The Heaven Jesus Gained for Me
In the prequel to this book, The Hell Jesus Went Through for Me, I took us on a journey with Jesus from heaven to hell, to show the price he paid for the redemption of humanity. In this sequel, I aim to show that while hell was the bottom rung in the condescension of Jesus, it was by no means the end of the line for him. The Easter event does not end with Good Friday but with Resurrection Sunday. Because Jesus humbled Himself to the death of the cross, God rewarded him with a seat at his right hand, gave him a name that is above every name, bestowed on him all authority over the worlds, and made his enemies his footstool.
His exaltation to glory gladdens our hearts because it assures us that ultimately, good guys win. But the exaltation of Jesus has more to do with us than with him, in the sense that he left glory and returned to glory after his successful campaign on earth. The real fairy-tale ending to the Jesus story has to do with what his exaltation achieves for those who accept his humiliation. Something mystical occurs when we repent and receive Jesus as our Savior. We are united with him, not just morally or intellectually, but spiritually, for “he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit” (1Co.6:17). This union has mind-boggling implications. While it assures us a share in Jesus’ inheritance, it also puts on us the responsibility to emulate his life on earth, for “as he is, so are we in this world” (1Jn.4:17).
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Description
In the prequel to this book, The Hell Jesus Went Through for Me, I took us on a journey with Jesus from heaven to hell, to show the price he paid for the redemption of humanity. In this sequel, I aim to show that while hell was the bottom rung in the condescension of Jesus, it was by no means the end of the line for him. The Easter event does not end with Good Friday but with Resurrection Sunday. Because Jesus humbled Himself to the death of the cross, God rewarded him with a seat at his right hand, gave him a name that is above every name, bestowed on him all authority over the worlds, and made his enemies his footstool.
His exaltation to glory gladdens our hearts because it assures us that ultimately, good guys win. But the exaltation of Jesus has more to do with us than with him, in the sense that he left glory and returned to glory after his successful campaign on earth. The real fairy-tale ending to the Jesus story has to do with what his exaltation achieves for those who accept his humiliation. Something mystical occurs when we repent and receive Jesus as our Savior. We are united with him, not just morally or intellectually, but spiritually, for “he that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit” (1Co.6:17). This union has mind-boggling implications. While it assures us a share in Jesus’ inheritance, it also puts on us the responsibility to emulate his life on earth, for “as he is, so are we in this world” (1Jn.4:17).