand of God. 
Reason 1. Because he has overcome all his enemies virtually, and shall actually in his own appointed time subdue them all fully, and bring them under the yoke. 
Reason 2. Because there is nothing on earth, or under the earth, that can in the least trouble or molest his possession. 
Reason 3 . Because this state and condition of Christ is not only immortal and free from all change by virtue of Covenant and divine Promise, but also of its own nature, being now accomplished according to free Covenant — and such will be the happiness of the least Saint.
Use. Also of Consolation: which though it may strike terror and amazement in the hearts of Christ’s enemies, yet it raises and rouses up the dejected and drooping spirits of all those who put their trust and confidence in him; for he sits at the right hand of God in power and majesty, making intercession for us there.