In the typical sanctuary service of ancient Israel it was customary for the High Priest to lay aside his pontifical robes and officiate in the white linen of an ordinary priest. So, the Son of God came down to this earth, laid aside His royal robes and garbed Himself with humanity, to offer Himself as a ransom for you and me.
Speaking of this, Paul wrote, “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us.” 1 Corinthians 5:7. To fulfill the requirements of the Passover, Christ became the priest and the victim. It was thus that He made an atonement for our sins. However in God’s great blueprint for complete salvation, He foresaw the need for some additional steps in order to restore man to his rightful place.
The atonement provided only for forgiveness of past sins. But sin had also separated humanity from Christ. Something must be done to reunite man with his Creator. Therefore, God devised further steps so that this could be accomplished. If such detailed plans were followed precisely, this would make it possible for finite man to comprehend how heaven and earth—now separated—could be reunited in oneness.
Immediately following the yearly Passover Sabbath is the first day of the week. “In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the Lord’s Passover . . . And the Lord spake unto Moses saying, Speak unto the Children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the priest: and he shall wave the sheaf before the Lord, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it.” Leviticus 23:5, 9–11.
Jesus fulfilled this requirement of the wave sheaf. The Passover lamb was scheduled to die during the Passover. It was to be slain on Friday at the ninth hour, but it escaped when the veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom. At that precise time Christ, the true Lamb of God, died on Calvary. Then during the Sabbath hours He lay in the sleep of death in the tomb. On the first day He will present the wave sheaf offering, for every divine prediction in the Scriptures must be fulfilled.
Christ became the first fruits by His resurrection. Thus He was able to comply with the stipulations which were laid down by God in the laws of Moses a thousand years before. The first sheaf of grain was to be presented on the first day following the Passover Sabbath, not until this was presented could the harvest be gathered.
Early on the first day of the week, after the crucifixion, it is still dark. The great stone covering the entrance to the tomb is still in place, the Roman seal unbroken. Around the tomb stand the Roman guards joined by a host of evil angels. But there is also a heavenly host surrounding the sepulcher.
Suddenly, the early morning silence was broken. “There was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.” Matthew 28:2. Instantly all the evil angels flee and the soldiers fall as dead men.
This mighty angel rolls away the enormous stone (it was at least six feet in diameter) as he would a pebble. Then he cried, “Son of God, come forth! Thy Father calls Thee.” Desire of Ages, 780. Immediately, Christ comes forth from the tomb as the angelic host sing with great joy: “Thou hast vanquished Satan and the powers of darkness; Thou hast swallowed up death in victory.” Ibid.
Something else happened while Christ arose. Another startling event has taken place, for an earthquake has opened a multitude of other graves. Individuals that had given their lives as a testimony to God’s truth arise from their graves. These resurrected saints are the Savior’s trophies of victory over the power of death. No longer are they captives of Satan, for they are now redeemed, brought forth from the grave as first fruits of the end time resurrection.
Christ had raised the dead many times while He was here on earth. For there was the son of the widow of Nain and the ruler’s little daughter. There was also Lazarus who had died and was buried four days. But each of these was still subject to death, and they must die again. Unlike them, these resurrected saints, who arose when Christ arose, would never die. They were raised to everlasting life.
Shortly after that event took place, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. Can you imagine her amazement when she discovered that the tomb was empty? She feared that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. “And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid Him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing Him to be the gardener, saith unto Him, Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and saith unto Him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, Touch Me not: for I am not yet ascended to My Father: but go to My brethren and say unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God.” John 20:13–17.
Do you comprehend these unforgettable words of Christ? “I ascend to My Father and your Father. To My God and your God.” This is talking about a part of the family of God. Something is about to occur that will reunite heaven and earth. And what is this wonder? Christ is about to ascend to heaven where He will present Himself to the Father as the wave sheaf, the symbol of the first resurrected life of a great harvest to come.
Immediately, Jesus leaves Mary in the garden and goes to heaven. This is why Jesus tells Mary, who is about to embrace His feet in worship, “Touch me not for I have not yet ascended to my Father.” On this resurrection morning, Christ ascended to heaven for the express purpose of conducting a brief visit with the Father in heaven, presenting Himself as the wave sheaf.
