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This week on Things Unseen, we're reflecting on the fact that tomorrow in the Christian calendar is actually Ascension Day, the day when some churches celebrate the ascension of the Lord Jesus. An event that in some ways was mysterious. Jesus going back to heaven in the cloud of God's glory, but also important. And it raises a practical question for us. What has Jesus been doing since his ascension and what is he doing now? Sometimes we talk about the work of Christ in terms of his threefold office. Remember, we've talked before about the fact that Adam was created to be the prophet and priest and king of creation, and. But he failed in that ministry. So that when Jesus undertook our salvation and restoration, he fulfilled these three roles in a new and redeeming and restoring way. And he did it through his incarnation, his life, his death, his resurrection, his ascension, and now his heavenly session and reign. He has done everything needed to accomplish our redemption. But there's more. There's even more to the good news than the fact that Christ has accomplished our redemption. He's now ascended and gone to heaven to apply that redemption to us. And one of the ways he does this is by continuing his ministry as prophet and priest and king. So how does Jesus continue to be a prophet? Well, he did it first of all by giving us his word in the pages of the New Testament. Remember how he told the apostles in the upper room that when the Holy Spirit came to them and he was speaking particularly and uniquely to them, they would be able to give the New Testament to the Church. The Spirit would remind them of everything Jesus said. And we find that in the Gospels he would lead them into an understanding of the truth about him, which we find in the Gospels and in the Epistles. And he'd show them things to come which we find, for example, in the Book of Revelation as well as elsewhere. These words are as good a summary of what's in the New Testament as you'll find anywhere. That's the work of Jesus as the ongoing prophet of the Church. But he continues to exercise this prophetic ministry in the exposition of the Scriptures he's given to us. I wonder if you've ever thought about Paul's words in Ephesians 2:17. He says, to the Ephesians, Christ came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. But when did Christ do that? Did he visit Ephesus during his ministry or between his resurrection and his ascension? Now Paul is speaking here about what happened when Paul himself and his companions came to Ephesus. Paul preached and Through Paul's preaching of the gospel, Christ's voice was heard as he preached peace and salvation. I think the Ephesians could have sung Horatius Bonar's hymn. Actually, you remember it. I heard the voice of Jesus say, come unto me and rest. Lay down, thou weary one. Lay down thy head upon my breast. And I came to Jesus as I was weary and worn and sad. I found in him a resting place, and he has made me glad. Isn't this exactly the experience we all have under a living ministry of the Word of God? And it makes us say to one another, the Lord was speaking to us today. It isn't that we hear sounds other than the words that are spoken, but by the Holy Spirit within and beyond the preacher's accent. We recognize the accent of the Lord Jesus. And there are many times, I suspect, when we scarcely notice that our own preachers have an accent at all. And when that happens, we realize that through His Word, it's the Lord Jesus detecting, analyzing, reaching, and healing the sicknesses of our souls and getting to places that no human being could possibly know even exist. Now, there are two important implications of this present ministry of Jesus as prophet. The first is that actually we have a primary need and responsibility, wherever and whenever possible, to place our own lives under a living ministry of God's Word. And when we do that, we'll begin to be delivered from the all too common idea that sermons explain what God has done, and then preachers tell us what we're supposed to do. We'll discover that because Christ speaks in God's Word, when it's preached in the power of God's spirit, God's Word begins to do its own work in us, shaping and reshaping our thinking, transforming our affections, melting our wills, and renewing our minds. And the second implication of this? Well, it's very simple. It's that we need really to pray for such ministries to be raised up in our own time and to be sustained. Incidentally, I wonder if you do pray for the preaching of the Word in your own congregation, and I wonder, have you ever actually encouraged your pastor and preacher.
