John 6:62

In this and the following ver. Christ doth cleare his doctrine, at which they stumbled so much. And first, whereas they stumbled that he, who appeared so much in outward basenesse, should say he came down from heaven, ver. 41, 42. He declareth, that his ascension into heaven should prove the truth of that, to their conviction and shame. And this also helps to cleare their mistake about eating of his flesh. It doth not necessarily inferre that they should be witnesses of his ascension, but that he should indeed ascend, and that the truth and certainty of this should shame them for their base thoughts of him likewise, while it is said, he shall ascend up where he was before, it is not to be understood, as it his Godhead did change place, and leave heaven at his incarnation; for, however he stooped, in respect of state, to appeare on earth in our nature, yet he is still in heaven, Joh. 3.13. Nor is it the meaning, that his humane nature did descend from heaven, seeing in respect of that he ascended. But the meaning is, that the ascension of his humane nature, by local change of place, should clearly prove that he came from heaven in respect of his divine natures stooping to be cloathed with our flesh; And both these two are spoken of the whole person, in respect of the personal union, though they be verified but in the one or other nature. Further, it is to be marked, that Christs ascension doth prove his Godhead, and that he came down from heaven; to wit, not simply, for Enoch and Elijah did ascend to heaven, who yet were not there before; but in regard that he did arise and ascend by his own power, Job. 2.19. and 10.18. Psal. 68 18. Joh. 20.17. Doctrine 1. Albeit men will not for present beleeve the excellency and glory of Christ; yet it will be discovered, and they may see it to their conviction and shame, either in mercy or in judgement; for, so doth he intimate, that they should see their folly, when they see the Sonne of man ascend up. See Joh. 8.28. Luk. 12.22, 67, 69. 2. Christs ascending into heaven is a clear proofe of his Godhead, and that he descended from heaven in his incarnation; Therefore, doth he confirme the one by the other. See Rom. 1.4. Eph. 4.8, 9. 3. Christs ascension into heaven, in his humane nature, is a sufficient refutation of all carnal conceptions of partaking of Christ, or of eating his flesh: Therefore also doth he bring in this when they stumbled at eating of his flesh, to shew that his ascension into heaven might refute all such conceits.