Patrick Schreiner is a New Testament professor at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has also written The Kingdom of God and the Glory of the Cross and Matthew, Disciple and Scribe.

This book may be only 127 pages, but it packs a punch!

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1. The arc of the moral universe is long, but the Messiah’s ascension determines its finale. (pg. xv)
2. If the resurrection fully confirms Jesus’ lordship, then the ascension becomes an anticlimax. We can have the tendency to cut off what is implicit in the apostles’ presentation and only speak of the resurrection. (pg. 6)
3. The ascension culminated Christ’s earthly work and marks a shift and climax in the Messiah’s three key roles. It not only confirms Christ’s work but continues Christ’s work. He once labored on the earth; now he labors in heaven. (pg. 17)
4. While we tend to relegate the climax of Christ’s prophetic work to his days on the earth, the biblical authors look at Christ’s work as a whole. They intentionally expand Christ’s prophetic work to both his earthly life and his continuing life in heaven. (pg. 25)
5. Christ arrived as the prophet who delivered God’s word, performed signs and wonders, and possessed the Spirit on the earth. He fulfilled the old covenant by being the anointed Prophet. However, he also promised a time when he would leave and this prophetic task would continue and also be transferred to his people. It is not that he would not be involved; he would simply be involved in a different way after his ascent into heaven. (pg. 30)
6. Because Christ currently presents his blood in the heavenly temple, we are able to also ascend the mountain of the Lord and enter into the throne room of God. (pg. 46)
7. Jesus did not adorn himself with humanity to simply discard it. He adorned himself with humanity so that he might perfect humanity as our true priest. (pg. 60)
8. Jesus is not embarrassed by his people. He proudly represents his people as the God-Man before the Father. Like the priests of old, he wears you as jewels on his breastplate. (pg. 66)
9. Jesus did not simply come to the earth to conquer. He ascended to the right hand of the Father to receive his rightful rule. In doing this, his work as king culminates and continues. Kings sit down and are installed in order to rule. (pg.75)
10. The resurrection vindicated Christ, but his ascent confirmed that vindication. (pg. 110)