The Ascension
Submitted by jroberts on Mon, 2007-05-21 06:22.
Yesterday (or last Thursday), Liturgical Churches celebrated the Ascension; i.e., the point when 40 days after the Ressurection, Jesus ascended bodily into heaven. What do y'all think are the implications for that? Do you think of Jesus as still having His ressurected body? Do you think we'll have bodies in heaven?
Hmm...
First off, let me say my beliefs here are flexible -- I am not claiming to "know it all" on this topic. But... I think Jesus still has his resurrected body. When he appeared after his resurrection, he told Thomas to "feel my hands and feet, and thrust your hand into my side" - - there was still a physical, flesh aspect to Christ. I don't know that we have any explicit implications that Jesus had a different physical form after being resurrected, or even ascended. Also, when Christ appeared to John on the isle of Patmos, he was still in a form that was recognizable.
I don't know that we'll have bodies in heaven. The rich man still had feelings, for he felt that hell was hot. On the other hand, Jesus once taught that, in the resurrection, we are neither married nor given in marriage but are as the angels. The question is, what kind of bodies do angels have. Paul describes there being different kinds of flesh, some "terrestrial" and some "celestial". So I think the real question is, what was Paul referring to as "celestial flesh" ? If it is the angelic flesh, this is probably the same form we shall have at the resurrection / in heaven.
Grace be with you,
Nate