Part 1

I would take notice, first, of those things by which Christ was put into a capacity for accomplishing the end of his purchase. They are two things, namely, his resurrection, and his ascension. As we observed before, the incarnation of Christ was necessary in order to Christ's being in a near capacity for the purchase of redemption; so the resurrection and ascension of Christ were requisite in order to his accomplishing the end of his purchase.

1. His resurrection. It was necessary in order to Christ's obtaining the end and effect of his purchase of redemption, that he should rise from the dead. For God the Father had committed the whole affair of redemption, not only the purchasing of it, but the bestowing of the blessings purchased, to his Son, that he should not only purchase it as priest, but actually bring it about as king; and that he should do this as God-man. For God the Father would have nothing to do with fallen man in a way of mercy but by a mediator. But in order that Christ might carry on the work of redemption, and accomplish the success of his own purpose as God-man, it was necessary that he should be alive, and so that he should rise from the dead. Therefore Christ, after he had finished this purchase by death, and by continuing for a time under the power of death, rises from the dead, to fulfill the end of his purchase, and himself to bring about that for which he died: For this matter God the Father had committed unto him, that he might, as Lord of all, manage all to his own purposes: Romans 14:9. For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Indeed Christ's resurrection, and so his ascension, was part of the success of what Christ did and suffered in his humiliation. For though Christ did not properly purchase redemption for himself, yet he purchased eternal life and glory for himself by what he did and suffered; and this eternal life and glory was given him as a reward of what he did and suffered, Philippians 2:8, 9. "He humbled himself, and become obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him." It may be looked upon as part of the success of Christ's purchase, if it be so considered, that Christ did not rise as a private person, but as the head of the elect church; so that they did, as it were, all rise with him. Christ was justified in his resurrection, that is, God acquitted and discharged him hereby, as having done and suffered enough for the sins of all the elect: Romans 4:25. "Who was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification." And God put him in possession of eternal life, as the head of the church, as a sure earnest that they should follow. For when Christ rose from the dead, that was the beginning of eternal life in him. His life before his death was a mortal life, a temporal life; but his life after his resurrection was an eternal life: Romans 6:9. "Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead, dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him." Revelation 1:18. "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen." But he was put in possession of this eternal life, as the head of the body; and took possession of it, not only to enjoy himself, but to bestow on all who believe in him; so that the whole church, as it were, rises in him. And now he who lately suffered so much, after this is to suffer no more forever, but to enter into eternal glory. God the Father neither expects nor desires any more suffering.

This resurrection of Christ is the most joyful event that ever came to pass; because hereby Christ rested from the great and difficult work of purchasing redemption, and received God's testimony, that it was finished. The death of Christ was the greatest and most wonderful event that ever came to pass; but that has a great deal in it that is sorrowful. But by the resurrection of Christ, that sorrow is turned into joy. The head of the whole church, in that great event, enters on the possession of eternal life; and the whole church is, as it were, "begotten again to a lively hope," 1 Peter 1:3. Weeping had continued for a night, but now joy cometh in the morning, the most joyful morning that ever was. This is the day of the reigning of the head of the church, and all the church reigns with him. This is spoken of as a day which was worthy to be commemorated with the greatest joy of all days: Psalm 118:24. "This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it." And therefore this above all other days is appointed for the day of the church's spiritual rejoicing to the end of the world, to be weekly sanctified, as their day of holy rest and joy, that the church therein may rest and rejoice with her head. And as the third chapter of Genesis is the most sorrowful chapter in the Bible; so those chapters in the evangelists that give an account of the resurrection of Christ, may be looked upon as the most joyful chapters in all the Bible: for those chapters give an account of the finishing of the purchase of redemption, and the beginning of the glory of the head of the church, as the greatest seal and earnest of the eternal glory of all the rest.

