问题51：基督的升天对我们有什么益处？
答：基督为了我们而以肉身升天，正如祂为了我们而以肉身来到地上。祂如今在祂父的面前为我们代求，为我们预备地方，并差遣祂的灵到我们这里来。
儿童版：基督如今在祂父的面前为我们代求，并差遣祂的灵到我们这里来。

Question 51: Of What Advantage to Us is Christ’s Ascension?
Answer: Christ physically ascended on our behalf, just as he came down to earth physically on our account, and he is now advocating for us in the presence of his Father, preparing a place for us, and also sends us his Spirit.
For Kids: Christ is now advocating for us in the presence of his Father and also sends us his Spirit.


歌谱 Lead Sheet

经文

《罗马书》8 章34 节：

　　谁能定他们的罪呢？有基督耶稣已经死了，而且从死里复活，现今在神的右边，也替我们祈求。

注解

查理·卫斯理

我灵，奋起！奋起！摆脱定罪恐惧，
恩主流血舍命，献祭将我救赎，
作我中保神前代求，
我名刻记在祂圣手。

我主永活在天，代我向父祈求，
完全救赎大爱，宝血为我淌流，
宝血洒遍施恩座前，
为赎神百姓众罪愆。

救主在各各祂，创伤为我忍受，
钉痕仿佛发声，迫切为我祈求，
大声呼喊赦免他们，
救赎罪人脱离死荫。

上主与人和好，赦罪慈声呼召，
接纳我为儿女，今我不再畏惧，
充满信心与主相近，
欢欣呼求「阿爸，父亲」。

默想

布莱恩·柴培尔

　　基督升天就是做王了，统管万有。升天表明，死亡服在了祂的权下，祂继续主宰全地。创造了世界的这一位仍在用祂权能的命令统管这个世界。

　　今天，我们说基督掌权，意思是，祂升天后承接了祂来到地上以前的王权。在地上的时候，祂仍在维系万物，成就祂的一切旨意，直到死而复活。但如今祂升到天上，就成了万有的主。祂掌管万有，使万事都互相效力，叫爱祂的人得益处。

　　但祂不只是君王。祂升天以后，就在神的右边做我们的中保。祂继续履行祭司的职责，在父的面前为我们代祷。当我们认罪悔改，向神祷告时，祂的儿子，我们的祭司，就赦免我们的罪，又为我们代求，使神听我们的祷告，并帮助我们。

　　耶稣不仅是君王和祭司，祂还持续地透过圣灵的工作使祂的话进入到我们的心里。要记得，圣灵是为基督作见证的。我们之所以能从逻辑上和重要性上明白神的话，都是因为基督亲自差派的圣灵打开了我们的心。既然神的话是基督借着圣灵赐给我们的，那么耶稣也是我们的先知，祂赐下神的话语，使我们能与神同行，认识神和神的恩典。

　　这就是说，基督升天是为了我们现在的福祉。祂掌管我们今天所处的环境，祂为在其中的我们代求，祂使祂的话进入我们的心，帮助我们应对我们眼前的环境。但祂的工作还不止于此。

　　作为先知、祭司和君王，祂也在预备我们的将来。基督统管万有，照着祂的旨意运作万事，都是为了最大限度地彰显神的荣耀。作为君王，祂在为我们预备一个蒙神极大祝福的地方。作为祭司，祂要确保我们借着祂宝血的清洁，在神的审判座前得称为义。当我们跪拜在神的羔羊面前，耶稣作为祭司的本质将再次被凸显，祂用自己的血从各族、各方、各民、各国中买了人来，叫他们归于神。基督为我们预备将来也是在履行祂祭司的职责。最后，祂要借着祂的灵保守一切属祂的人。所以，神借着祂的灵成就祂的旨意，不仅是在现今的世界，也是在永恒里。神借着圣灵成全祂一切的旨意，这灵是耶稣基督凭着祂的旨意、权能和终极之爱所差来的。

