The resurrected Jesus is performing a God-given function right now. Jesus Christ is at work right now serving God's purpose for him. While the task God assigned the resurrected Jesus completely differs from his earthly ministry that ended in a physical death, it is as real as was his earthly ministry. He did the will of God in his human life. He did the will of God in his physical death. He does God's will at this moment as he is enthroned at God's right hand. God resurrected Jesus to reign from God's right hand. Jesus Christ's "now" task involves his reign. In his reign, Jesus has specific objectives as he pursues the restoration of God's sovereignty.
As Jesus Christ reigns, he functions on our behalf and in God's behalf. He functions on our behalf by serving as our intercessor or mediator before God (Hebrews 7:25; Romans 8:27, 34; 1 Timothy 2:5). The concept of an intercessor is the concept of "someone who looks after our interest." The concept of a mediator is the concept of "someone who makes it possible for alienated parties to have contact."
Christians can exist in the holy God's presence only through perfect forgiveness. No one--including the Christian--is without evil in him or her. There is no evil in God (James 1:13). God has no association with evil. God is absolute holiness, perfect purity. How then can people [who are incapable of separating themselves from all evil] exist in the presence of absolute holiness and perfect purity? God produced that opportunity in two ways. First, God provides complete, perfect forgiveness to us in Jesus' blood (Ephesians 1:7). With Jesus' blood, God ransomed us from evil (Ephesians 1:14; Titus 2:11-14; Romans 3:21-24). Through the grace of God's complete forgiveness, we become suitable for God's presence.
Second, Christians are able to exist continually in God's holy presence only because the resurrected Jesus serves as our intercessor and mediator (Romans 8:34). Evil is a continuing problem in every Christian's life. Growing maturity in Christ results in Christians resisting evil within themselves. Yet, it is impossible for any people [including Christians] to eliminate all evil from their lives. Each Christian fails the holy God daily. No Christian grows to a level of holiness [either in knowledge or behavior] that reaches God's level of purity and holiness. Every sincere Christian, regardless of how knowledgeable he or she becomes, will commit more evil through ignorance of holiness and purity [God's purposes and concerns] than he or she will ever commit in knowledgeable rebellion against God's sovereignty.
Jesus lived a physical existence (Philippians 2:5-8). He endured and understands the temptation experience (Hebrews 5:8,9). This one "who walked in our shoes" continually represents us before our God of mercy and grace. Because Jesus Christ represents us before God, because he understands our weakness and struggles, Christians confidently come to the throne of grace rightfully anticipating help with our need for mercy and forgiveness (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Jesus functions in God's behalf by seeking a specific objective. This objective in his reign is to completely restore sovereignty to God. As he reigns now, he actively conquers God's enemies. What enemies? Enemies defying God's sovereignty! Paul told the Christians in Corinth that Jesus must reign until he stands on all his enemies (1 Corinthians 15:25, 26). This statement is that world's image of a standing conquer with his defeated enemies at his feet.
Paul declared several things about the resurrected Jesus to Christians at Philippi (Philippians 2:9-11). As the enthroned one, Jesus Christ has the supreme name that was (and is) superior to all human title--the Lord. Americans place little significance on titles. Our view of freedom and independence rejects the concept of royalty, the status of royalty, and the titles of royalty. Americans are more likely to criticize people of position (the President, the Senator, the Governor, or Christian leaders) than we are to feel a sense of awe. Not so in that world! Position was significant! Title was important! Powerful names from ruling positions inspired awe. Failure to feel and express that awe invited death! To be a lord in any context was to be held in awe by those under that lord. Jesus, the Lord, reigns. He is not a lord, but the Lord who is superior to all earthly lords! He is superior to any form of earthly authority (Ephesians 1:20-23). No earthly being holds any position, power, or title equal to or superior to his!
Jesus defeats those who defy God's sovereignty in two ways. Every knee will bow to him and every tongue shall confess he is Lord. First, some come to understand who Jesus Christ is. In their new understanding, they confess his lordship. They have faith in what God did through Jesus, and they repent. Their immersion is an act of surrender, an act of commitment to the Lord. Defeated by God's love, by God's expression of mercy and grace, they voluntarily choose to acknowledge Jesus as Lord.
Second, some refuse to recognize Jesus Christ as Lord. [The writer concludes this is an understood rejection of Jesus Christ's position as Lord or understood rebellion against his position as Lord. These people choose some form of evil to be their lord.] These people defy God's position as sovereign. In spite of God's love and kindness verified in Jesus' life and death, they refuse to direct their lives toward God. Jesus Christ's work in his reign is to pursue their conquest. While God prefers the repentance of rebellious people (2 Peter 3:8, 9), the conquest of all in rebellion to God's sovereignty is assured (2 Peter 3:19-13). Even these who reject Jesus' lordship or rebel against God's sovereignty will bow their knees [the symbol of the enemy's surrender] and acknowledge Jesus' lordship. This will not occur as an act of redirection [repentance], but as the act of a conquered enemy.
The resurrected Jesus reigns right now. The period of his reign began with his ascension into heaven (Acts 2:32-36; Hebrews 9:24; 1 Peter 3:21, 22). It will continue until he returns to be the judge of the living and the dead (consider Matthew 25:31-46; Acts 10:42; Romans 14:10-12; 2 Corinthians 5:10).
This is the end result of Jesus' reign: the glorification of God the Father, the Sovereign God (Philippians 2:11). The Sovereign God will be glorified! Jesus Christ's reign assures God's glorification through restoration of God's unquestionable sovereignty!
For Thought and Sharing
Link to Teacher's Guide
Lesson 8