What Has Jesus Been Up To Since the Resurrection?
What Has Jesus Been Up To Since the Resurrection?
In this part of our study, we are looking at the different ministries that Jesus has been doing:
- Jesus, Our Mediator
- Jesus, Our Advocate
- Jesus, Our Heavenly Intercessor
- Jesus, Our Great High Priest
Jesus is our Intercessor!
Hebrews 7:24-25 NKJV But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. (25) Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
In the Old Testament, there was a ministry of mediator in a man. There was a ministry of advocate in a man. There was the ministry of the intercessor in a man. And lastly there was the ministry of the High Priest in a man.
But they all could die in their roles. They also were not God and man in one.
The scripture says that He ever lives to make intercession for us.
What is He praying for you?
- He is praying that you not be sifted like wheat.
- He is praying that you withstand against the onslaughts of the devil.
- He is praying that you will be sanctified through and by the Word.
- He is praying that you not be overtaken by the evil one.
In tonight’s lesson, we are going to talk about the present day ministry of Jesus as our High Priest.
Hebrews 3:1 NKJV Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,
Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. (15) For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. (16) Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 8:1-2 NKJV Now this is the main point of the things we are saying: We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, (2) a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man.
Hebrews 8:6 NKJV But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.
Notice this verse also says that He is the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.
This is the only place where it is mentioned that Jesus is our Apostle.
There is no mention in the New Testament how He performs that ministry but the ministry of High Priest is mentioned many times especially in Hebrews.
His intercessory ministry on our behalf is mentioned many times as is His advocate ministry and mediator ministry.
The reason that this is this way is because in the Greek language, “Apostle” is actually attached to “High Priest.” It is actually a reference to the same thing.
We actually can see this same thing in Ephesians 4:11:
Ephesians 4:11 NKJV And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers,
Notice in this verse that the reference is actually made to “pastors and teachers.”
This is because the teaching gift is always going to be associated with the pastoral office. You can stand in the office of the Teacher and not be a Pastor but you cannot stand in the office of the Pastor and not be a teacher.
1 Timothy 3:2 NKJV A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach;
Jesus Christ is the Apostle – High Priest of our confession.
Apostle means “sent one.” That means that this person is designated by someone in authority to go to a place. They are sent by those in authority.
This verse in Hebrews is simply saying that Jesus Christ was sent out by God, the One in authority to be the High Priest to the Church.
A better translation would be, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the One called and sent to be the High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus.”
There are three types of confession:
- Confession of the Lordship of Jesus to be Born Again.
- Confession of one’s sins to the Father as a believer.
- Confession of the Word of God in faith.
Confession means anything that we say to God the Father out of our mouths.
- Your prayers are confession the confession of your mouth.
- Your praise is the confession of your mouth.
- Speaking and confession of the Word of God is the confession of your mouth.
God loves to hear His Word quoted back to Him.
Isaiah 43:26 NKJV Put Me in remembrance; Let us contend together; State your case, that you may be acquitted.
Isaiah 55:11 NKJV So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Jesus is the High Priest over the confession of our mouths.
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
You cannot have a high priest unless there are priests under Him.
God’s original intention was that even under the Old Testament that the people would be able to have access to Him but the sin of worshipping the golden calf caused God to change His plans.
When it came down to decision time, the Levites were the only ones that crossed the line and were on the Lord’s side.
Exodus 32:26 NKJV then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the LORD’s side–come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him.
Some have come out of a denomination that says that you have to go to an earthly priest to confess your sins and have access to God.
This scripture is saying that we all are priests before God and all have equal access to God.
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Revelation 1:5-6 NKJV and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, (6) and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
As believers there are things that we want to say to God in prayer, praise and worship, or simple confession of the Word.
Jesus (our High Priest) takes our words and carries them to the Father and then anything that the Father says back to us or does as a result of our prayers comes back to us through the Lord Jesus.
Notice that in the New Covenant we are to pray to the Father. This is what the scripture says in the following verses:
Matthew 6:9 NKJV In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.
This verse shows us that as believers we do not have to refer to God as Elohim but as Father.
- Our prayers go to the Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15 NKJV For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, (15) from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
- Our worship goes to the Father.
John 4:23 NKJV But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.
- We give thanks unto the Father.
Colossians 1:3 NKJV We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,
- We pray to the Father in Jesus’ Name.
John 15:16 NKJV You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.
John 16:23 NKJV “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.
John 16:26 NKJV In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you;
(Jesus will not do your praying for you.)
Hebrews 3:1 NKJV Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus,
Confession: ὁμολογία – homología; gen. homologías, fem. noun from homologéō (G3670), to agree, confess, say the same. A confession, profession, or recognition.
Revelation 5:6-12 NKJV And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (7) Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. (8) Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (9) And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, (10) And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” (11) Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, (12) saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Revelation 8:3-5 NKJV Then another angel, having a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (4) And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God from the angel’s hand. (5) Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.