It is further to be observed, that the day of the gospel most properly begins with the resurrection of Christ. Till Christ rose from the dead, the Old Testament dispensation remained; but now it ceases, all being fulfilled that was shadowed forth in the typical ordinances of that dispensation; so that here most properly is the end of the Old Testament night, and Christ rising from the grave with joy and glory, was as the joyful bridegroom of the church, as a glorious conqueror to subdue their enemies under their feet; or was like the sun rising as it were from under the earth, after a long night of darkness; and coming forth as a bridegroom, prepared as a strong man to run his race, appearing in joyful light to enlighten the world. Now that joyful and excellent dispensation begins, that glorious dispensation, of which the prophets prophesied so much; now the gospel sun is risen in glory, "and with healing in his wings," that those who fear God's name, may go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

2. Christ's ascension into heaven. In this I would include his sitting at the right hand of God. For Christ's ascension, and sitting at the right hand of God, can scarcely be looked upon as two distinct things: for Christ's ascension was nothing else, but ascending to God's right hand; it was coming to sit down at his Father's right hand in glory. This was another thing whereby Christ was put into a capacity for the accomplishing the effect of his purchase; as one that comes to be a deliverer of a people as their king, in order to it, and that he may be under the best capacity for it, is first installed in his throne. We are told, that Christ was exalted for this end, that he might accomplish the success of his redemption: Acts 5:31. "Him hath God exalted with his right hand, for to give repentance unto Israel, and the remission of sins."

Christ's ascension into heaven was, as it were, his solemn enthronization, whereby the Father did set him upon the throne, and invest him with the glory of his kingdom which he had purchased for himself, that he might thereby obtain the success of his redemption in conquering all his enemies: Psalm 110:1. "Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Christ entered into heaven, in order to obtain the success of his purchase, as the high priest of old, after he had offered sacrifice, entered into the holy of holies with the blood of the sacrifice, in order to obtain the success of the sacrifice which he had offered. See Hebrews 9:12. He entered into heaven, there to make intercession for his people, to plead the sacrifice which he had made in order to the success of it, Hebrews 7:25.

As he ascended into heaven, God the Father did in a visible manner set him on the throne as king of the universe. He then put the angels all under him, and subjected heaven and earth under him, that he might govern them for the good of the people for whom he had died, Ephesians 1:20-22.

As Christ rose from the dead, so he ascended into heaven as the head of the holy and forerunner of all the church; and so they, as it were, ascend with him, as well as rise with him: so that we are both raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 2:6.

The day of Christ's ascension into heaven was doubtless a joyful, glorious day in heaven. As heaven received Christ, God-man, as its king, so doubtless it received a great accession of glory and happiness, far beyond what it had before. So that the times in both parts of the church both that part which is in heaven, and also that which is on earth, are become more glorious since Christ's humiliation than before.

So much for those things whereby Christ was put into the best capacity for obtaining the success of redemption.

I turn first to the things by which Christ was placed in readiness to accomplish the purpose of His purchase. These are two: His resurrection and His ascension. Just as the incarnation of Christ was necessary for Him to be in close proximity to the purchase of redemption, so the resurrection and ascension of Christ were necessary for Him to accomplish the fruit of that purchase.

1. His resurrection. It was necessary for Christ to rise from the dead in order to obtain the end and effect of His purchase of redemption. God the Father had committed the entire work of redemption to His Son — not only the purchasing of it, but the actual bestowing of the blessings purchased. Christ was to purchase redemption as priest, but also to bring it about as king, and to do so as the God-man. The Father would deal with fallen humanity in mercy only through a mediator. But for Christ to carry on the work of redemption and accomplish the fruit of His own purpose as the God-man, He had to be alive — and therefore He had to rise from the dead. So after finishing the purchase through death and remaining for a time under the power of death, Christ rose from the dead to fulfill the purpose of His purchase — to bring about Himself the very thing for which He died. God the Father had committed this to Him, that as Lord of all He might govern all things according to His own purposes. Romans 14:9: 'For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.'

Christ's resurrection — and likewise His ascension — was itself part of the fruit of what Christ did and suffered in His humiliation. Though Christ did not purchase redemption for Himself, He did purchase eternal life and glory for Himself through what He did and suffered — and this eternal life and glory was given to Him as the reward of His obedience. Philippians 2:8-9: 'He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him.' This may be regarded as part of the success of Christ's purchase: Christ did not rise as a private individual, but as the head of the elect church — so that in a sense they all rose with Him. Christ was justified in His resurrection — that is, God acquitted and discharged Him, declaring thereby that He had done and suffered enough for the sins of all the elect. Romans 4:25: 'He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.' God placed Him in possession of eternal life as the head of the church — a sure pledge that the rest of the church would follow. When Christ rose from the dead, that was the beginning of eternal life in Him. His life before His death was mortal and temporary; His life after His resurrection was eternal. Romans 6:9: 'Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.' And Revelation 1:18: 'I am the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.' But He entered possession of this eternal life as the head of the body — taking possession of it not only for Himself but to bestow on all who believe in Him. So the whole church, in a sense, rises in Him. He who had lately suffered so much now enters into eternal glory and will never suffer again. God the Father neither expects nor desires any further suffering from Him.

