May 2 – LD 18, Day 3: Can the
Ascended Christ be in Two Places at One Time?
by Rev J. Kortering
John 14:2b, “I go to prepare a place
for you”.
Matthew 28:20b, “Lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world. Amen.”
These two texts set forth in bold relief the question set forth in the
catechism. If Christ ascended into heaven, “Is not Christ then with us even to
the end of the world, as He hath promised? Answer, Christ is very man and very
God; with respect to His human nature, He is no more on earth, but with respect
to His Godhead, majesty, grace, and Spirit, He is at no time absent from us.”
The Lutherans differ from the Reformed on this answer. They believe that
when Christ arose from the dead, divine qualities were transferred to His human
nature, e.g. omnipresence. This explains their view of the Lord’s Supper, that
Christ is literally present IN the bread and wine because His human nature is
everywhere present. In contrast the Reformed teach that Christ’s human nature
was changed in the ascension (glorified) but still retained the limitations
common to man. The ascended Christ can be only one place at one time, he was on
earth, but through the ascension is now in heaven. Christ said, “I go”, He
means, I go away.
At the same time, Jesus assured His disciples that He would remain with
them always. The question is, how does He remain with
us? The catechism correctly answers this in two ways, first according to His
divine nature He is everywhere present. This is “His Godhead”. Being personally
God, Jesus also possessed all the virtues of God the Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit. One of the great attributes of God is to be everywhere present. This
defies our imagination, but is taught in the Bible. In the second place, Christ
is with us also according to His Spirit, Whom He sends to us to abide with us.
Through the Holy Spirit, He blesses us with all spiritual blessings including
grace.
Even though we may answer the question posed above as yes, the ascended
Christ can be in two places at one time, we still need to exercise caution. In
the subsequent question and answer we are reminded that these two natures of
Christ are never divided or separated. The person and divine nature is greater
than the human and yet joined to it.
The ascension helps us understand our wonderful Savior.