March 17 THE EXALTED ONE "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear" (Acts 2:32, 33, NIV). Today, we turn the spotlight on Jesus, our ascended Lord. In this portrait, He is described as the exalted One. What a magnificent title! It focuses upon Christ's triumphant return to heaven. Imagine the jubilation that accompanied the return of Jesus to headquarters after successfully completing His redemptive mission on earth! In His incarnation, He lived a sinless life, ministered to the needs of humanity, suffered and died vicariously for our sins, rose triumphantly from the grave, and then ascended to heaven to report, "Mission accomplished!" Ellen G. White described it this way: The sacrifice of Jesus was now complete. All the conditions of the atonement had been satisfied. The mission to our planet had been accomplished. The plan of salvation was now a guaranteed fact. (See Acts of the Apostles, p. 29). As the returning conqueror, Christ is given a tumultuous welcome home. God the Father now restores His unique Son to His preeminent position of honor--not only as co-Creator and Lord of all, but also as the Redeemer. In the celestial inauguration ceremony, Christ is exalted and enthroned at God's right hand "far above all government and authority, all power and dominion, and any title of sovereignty that can be named, not only in this age but in the age to come" (Ephesians 1:21, NEB). This is preeminent exaltation! Capture, if you can, the emotion of this scene as Christ is exalted. "When Christ passed within the heavenly gates, He was enthroned amidst the adoration of the angels. As soon as this ceremony was completed, the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in rich currents, and Christ was indeed glorified, even with the glory which He had with the Father from all eternity."--Acts of the Apostles, pp. 38, 39. My Prayer Today: Lord, thank You that the mission has been accomplished and that it included me. Amen.