Jesus claimed to be an eyewitness of Heaven.  The only one there has ever been.  He knew people have difficulty believing in Him and even in believing what He said. ‘If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?’, He said. John 3:12 (RSV)  If you study for yourself the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel chapter five and following you may not agree with everything Jesus said.  You might feel he was an idealist.  But, if you are honest and impartial, you will not and cannot write off the text of His address as the ravings of a mad man.  Many regard the Sermon on the Mount as the ‘Golden Rule’ and try to live by it.   If we conclude we must take the Sermon on the Mount seriously we must also take the statement ‘No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man’ seriously.  

 

His statement about many rooms caused even those in the Upper Room to ask questions.  Doubting Thomas asked, "Lord, we do not know where you are going; how can we know the way?" John 14:5 (RSV). Jesus’ answer suggested that things come to a point where we can only reject what He says or trust Him where we cannot see. Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also; henceforth you know him and have seen him." John 14:6-7 (RSV)  We can paraphrase, “Over the last three years you have got to know me, Thomas.  I am sure you do trust me as a friend.  Through knowing me you get to know my heavenly father.”

 

The question that Thomas should have asked was the reason why Jesus would return to His Father.  The reason He went back to Heaven makes Heaven truly attainable for anyone who truly wants to go there.  The sequence of events in Holy Week appeared to the disciples as a horrible catastrophe.  Jesus had got Himself crucified!!  Their whole world had come crashing down about their ears.  From God the Father’s viewpoint it was a great success, a plan accomplished.  God sent Jesus to die on the cross for you and me.  The Bible says - But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Gal 4:4-5 (RSV)  It also says - For God sent Christ Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to end all God's anger against us. He used Christ's blood and our faith as the means of saving us from his wrath. In this way he was being entirely fair, even though he did not punish those who sinned in former times. For he was looking forward to the time when Christ would come and take away those sins. Romans 3:25 (Living)  

 

Some of this is all very technical.  So let me try to simplify the order of events.  Jesus left Heaven and was born at Bethlehem.  He lived for 33 years on the earth.  During this time He was tempted but did not sin.  He was arrested and died on the cross.  Whilst He was on the cross God judged the sum totality of human sin.  Because Jesus is a man he can die in the place of one man.  Because He is God the Son he can die in the place of every human who has ever lived and who will ever live.  He went back to Heaven to present to the Father the fruits of His finished work of Redemption.  If we are truly sorry for the bad things we have done, put our faith and trust in Jesus He gives us forgiveness as a free gift, victory over the power of sin and guarantees us a place in Heaven with Him.

 

I have given you the Gospel in a nutshell from the perspective of eternal life.  You may need to consider these things or you may feel you need help to understand them.  If you feel this way please phone Jeff on the number on this site.  If you would like to go along to a Bible believing church to learn more about it all with no obligation please email billturner@tiscali.co.uk.  We will respect your right to privacy.  If you are not ready yet to do either, why not look at other messages on this site?  

 

Bill Turner   November 2007