Comfortable Words» Blog Archive » Edward Reynolds: Ascension and Whitsunday

Comfortable Words» Blog Archive » Edward Reynolds: Ascension and Whitsunday

Edward Reynolds: Ascension and Whitsunday

Edward Reynolds (1599-1676), Bishop of Norwich

EDWARD Reynolds (1599-1676), Bishop of Norwich, understood Christ’s glorious Ascension as counterpart to the completion of the Day of Atonement ritual, when the High Priest took the blood of the sacrifice into the Most Holy Place (see my earlier post).

Here, in the Most Holy Place, the Ark of The Covenant was to be found; and accordingly, Reynolds now pursues an allegory of Christ as the Ark of the Covenant, of which the high-point is the giving of the gift of the Holy Ghost, as the right of the supreme Victor.

CHRIST was notably typified in the Ark of the Testament. In it, were the tables of the law,— to show that the whole law was in Christ fulfilled, and that he was the end of the law for righteousness to those that believe in him. …

But two things principally did it signify Christ unto our present purpose: First, It was overlaid within and without with gold, and had a crown of gold round about it (Exod 25:11, 37:2); denoting the plentiful and glorious kingdom of Christ, who was crowned with glory and honour (Heb 2:7). Secondly, it had rings by which it was carried up and down, till at last it rested in Solomon’s temple, with glorious and triumphal solemnity (Ps 132:8-9; 2 Chron 5:13).

So Christ, while he was here upon earth, “being anointed with the Holy Ghost, and with power, went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). And having ceased from his works, did at last “enter into his rest” (Heb 5:10), which is “the heavenly temple” (Rev 11:19)

Now this carrying of the ark into his resting-place denotes two things:

First, a final conquest, over the enemies of God. For as the moving of the ark signified the acting and procuring of victory, so the resting of the ark noted the consummation of victory (Josh 6:11, 20). …

Secondly, it notes the conferring of gifts, as we see in that triumphal song at the removal of the ark; being also a prediction both of that which literally happened in the reign of Solomon, and was mystically verified in Christ (Ps 68:18).

Thus Christ, our “prince of peace,” being now in the temple of God in Heaven, hath bound Hell, sin, and death, captive,—and hath demolished the walls of Jericho, or the kingdom of Satan, thrown him down “from Heaven like lightning,” and passed a sentence of judgment upon him; and hath received of the Father, “the promise of the Holy Ghost, and given gifts unto men” (Acts 2:32, 35).

Before his entering into his rest, it was but a promise, and they were to wait at Jerusalem for it (Acts 1:4); but, after his departure and intercession at his Father’s right hand, it was poured forth “in abundance upon them” (Jn 14:16, 16:7).

An Exposition On The Hundred And Tenth Psalm.

More by Edward Reynolds; more on Ascension Day and Whitsunday.