　　这位升天的主，是我们的先知、祭司和君王，祂治理我们的当下，也预备我们的将来。

祷告

　　为我们代求的救主，祢从未停止怜悯祢的百姓。祢和我们一样凡事受过试探，当我们遇到试探时，祢就为我们代求。求祢为我们恳求祢的父，因为在审判全地的主面前，祢是我们的中保。阿们。

Scripture

ROMANS 8:34

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Commentary

CHARLES WESLEY

Arise, my soul, arise! Shake off thy guilty fears;
The bleeding Sacrifice in my behalf appears.
Before the throne my Surety stands;
My name is written on his hands.

He ever lives above, for me to intercede,
His all-redeeming love, his precious blood to plead.
His blood atoned for all our race,
And sprinkles now the throne of grace.

Five bleeding wounds he bears, received on Calvary;
They pour effectual prayers, they strongly plead for me:
“Forgive him, oh, forgive!” they cry,
“Nor let that ransomed sinner die.”

My God is reconciled; his pardoning voice I hear.
He owns me for his child; I can no longer fear.
With confidence I now draw nigh,
And “Father, Abba Father!” cry.

Devotional

BRYAN CHAPELL

The ascension is Christ’s enthronement as King over all. When he ascended, he showed that he ruled over death and that he continues to assume his place of authority over all the world. The very One who created the world is the One who continues to rule it by the word of his power.

Now when we say that Christ rules, we mean that in his ascension he assumed the office of King that he had before he came to earth. While on this earth, he continued to maintain all things and accomplish all his purposes, even to his death and resurrection. But as now the ascended Lord, he is Lord over all. He is the One who controls all things so that they are working for the good of those who love him.

But he’s not simply King. He, in his ascension, is interceding for us at the right hand of God. He continues to fulfill the office of a priest as well, providing what is needed as advocacy and intercession before the Father. As we repent of our sins, as we pray to God, our sins are taken by the Son of God, acting as a priest on our behalf, as the One who now intercedes for us, so that God will listen and act in our behalf.

Not only is Jesus acting as that King and as Priest in our behalf, he continues to send his Word into our hearts by the work of his Spirit. The Holy Spirit, remember, was to testify of Christ. The very reason that we can understand God’s Word—not just its logic but its significance—is that the Holy Spirit sent by Christ himself is opening our hearts to it. This means that as that Word comes from Christ and is given to us by his Spirit, Jesus continues to operate as a prophet on our behalf, giving us the Word of God so that we can walk with him, understand him, and understand his grace.

All this means that Christ in his ascension is operating for our present good. He’s ruling our present circumstances. He’s advocating for us in our present circumstances. He’s sending his Word into our hearts so that we can handle our present circumstances. But that’s not the end of his job.

As Prophet, Priest, and King, he’s also preparing for our future. All things are being worked toward a divine end, a culmination, a consummation of the glory of God by the One who rules over all for the purposes that he has designed. He, as King, is preparing a place for us of God’s great blessing. As Priest he is going to ensure that when we stand before the throne of judgment, we will be made right before God by the cleansing work of his blood. Jesus’s priestly nature will again come to the fore as we bow before the Lamb of God, who by his blood purchased men and women for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. That priestly role Christ will also fulfill as he prepares a future for us. And, ultimately by his Spirit, he will secure all who are his own. So that God by his Spirit is accomplishing his will not only in the present world but also in eternity. He is securing by the power of the Spirit all that God intends, sent by the purposes, power, and ultimate love of Jesus Christ.

That ascended Lord is the One who, by being Prophet, Priest, and King, is ruling over our present and preparing for our future.

Prayer

Interceding Savior, you have not stopped showing compassion for your people. You were tempted in every way as we are, and you now intercede for us when we are tempted. Plead for us to your Father, for you are our advocate before the judge of all the earth. Amen.