Christ's resurrection is the most joyful event that ever occurred — because through it Christ rested from the great and difficult work of purchasing redemption, and received God's declaration that it was finished. The death of Christ was the greatest and most remarkable event ever to take place — but it has in it much that is sorrowful. By the resurrection of Christ, that sorrow is turned to joy. The head of the whole church, in that great event, enters into possession of eternal life, and the whole church is, as it were, 'born again to a living hope' (1 Peter 1:3). Weeping lasted through the night, but now joy comes in the morning — the most joyful morning that ever was. This is the day of the reign of the head of the church, and all the church reigns with Him. It is spoken of as a day worthy of the greatest celebration. Psalm 118:24: 'This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.' Therefore this day above all others is appointed as the day of the church's spiritual joy until the end of the world — set apart weekly as the day of holy rest and rejoicing, that the church may rest and rejoice together with her head. Just as Genesis 3 is the most sorrowful chapter in the Bible, the Gospel accounts of the resurrection of Christ may be regarded as the most joyful chapters in all of Scripture — for they describe the completion of the purchase of redemption and the beginning of the glory of the head of the church, as the greatest pledge and guarantee of the eternal glory of all the rest.

It should further be noted that the Gospel day most properly begins with the resurrection of Christ. Until Christ rose from the dead, the Old Testament dispensation remained in force. But now it came to an end — everything foreshadowed in the typical ordinances of that dispensation having been fulfilled. Here, most properly, is the end of the Old Testament night. Christ rising from the grave in joy and glory was like the joyful bridegroom of the church, like a glorious conqueror going out to subdue their enemies — like the sun rising from beneath the earth after a long night of darkness, coming forth as a bridegroom, strong and eager, filling the world with joyful light. Now that joyful and excellent dispensation begins — the glorious dispensation the prophets had so much to say about. Now the Gospel sun has risen in glory, 'with healing in its wings,' so that those who fear God's name may go out and grow up like well-fed calves in the stall.

2. Christ's ascension into heaven. I include in this His sitting at the right hand of God — for the ascension and the session at God's right hand can hardly be treated as two separate things. Christ's ascension was simply His ascending to God's right hand; it was His coming to sit down at His Father's right hand in glory. This was another thing by which Christ was placed in readiness to accomplish the fruit of His purchase — just as a king who comes to deliver his people must first be installed on his throne in order to act from a position of full authority. We are told that Christ was exalted for the very purpose of bringing about the success of His redemption. Acts 5:31: 'God exalted Him to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.'

Christ's ascension into heaven was, in effect, His solemn enthronement — the moment when the Father placed Him on the throne and invested Him with the glory of the kingdom He had purchased, so that He might obtain the success of His redemption in conquering all His enemies. Psalm 110:1: 'Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.' Christ entered heaven to obtain the fruit of His purchase just as the high priest of old, after offering sacrifice, entered the Most Holy Place with the blood of the offering in order to obtain the effect of the sacrifice he had offered. See Hebrews 9:12. He entered heaven there to make intercession for His people — to present the sacrifice He had made and plead for its success. Hebrews 7:25.

As He ascended into heaven, God the Father visibly enthroned Him as king of the universe. He then placed all the angels under Christ's authority and subjected heaven and earth beneath Him, so that He might govern all things for the good of the people for whom He had died. Ephesians 1:20-22.

Just as Christ rose from the dead as the head and forerunner of the whole church, so He ascended into heaven in the same capacity — and the church, in a sense, ascends with Him just as it rose with Him. As Ephesians 2:6 says, God 'raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.'

The day of Christ's ascension into heaven was, without question, a joyful and glorious day in heaven. As heaven received Christ — the God-man — as its king, it received a great increase of glory and joy far beyond anything it had known before. So the times for both parts of the church — the part in heaven and the part on earth — became more glorious after Christ's humiliation than they had been before.

That covers the things by which Christ was placed in full readiness to obtain the success of redemption.