“Such a high priest…is…exalted above the heavens.”

How high are the heavens?  It’s interesting to look back at how the ancients responded to this question.  The one that intrigues me the most is that at night when the stars came out, some of the earliest astronomers thought that the sky was the inside edge of a big black sphere with holes in it.  The gods who lived beyond this ball, on the outside, peered through the holes to observe activities on earth.  When they got close enough to the holes, their glory would shine, thus giving the impression of twinkles of light.  Not a bad guess for people without modern technology and the knowledge that comes from it.

But through technology we now know that reaching the heavens is entirely impossible.  Oh, sure, we have “reached into” part of the heavens, first with airplanes and second with rockets shooting into space.  But our verse today says that Jesus “is…exalted above the heavens.”  Beyond them.  Farther.  Past.  You get the idea.

How could he do that?  For Jesus to go above the heavens, it presupposes something about him.  He was able to do that because heaven is where he belongs.  Other Scriptures verify this.  John 6 mentions six times that Jesus as “the true bread” (v. 32) “came down from heaven” (vs. 33, 38, 41, 42, 50, 51).  Six times!  Do you think he’s trying to emphasize something?  Of course.  The point is that only Jesus has the capacity to have a perspective and personal knowledge of life beyond the limits of an earthly existence.  Thus he mentions “rais[ing people] up at the last day” (v. 39, 40).  Only someone from heaven can have a heavenly perspective.  It also says to us that heaven is his natural abode, his normal domain.  He belongs there.

Ephesians 4 reinforces this point for us.  Verse 8 quotes Psalm 68:18: “When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.”  The original idea is that conquering kings would parade their captured enemies in front of their countrymen and then share the spoils of victory.  Jesus did similarly.  But the next two verses bring us to what we’re looking for: “(What does ‘he ascended’ mean except that he also descended to the lower, earthly regions?  He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens in order to fill the whole universe.)”  The connection is unmistakable.  Jesus’ point of origin was heaven itself.  He came down “to the lower, earthly regions”—earth itself.  Jesus’ return to the realm of above the heavens makes it a round trip.  It was as natural for him as it is natural for any one of us not to do so.  It is only because he did that we can arrive at the same destination.

Now look for just a moment at the last part of verse ten: “in order to fill the whole universe.”  The Greek is a bit more generic: “in order to fill all things.”  What does this mean?  It means that because of Christ’s return to heaven, because of the Father’s reception and approval of his work on the earth, he gives the Son the right to bring everything into line with God’s purposes.  The result is that now the rest of prophecy will be fulfilled as stated, God’s sovereignty will continue to rule unabated, that all the blessings of God will flow continuously, that God’s will ultimately will be accomplished and that God himself will be fully vindicated.  Years ago A. W. Tozer wrote of the world that everything is wrong until God makes it right.  “Fill[ing] the whole universe” is God making everything right…in his own time, in his own way.

I wonder…what was it like the moment, the split second Jesus returned above the heavens?  We already see in numerous parts of Scripture angels surrounding the throne of God praising him.  What must it have been like when Jesus broke back into that more than glorious scene?  What did the angels do at that moment?  What did the Father’s face look like?  What did the Son say to him?  What was his expression as he said, “Mission accomplished!  Now we can really get down to business!”?  Cheering angels?  Broadly smiling Father?   A pleased savior with the look of confidence and love?  I think so.  All that and more.  Much more than words can describe.

Hebrews 7 says that our High Priest has gone above the heavens—beyond the clouds, the stars, and seated at the right hand of God (see 1:3 & 4:14).  Have you caught the anticipation, the confidence and excitement that exists in heaven?  Has it lifted you up “above the heavens”?