Podcast: Things Unseen with Sinclair B. Ferguson
Host: Ligonier Ministries
Episode Date: May 13, 2026
In this episode, Sinclair B. Ferguson reflects on the significance of Christ’s ascension—commemorated as Ascension Day in many Christian traditions—and explores a central question: “What has Jesus been doing since his ascension, and what is he doing now?” Ferguson delves into the ongoing heavenly ministry of Christ, focusing on how Jesus continues his work as Prophet, Priest, and King, particularly emphasizing His prophetic role through the ministry of the Word.
Ascension as a Mysterious and Important Event:
Ferguson describes Jesus’ return to heaven “in the cloud of God’s glory,” acknowledging the mysterious but central place this event holds in Christian faith.
“An event that in some ways was mysterious. Jesus going back to heaven in the cloud of God's glory, but also important.” (00:09)
Practical Question Raised by the Ascension:
Adam’s Failure and Jesus’ Fulfillment:
Ferguson revisits the biblical teaching that Adam was made to be prophet, priest, and king but failed, while Christ fulfills and redeems these offices completely through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension.
“So that when Jesus undertook our salvation and restoration, he fulfilled these three roles in a new and redeeming and restoring way. … He has done everything needed to accomplish our redemption. But there's more.” (00:44)
Christ’s Ongoing Work:
Jesus is not passive in heaven but is still actively applying redemption, especially through his ongoing ministry as Prophet, Priest, and King (01:07).
Christ Giving Us His Word:
Jesus’ prophetic ministry continues through the New Testament, which he provided by the Holy Spirit working through the apostles (01:20).
Christ’s Exposition of Scripture:
Not only did Jesus give his Word, but he continues to speak through its living exposition in local churches.
Ephesians 2:17 and Christ Preaching Today:
Paul writes, “Christ came and preached peace to you.” Ferguson explains this as Christ preaching through Paul’s ministry in Ephesus, making clear that Christ’s voice is heard anytime God’s Word is truly preached.
“Paul preached and through Paul's preaching of the gospel, Christ's voice was heard as he preached peace and salvation.” (02:08)
Quoting Bonar’s Hymn:
Ferguson connects Bonar’s hymn “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” to modern experience of hearing Christ through ‘living ministry.’
“I heard the voice of Jesus say, come unto me and rest. Lay down, thou weary one. … I found in him a resting place, and he has made me glad. Isn't this exactly the experience we all have under a living ministry of the Word of God?” (02:32)
Recognizing Christ’s Voice:
Emphasizes the phenomenon, familiar to many Christians, of feeling as if the Lord himself is speaking when the Word is preached in the Spirit’s power.
“By the Holy Spirit within and beyond the preacher's accent. We recognize the accent of the Lord Jesus.” (03:03)
a) Our Need to Sit Under Living Ministry of God’s Word:
Christians' “primary need and responsibility” is to place their lives under faithful preaching, not seeing sermons as mere explanations or instruction.
“We'll discover that because Christ speaks in God's Word, when it's preached in the power of God's spirit, God's Word begins to do its own work in us, shaping and reshaping our thinking, transforming our affections, melting our wills, and renewing our minds.” (04:10)
b) Praying for Preaching Ministries:
Ferguson exhorts believers to pray for vibrant preaching, pastors, and churches—and to encourage their own pastors and preachers.
“Incidentally, I wonder if you do pray for the preaching of the Word in your own congregation, and I wonder, have you ever actually encouraged your pastor and preacher.” (04:58)
On the Ongoing Voice of Christ:
“Through His Word, it's the Lord Jesus detecting, analyzing, reaching, and healing the sicknesses of our souls and getting to places that no human being could possibly know even exist.” (03:22)
Challenge to Listeners:
“We need really to pray for such ministries to be raised up in our own time and to be sustained.” (04:33)
Sinclair Ferguson brings Ascension Day to life by exploring Christ’s ongoing heavenly ministry, especially his role as the living Prophet who still addresses his people through the preached Word. The episode challenges listeners to recognize the voice of Christ in faithful preaching, prioritize attendance to God’s Word, and actively pray for and encourage those in gospel ministry.