Welcome back to our lessons on what it means to be a Christian and the next installment of our study of who Jesus Christ, the Son of the Godhead is. If it's your first time might I suggest you start at an earlier lesson but as always welcome! This lesson we'll be talking about Jesus exaltation. Exaltation is one of those words you hear Christians use a lot. It's technical translation is being lifted up, but Christians use it to mean glorified. When we say Jesus is exalted we mean He is glorified and in this lesson we'll learn how He is no longer humble, but exalted.
In the last lesson we looked at how Jesus lived a fairly normal, human life that lead to less than desirable crucifixion and death of our Lord. But Jesus' story doesn't end there. In fact this world isn't even done with Jesus' story yet. After Jesus died, His exaltation began. The following time line shows that Jesus, fully human, also has all the power of God. And don't worry, I'll discuss each of the following items in this following paragraphs. The first Easter morning, Jesus descended into Hell. Then He rose from the dead. Later on, He ascended into Heaven. From that day, through today He is seated at God's right hand. He will continue to do so until he returns to Earth to judge all of humanity. We'll cover that last point in the next lesson. In the letter to the Philippians, Paul writes about Jesus' exaltation in chapter 2, "9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
It's part of the Apostle and Nicene Creeds that many churches recite, it's often said, and often misunderstood. Jesus descended into Hell. After Jesus was crucified He returned to Heaven. When He brought on our judgement onto Himself, He didn't get damned. He didn't go to Hell on the cross. Jesus did this after being made alive, thus fulfilling scripture. 1 Peter in chapter 3 explains the reason for His descent into Hell. "18For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit, 19through whom also he went and preached to the spirits in prison." It's often misunderstood what is meant when Peter says he preached to the spirits in prison. He's not saving the previously damned. They've already been judged and know who Jesus is. It's been called Jesus' victory lap. Jesus proclaiming the the devil no longer has a hold on us through sin. That that promise made so long ago in the garden has been fulfilled.
After this, Jesus rose from the dead. He left His tomb and continued preaching on Earth. Through this we can be assured of a few things. The first is that Jesus Himself is God's Son and what He says is true. Romans 1, verses 3 and 4 says, "3regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, 4and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." And since Jesus is the Son of God and true God Himself, we can be assured that our sins and our guilt are paid for in full. Romans 4:25 goes on to say, "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." The last thing that this assures us of is that we ourselves will rise bodily from the grave. In John, Jesus talks about how we live with Him forever. In chapter 14 Jesus talks about His time in Heaven, "19Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live." As mentioned in the last chapter, Jesus talks to Martha about Lazerus and ultimately all Christians after Christian death in chapter 11, "25Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?""
40 days after Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended into Heaven. Jesus often talking about preparing His believers homes upon returning in His Father's house. When Jesus ascended into Heaven it assured us that there is a place where we will be with Him forever. Going back to John chapter 14 Jesus says, "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." His ascension also assures us that He will return the same way in which He left. In the book of Acts, Luke talks of Jesus' last day on Earth, in chapter 1, starting at the second half of verse 9, "he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. 10They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.""
Now Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father. Sitting at God's right hand is expression for the the position of power and glory. With Jesus at God's right hand we return to Jesus' offices in our lives. As our High Priest, Jesus intercedes for us when we pray. Romans 8:34 says, "Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died--more than that, who was raised to life--is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us." When we pray now, we know longer need a Jewish high priest to do so for us. And we pray in His Son's name. As our Prophet, Jesus guides us with His Word. Luke 10:16 says, ""He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me."" Jesus has given us His word, and now we can look to the Bible for guidance in all things. We know longer need men who speak for God on His behalf. As our King, Jesus rules all things for our good. In Ephesians, chapter 1 starting at the second half of verse 19, Paul writes,"That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way." Jesus is the Law fulfilled, Jesus is power, and Jesus rules all things for the good of His kingdom which is built to be what is best for us.
Jesus' power is love, and is so strong for us. Paul writes to the Romans in chapter 8, "38For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." What a king we have. Therefore, to Him be all glory and honor. "To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father--to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.(Revelation 1:5b-6)"
Next time we will talk more about Jesus' return in lesson 8, The Exalted Jesus Will Come Again. As for this lesson, I pray these words of Jesus' glory bring you as much joy as it does myself and the pleasure of sharing it. I also hope you were able to learn something or at least able to strengthen your knowledge.
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