Knowing That Christ Is at the Father's Right Hand (4)

In all the disconsolations of this life there is a world of comfort from Christ's ascension. We must not think of Christ, as if his honours had changed his manners, as it is among men; that now that he has been glorified, he does not regard his poor church. No, he regards his poor church from heaven as much as he ever did. The members here cannot suffer anything but the Head in heaven is sensible of it; as it is in Acts 9:4, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?' Our blessed Saviour is not like Pharaoh's unkind butler, who forgot Joseph when he was out of prison. No; he is as good Joseph, who was sent into Egypt to provide for all his family beforehand. Our Joseph has gone to provide for us all, until we come to heaven. He forgets us not. He disdains not to look on things below (Psa. 33:14; Isa. 49:13-16). He is as merciful now as he was when he was upon the earth. 'He was a man for this end, that he might be a merciful high priest' (Heb. 4:15). It is not, out of sight, out of mind, with him. For he was taken up to heaven in the body, but his Spirit is here with us to end the world. 'I will send you the Comforter, and he will abide with you' (John 14:16, 17). It is better for us to have the Comforter here, without his bodily presence, than to have his bodily presence without the abundance of his Spirit, just as it was better with the disciples when he was taken up to heaven and was given his Spirit. We lose nothing by the ascension of Christ. He was given for us, born for us. He lived for us, he died for us, he rose and ascended to heaven for our good. 'It is good for you that I go' (John 16:7). It was to provide a place for us, and to send the Comforter. All was for our good.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
The Fountain Opened, Works, vol. 5, pp. 531
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