Apparently travel in space is no problem with Deity. One moment Jesus is talking to Mary and the next moment He is presenting Himself to the Father in heaven; Himself the first fruit of the eternal resurrection. In this private meeting with the Father the assurance is given that Christ’s sacrifice has been accepted by God Almighty. “He ascended to the heavenly courts, and from God Himself heard the assurance that His atonement for the sins of men had been ample, that through His blood all might gain eternal life. The Father ratified the covenant made with Christ, that He would receive repentant and obedient men, and would love them even as He loves His Son.” The Desire of Ages, 790.
When this short visit with His Father had been accomplished, Christ immediately returned to the earth. During His absence, other women arrived at the tomb. “After He had ascended to the Father, Jesus appeared to the other women, saying, All hail. And they came and held Him by the feet, and worshipped Him. Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see Me.” The Desire of Ages, 793. Now the time had arrived when He can assure the disciples that He has fulfilled His pledge, “To make a man more precious than fine gold.” Isaiah 13:12.
He sends word by these women to His disciples that they are to meet Him in Galilee where He will instruct them for forty days. Acts records this: “To whom also He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” Acts 1:3.
Ten days after Jesus ascension to heaven, the next great event occurred which the Scripture calls Pentecost. It would be at this coming event that the covenant would be ratified with Christ and His church. Why must this be? Has Christ already died for an atonement? Yes. Has Christ arisen in victory over death? Yes. Has He already presented the wave sheaf to His Father? Yes. And has His Father not only accepted this wave sheaf but also given full approval of what He has done? Yes. Then why must there be a Pentecost? Because something more is needed. The church of God must be given divine power to give the gospel to the entire world and this cannot take place until two additional wave loaves are presented to God the Father. Every divine stipulation given in Scripture must be carried out in the plan of salvation.
“And ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the Sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh Sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. Ye shall bring out of your habitation two wave loaves of two tenths deals: they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the first fruits unto the Lord.” Leviticus 23:15–17.
What do these two loaves of bread literally represent? These verses draw our attention to a special group of saints who arose with Christ on the resurrection morning. They represent the family of God on earth. They must be reunited with the heavenly family, for they are the pledge of assurance that the resurrection of all the righteous will take place when Christ comes the second time. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:14.)
So as Christ arose from the tomb, He brought forth a multitude of captives from the grave. These were to go into the city of Jerusalem and declare to the honest of heart that Christ indeed had risen from the dead and that they were living proof for they arose with Christ. This was necessary for several reasons. The priests had paid the soldiers who had personally witnessed the resurrection to spread a lying report. “Say ye,” said the priests, “His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we slept.”
Furthermore, the Sadducees had for centuries prepared the people, under the direction of Satan, to believe that there was no such thing as a resurrection. But God never leaves an honest soul in doubt. So for forty days, while Christ prepares His disciples to preach the gospel in all the world, these risen saints go from person to person proving beyond a doubt that Jesus arose from the dead. They declared, Christ is risen and “we be risen with Him.” The Desire of Ages, 786. Thus the prophecy of Isaiah 26:19 was fulfilled: “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise . . .and the earth shall cast out the dead.”
But more than this, they are an assurance to us who are alive today that God always keeps His promise, and that we shall soon witness a coming resurrection. “For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16.
“Thus will it be when the voice of Christ shall be heard from heaven. That voice will penetrate the graves and unbar the tombs, and the dead in Christ shall arise. At the Saviour’s resurrection a few graves were open, but at His second coming all the precious dead shall hear His voice, and shall come forth to glorious immortal life. The same power that raised Christ from the dead will raise His church, and glorify it with Him, above all principalities, above all powers, above every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the world to come.” The Desire of Ages, 787.
Christ spent forty days with His disciples before returning to heaven with His trophies. He also knew that time was needed in heaven to prepare for a glorious homecoming. The disciples also would need time to prepare for heaven’s overflow of this great celebration by being united in prayer, at which time heaven will bestow the Holy Spirit in His fullness, ratifying the covenant with His church.
Jesus the divine Counselor is about to return victoriously to heaven’s court with His trophies. For forty days He has authenticated to His disciples that He is their living Saviour. No longer must He be associated with the tomb. Now they must think of Him as glorified before the heavenly universe. Jesus chooses the spot for His ascension. It will be the Mount of Olives upon which His feet will again rest, at the close of the millennium, when He brings the New Jerusalem to this earth. As Jesus bids His disciples good-bye, He slowly ascends from among them and He speaks the last promise: “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20.
