"Behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom."

"As they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight."

Think how it would have been if the resurrected Jesus stayed on earth. There is no way a billion people could relate to him. Even a million believers, we’d be waiting in line our whole lives to speak to him. But in ascending, leaving the earth but staying human, he now can relate to all of us all at once. How? By the gift of the Holy Spirit.

"God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it."

The resurrection of Christ declares even more for those of us who are joined to him by faith. Not only is he unstoppable – so are we. What is the power that is at work in us, even now – we who have faith in him?

O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

"You were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ."

Jesus had a physical heart like we all do. “On average 5,000 times each hour” and “Each beat upheld by the hand of his Father, like each beat of your heart.” 

But this particular heart started beating again! Do you think it was instantly, or did the Father slowly wake him up?  

"You are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption."

All springs from the Cross?

"God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

What makes Jesus’ cross, his spilled blood, his willing sacrifice, so compelling? What does his work achieve for us? 

"Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises."

A covenant is a solemn agreement between two parties more binding than a contract. A contract is a 50-50 proposition. If you don’t do your part, I’m no longer obligated to do my part. A covenant typically signifies “I’m committing to you this particular action or truth regardless of what you do, or death is the outcome.”

"Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us."

Propitiation means to appease wrath. It’s not a word we use every day. Not a concept we like, but a whole industry is built on propitiation! What do we bring to avert wrath?

"He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will."

How is Barabbas a type for all of us, all of us who are insurrectionists against God? How does substitution work in the story of Barabbas and our story?