He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.
Summary: Deciphering Paul’s thinking can be a challenge, but it can also be very rewarding. In this passage, Paul gives us a clue as to the details of God’s plan for the redemption of humankind.
When I first read this passage, I had to stop and think. And then, I paused and thought some more. What does Paul mean by saying Jesus “ascended higher than all the heavens?”
In our study of the Lord’s Prayer, we looked closely at the concept of “heaven.” In our post titled “The Third Heaven,” we explored the concepts of the sky as the “first heaven,” the stars as the “second heaven,” and the spiritual realm, where God is, as the “third heaven.” In today’s passage, Paul takes this concept one step further. He introduces us to a place “higher than all the heavens.”
Applying the lens of logic to this passage, I find it confusing. If the second heaven is the universe and the third heaven is the spiritual realm, how can something “higher than all the heavens” be limited to the physical universe?
In the original Greek, Paul used the word “pas,” which Strong’s Concordance defines as “all, any, every, the whole.” The King James version translates the passage this way:
“He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.”
As it turns out, almost every English translation translates “pas” as “all things.” Why? Is this important?
Jesus didn’t need to ascend into heaven to fill the “whole universe.” He created the whole universe. John 1:3 says (speaking of Jesus):
“Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
The universe is one of the “things” that Jesus made. Before he made things, there was no-thing. Please keep in mind that “no – thing” is not the same thing as “nothing.”
We know from John 4:24 that God is spirit. We also know that God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). So before God made “things,” that is, before he made material things, he existed in what Paul called the “third heaven” (2 Corinthians 12:2).
God made all “things” through Jesus (John 1:1) Then he made man (Genesis 1: 26-28). He doesn’t need to “fill the whole universe” because he made the whole universe. The Bible makes clear that God is already aware of every sparrow and every hair on our heads (Luke 12: 6-7).
When Jesus ascended, he was taken up to what Paul called the “third heaven,” and “he sat at the right hand of God.” (Mark 16:19) Again, using logic, Jesus ascended higher than the first and second heavens, but not the third. That is where he ascended to. In effect, Jesus was raised above all “things” into the realm of “no – things,” the spiritual realm.
Why? What was in the universe that Jesus couldn’t “fill” until he ascended into heaven?
I think the answer might be you and me.
The one place in all of Creation and all of God’s heaven that Jesus couldn’t go until he died and rose again was our hearts.
Application: Remember that the “things” of this world are a subset of the spiritual realm.
Food for Thought: What does this passage say about God’s plan for redeeming humanity?
It is in agreement with what is revealed elsewhere in God’s word – that there is a plan, that the plan included Jesus’ Incarnation, death, resurrection and ascension. His ascension on high shows that the sacrifice on our behalf was effective and that Jesus had gained the victory. That victory guarantees our victory. Redemption, that which purchases us out of slavery to sin to being God’s child, is now complete through the work of Christ. We were bought at a high price and, thankfully, we now belong to Him. 1 Corinthians 6: 19 – 20.
Excellent summary, Rich!
Thank you!
I also wonder if the passage speaks to God’s motivation in becoming man and suffering death. His desire is to save all of Creation, to fill “all things” with himself, which is love (1 John 4:8).
Exodus 3:14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
John 8:58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
I’m sure that I am not the first to pray about who God is, nor the first to pray for some level of understanding as to what the words “I AM” mean. The vastness of what you wrote today in the devotion is overwhelming for me to say the least.
What I am beginning to understand on its basic level is that there is “I AM” and there is “I AM NOT.” The Will of the Father is righteous, a living righteousness that is His Son, who is also He, and that which is not the Father’s Will is NOT. The NOT must be separate from the I AM. The Father created us with a will, and He won’t “take” that will from us, but He will receive it, and give us His Will. By accepting His Will, we are not giving up our will, but giving Him our will for His Will. There is giving, and receiving, and giving, and receiving.
Like I said, it is an overwhelming concept to me. But I know it is a selfless unity of righteous glory. Reading in scripture I can understand that God gave man the opportunity to choose obedience, knowing we would choose disobedience, but still gave us that choice. The Old Testament is a testament to the number of times God gave us opportunities to repent, and how sin overwhelmed us. He knew that the only way we would be able to be redeemed was through the blood sacrifice of His Son, Jesus’ dedicated willingness to redeem us, which is His absolute obedience to God’s Will. He gave us grace; we meant that much to Him. He wants us to be in His presence, to be in His Will, but He won’t force us, because He gave us a will to choose Him.
His plan is merciful, in that our sin is something we cannot fully understand, so how can we be redeemed from something that we cannot fully understand? It is only through faith in the One that was sent to redeem us. His love is a love that we cannot fully understand. Seems right to me that we cannot understand both the full measure of sin and love. Seems right to me that we just have faith that His love is greater than sin. It is only in believing in the One that sits ascended higher than the heavens, above everything, all creation and all understanding, the One that fills the universe with selfless love, His selfless love, that is, and was, and is to come, that He gives us redemption, and in that giving and receiving, He gives us life, and peace, and unity with His Will.
I don’t know know if I was able to really articulate it. I just know know it gives me hope.
Chris,
I think you articulated your thoughts very well!
When you write, “Seems right to me that we just have faith…” I have to agree. Everything else is really beyond our comprehension. In fact, being overwhelmed can lead to wonder, and wonder is one of those childlike qualities that the Lord wants to see in us. (Matthew 18:3)
06-21-2023, What does this passage say about God’s plan for redeeming humanity?
God and His ways are beyond our human understanding! His ways surpass all man’s logic and restrictive vision.
We are created beings, originally created in the image of God with access to the source of eternal life as well as the source of knowledge of good and evil. Genesis 1:26
As the CLAY, we determined to become the POTTER, we turned our backs on all God provided, chose instead to live in our power.
And the Lord God said; Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know how to distinguish between good and evil and blessing and calamity; and now, lest he put forth his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever, Genesis 3:22
So God drove man out; He placed at the east of the Garden of Eden the cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep and guard access to the tree of life. Genesis 3:24
We became defective, corrupted beings. Our eyes became blind and and our ears deaf to truth, we were contaminated, diseased by sin, lame, unable to walk with God, and our brains had and continue to become polluted by human science, logic, and reasoning which have influenced our beliefs.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:16
God continues to love all of us with an everlasting love. He is the Father of our spirits. We are His children. He loves each one of us individually and wants us to come to know, love Him and once again have a relationship with Him as we live in obedience to His will. To make this possible, He provided the one and only way for our reconciliation and healing through His Son Jesus Christ. As Christians, have been healed, and remain in this world, commanded to live separated from this world. He can ensure that we do not give evil any traction as we turn from enticing and tempting circumstances and focus on complying with and obeying God’s Word.
Our growth is directly related to the life we lead, our hearts are changed, knowledge increased propositional to the time we spend with our Lord. As believers we spend time in God’s Word. As we spend this time alone with the Lord, we obtain freedom, liberty, grace and righteousness and return to our rightful place as clay in the hands of the POTTER, with greater understanding, faith and ability to discern as well as walk with God.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts, Isaiah 55:8-9.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
1 Corinthians 13:12
Ron,
I’ve always like the ‘clay and the potter’ metaphor. Thanks for bringing that up and sharing it with us. While we are still being worked on by the potter it is good to be pliable.