As His disciples watch, a cloud of glory hides Jesus from their sight as the chariots of angels receive the Saviour and carry Him up. The air is filled with the sweetest music as the angel choirs sing. Two angels in the form of men speak: “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven.” Acts 1:11.
These are the very same two angels who were sent to guard the tomb at the resurrection and they had also been His personal bodyguards during His life on this earth. Now they longed to welcome Jesus in the clouds, but in love for His disciples, they remained to give the disciples comfort. Meanwhile, the multitude of captives, who arose with Christ at His resurrection, has now joined with their Saviour in the clouds. They will accompany Jesus to heaven as He returns to the Father.
These risen saints are an example of what will happen when the Second Coming takes place. “When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive.” Ephesians 4:8. As Jesus ascends with His trophies, all heaven is astir in preparation to welcome the Saviour. Jesus leads the way. The multitude of His captives follow Him and the escorting angels cry out, “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of Hosts, he is the King of glory.” Psalm 24:8.
Will you look with me at this mighty reception? Heaven’s gates swing wide open as Moses opens the gates of the city of God and the angelic throng sweeps through the city of God amid rapturous music. In the center of Jerusalem stands the mighty throne encircled by the rainbow. Countless sons of God, the representatives of the unfallen worlds, eagerly wait to celebrate Christ’s triumphant return.
Billions of unfallen angels are also in that assembly. This is the same heavenly council before which Lucifer had accused God and the Son. These are the representatives of the sinless worlds over which Satan had thought to establish his dominion. All are eager to celebrate the triumph of their King. But wait. Christ waves them back as He enters the throne.
“Not yet; He cannot now receive the coronet of glory and the royal robe. He enters into the presence of His Father. He points to His wounded head, the pierced side, the marred feet; He lifts His hands, bearing the prints of the nails. He points to the tokens of His triumph; He presents to God the wave sheaf, those raised with Him as representatives of that great multitude who shall come forth from the grave at His second coming.” The Desire of Ages, 834.
Watch as Christ approaches the Father. Sense the joy as God beholds the saints who have been resurrected and presented as trophies. Recall the pledge of God the Father and Christ the Son that took place before sin entered the universe. Recall the covenant promised to redeem sinners. Listen once again to Christ’s cry on the cross. “It is finished.” Now watch as Christ presents His trophies to the Father, one by one.
Then He pleads: “Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given Me, be with Me where I am.” John 17:24. And so it takes place. The compact is finally finished exactly as predicted a thousand years before. God responds, justice is satisfied and Satan is forever vanquished. Now Christ’s struggling children are accepted in the Beloved, for where Christ is, there His church is also, because, “Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other.” Psalm 85:10.
Behold, the arms of the Father as they encircle His Son and now He gives the command: “Let all the angels of God worship Him.” Hebrews 1:6. “With joy unutterable, rulers and principalities and powers acknowledge the supremacy of the Prince of Life. The angel hosts prostrate themselves before Him, while the glad shout fills all the courts of heaven, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing’. Revelation 5:12.” The Desire of Ages, 834.
Listen to the songs of triumph filling the air as music from the angels’ harps strike a higher note. Finally, the lost have been found. “And every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:13.
Words cannot possibly express such joy. Here is the fulfillment of our text in which Jesus said, “Say unto My brethren, I go unto My God and your God.” The family on earth is now united with the heavenly family from which it was once separated by sin. Now they are united as one. The celebration of heaven spills over, down to this very earth, for this is Pentecost. It has finally arrived.
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Acts 2:1–4.
The universe has now accepted the Saviour. The saving gospel is now beyond question. Believers in Christ will never die. They will only sleep until Jesus comes. Now the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, fills the heart of each disciple on earth and a Spirit-led church marches to victory. “And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.” Revelation 6:1, 2.
When we speak of Pentecost, our memory should recall that Calvary’s atonement had been accepted, that the enemy, death, had been defeated, that Christ had ascended with His risen saints, assuring that a final resurrection is soon to take place. But above all, Pentecost assures us that we are now one with Christ. The joy of heaven’s Pentecost should be our daily experience.
Since Jesus is coming soon, we can repeat the words of Christ with authority that He spoke long ago: “I ascend unto My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.” For the family on earth was finally united with the family of heaven at Pentecost. The joy of Pentecost should be our daily experience.