He Ascended on High (Ephesians 4:8)
Unity is the result of worshipping a Triune God (vv.4-6). It is strengthened by our diversity of gifts (v.7). Now, Paul provides the basis for those gifts by applying Psalm 68:18 to Christ’s ascension, which raises several questions.
Pray and Read Ephesians 4:7-8.
In The Revolt of the Public, Martin Gurri explains the global trend of networks to overthrow the established order.
“Networks succeed when held together by a single powerful point of reference – an issue, person, or event – which acts as center of gravity and organizing principle for action. Typically, this has meant being against. If hierarchy worships the established order, the network nurtures a streak of nihilism.”
If you doubt the popularity of negativity, you probably don’t have social media accounts. Unfortunately, the Church often falls into the same trend. We are known for what we oppose, rather than what we approve.
In this passage, Paul reminds us that true and lasting unity develops around the person and work of our ascended Savior.
We cannot fathom a united Church if we are not captivated by the same Christ.
Christ’s ascension made a cosmic display of his triumph, securing our participation in his kingdom.
I. When Did Christ Ascend?
We should assume Paul’s familiarity with the entire chapter. He quotes the relevant portion, but he is not ripping it out of context or attaching some foreign meaning to the original intent. Any differences between the original Hebrew and Paul’s Greek were intentional. Furthermore, certain words or phrases may carry greater significance than the original author was even aware (Bavinck).
We cannot make sense of Paul’s interpretation if we deny the Redemptive Historical timeline from which he operates. Paul continually finds Christ in the OT, just as Christ modeled (Lk 24). Promises given to the covenant community in the OT were fulfilled by Christ and then applied to Jewish and Gentile believers in the NT as well.
Christ ascended 40 days after his resurrection (Acts 1:3-11). The disciples were ready for Jesus to take his earthly throne, but Jesus corrects them—reminding them of their mission—before blessing them and ascending to his heavenly throne.
This question is the last vestige of their misunderstanding. The rest of Acts records their faithful response to Christ’s commission. The Holy Spirit empowered the apostles as witnesses to the person and work of Christ. The Spirit made their words effectual for transformation.
Christ’s ascension gives the church confidence to serve him in this present, evil age. We know that Jesus is coming back. We will share in his glory. We will remain with him. The indwelling Holy Spirit is a foretaste of all these promises.
When that greater mission of Christ becomes our focus we won’t fight over trivial matters! Rather, we will be filled with the joy of witnessing the procession of our king (Ps 68:24-26).
Unity requires Christ having conquered the world, the flesh, and the devil. His ascension proves that he overcame every temptation, defeated all of his enemies, and declared his triumph over them. If we belong to Christ, then we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out his mission. Let us do so with confidence!
II. Who Were Christ’s Captives?
In Ps 68, David reflects on God’s past rescue of Israel to encourage hope of his continued rescue (vv.19-20). It refers to God’s metaphorical march from Sinai to Zion. They traveled through the wilderness with the tabernacle until they arrived in the Promised Land where the temple would reside. God brought Israel from Egypt to Jerusalem, granting them victory over their enemies under Joshua’s conquest.
I see two complementary interpretations of “captives” that connect the old and new covenant (Calvin, Hodge, Bavinck):
- Conquered Enemies: Just as God conquered Israel’s enemies in Canaan, Christ has conquered our spiritual enemies—sin, death, and Satan.
- Subdued Believers: Because of Christ’s victory, believers are captivated by Christ rather than the world, the flesh, and the devil.
Paul knew that this psalm pointed forward to the Son of God, who would not only lead his people out of physical slavery, but from spiritual bondage to sin. Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascension constitute a “new exodus.”
We are no longer captives of Satan—enslaved to the principles of this world—but we have been captivated by the same sovereign Savior.
John encouraged his congregation to see their own triumph through their union with Christ. They were capable of overcoming the temptation of the antichrist, “for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 Jn 4:4).
Rest in the fact that Christ has conquered all his and our enemies. Your sinful passions no longer rule over you. You can rejoice in Christ’s victory over sin and death.
› The same Savior that captivates us generously distributes his gifts to us.
III. What Were Christ’s Gifts?
Richard Taylor addresses eight proposals regarding why Paul changed “received gifts among men” to “gave gifts to men”. Probably, too much fuss has been made over these changes considering the overall intent of Ps 68.
God’s triumph over his enemies is the theme of Ps 68. Conquered kings bring gifts to him (v.29). However, God also distributes power and strength to his people (v.35). Paul quotes v.18 for the reference to his ascent, which he elaborates in Eph 4:9-10 before focusing on the gifts in v.11.
Frank Theilman: “The Christ who in his descent to earth and ascent to heaven triumphed over all his cosmic enemies is the same Christ who from his position of triumph at God’s right hand distributes diverse gifts to his people in order to foster their unity.”
The gifts were often shared (received/given) after military victory. The spoils distributed to the victors. Peter has this interpretation on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:33). Hodge points out, “A conqueror always distributes the spoils he takes. He receives to give.” Therefore, the same sense is given regardless of the word choice.
Unity depends upon saints who are gifted to serve the needs of the body. Those gifts were purchased by Christ’s victory and distributed by his Spirit. Therefore, the ascension encourages us to persevere in prayer. We are praying to a generous Savior—who secured every heavenly blessing for us (Eph 1:3) and is now seated at God’s right hand interceding on our behalf.
Book of Common Prayer (1662) Collect for Ascension Day,
“Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe thy only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Christ to have ascended into the heavens; so we may also in heart and mind thither ascend, and with him continually dwell, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen.”
Words of Institution
And now, as we participate in the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, by faith—in our minds—we are raised to his heavenly throne, and seated at his table in order to further enjoy the living God!
The Lord Jesus Christ on the same night in which he was betrayed took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it, gave it to his disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
Philippians 2:9–11 “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
In the same manner, he also took the cup, and having given thanks as has been done in his name, he gave it to the disciples, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Drink from it all of you.”Colossians 3:1–2 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”