Mark 16:19-20 Jesus works with us as we do his will.
Mystery, I enjoy a good mystery, a Touch of Frost (David Jason is a brilliant actor, and there’s a mystery there what is his real name, Sir David John White), some suspense, intrigue, a who done it, or even an unsolved crime. Personally I could sit and watch CSI type programmes for ages. Those who know me well know I love to research things I come across, to find out their history, why they were made and what they are about.
Something that is a mystery that has over the years left me wondering and I mean really wondering is; why after the resurrection did things occur as they did?
Jesus disciples not recognising him and then suddenly recognising him. Also what is the ascension all about, the descriptions of it aren’t very dramatic, no bolts of lightening, explosions or even flaming chariots.
What was his ascension? Well two of the four gospels and the book of Acts give us a description of Jesus ascending, that’s going up into heaven. Here is an artist’s impression. PP
There is not a huge amount of information about this, but we do know that, he was “taken up before their very eyes (that’s the disciples), and a cloud hid him from their sight.” (Acts 1:9b)
What I want to do today and next week is to unpack some of the mystery about the ascension; where Jesus is now and what his continuing work is and how that effects us?
Pop quiz: Where is Jesus now?
1) In his Gospel Mark records the ascension this way: “After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.” (Mark 16:19-20) Jesus worked with them!
So Jesus is recorded as being at the right hand of God in heaven, and still working with the disciples. We have further evidence of his being at the right hand of God in Acts 7:55-58: you may recall the stoning of Stephen,
…“but Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the Glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he (Stephen) said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’
At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragging him out of the city and began to stone him.”
Again in Stephen’s description we have a picture of Jesus the “Son of Man at the right hand of God, this time not seated but standing. I would suggest that the position that Jesus has in heaven is one of action, remember he worked with his disciples.
Stephen was the first of the Christians to be martyred and too right, Jesus would be on his feet.
We don’t know what Jesus was thinking, but on his feet out of concern, feeling the pain that Stephen is to go through, yelling stop to those who about to stone Stephen, ready to welcome Stephen to heaven? We don’t know exactly why he’s standing, but Jesus is seen to be out of his seat.
Here’s a thought, where do The All Blacks find you at the AMI Stadium or in front of the tele. They are playing Australia scores tied, when Richie McCaw or Big Joe Rokocoko is heading for the try line? Too right you’ll be out of your seat!
Remember Jesus is truly and properly God and truly and properly man. He feels the emotions you feel he knows suffering, joy, hunger, happiness, the taste of salty fish on his tongue, he understands where you are at.
That day he understood what Stephen was going through. Like you are there for your team, The Lord was there for Stephen. Just as The Lord was there as witness to those events, he is with us!
How is he there for us?
2) Jesus is there for us as our Great High Priest: remember that only one person could enter the Holy of Holies once a year in the temple. This was the High Priest. Jesus made it possible for us all to enter that place.
In Hebrews 4:14-16. We read this:
“Therefore since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the son of God, let us hold firm to the faith we profess. For (and I really like this bit) we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet is without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
So Jesus the High Priest is sympathetic and understands our weaknesses though he is perfect. What does the writer of Hebrews say; we can approach his throne which is ‘a throne of grace’, and ‘receive mercy and find grace’ In our time of need
Taking these words from the Greek original, we find that Grace is ‘the state of kindness and favour to someone.’ Mercy in this case, is ‘compassion for those in need.’
Jesus understands we need this Grace and Mercy. He understands that we fall short, yet he extends grace and mercy to us. In him we find kindness and favour, and receive compassion.
Straight up Jesus is not like the rest of us; we see that in the gospels, we know it through experience.
If someone does me wrong and you can ask Rochelle about this, I get snotty, I grumble, I may if it’s a big enough drama, I spit the dummy. Remember Jesus prayer for those who executed him, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
Jesus extends Grace and Mercy, Jesus the Great High Priest; he’s not just the High Priest but the Great High Priest. Remember he makes the General’s rank look a like a Lieutenant.
Here he is The Word of God, The Lamb of God, The Bright Morning Star to mention a very few of his many titles; seated on a throne of kindness, favour and compassion and what happens when we approach this throne?
3) This is an interesting thing, have you ever thought about what is involved in approaching an Earthly throne. Has anyone here ever approached a ruler on there throne). Etiquette has to be adhered to; the King has guards, and there are rules about approaching a throne. I once had the experience of meeting the Governor General at Government House and the way that this is done is to a fairly strict standard. Hello your Excellency, yes sir, and he was a Sir, a firm handshake and don’t speak until he questions you.
Just last year; following court etiquette President Obama of the United States of America bowed as he met Japan’s Emperor Akihito. While this caused some controversy in his home land; this is how Kings are treated, much respect, strict etiquette.
When we approach Jesus things are different, absolutely he is Holy and we should most definitely approach him with reverence and awe, remember the disciples those who knew him well, worshipped him.
But interestingly unlike the case of an earthly King, or earthly ruler, where all the etiquette is designed to make you respect them, or be lesser in respect to them, where you are held in a place of subservience.
When you come into Jesus presence you actually become a better person, and I don’t mean better than everyone else, I mean better in yourself, because from Jesus you can receive forgiveness of sins and freedom, you are elevated, because of his Grace and Mercy towards you.
Then worshipping him becomes the norm because of who he is. He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. A King who gives kindness, favor and compassion, a Lord who leads in love, instead of lording over those who come under his Lordship.
Jesus knows our needs; he is our Great High Priest he is with us, as we do his will. (SBI)
That’s how can we now approach the Throne of “grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
We receive this Grace and Mercy from him and then we are therefore able as he works with us to share his word. As we share these scriptures with others they too can approach his throne of Grace and Mercy.
Think about this, he wants us to share the undeserved favour he has shown us with all of humanity.
He is with us as we do this.
4) Interestingly as we live this life in his Grace and Mercy we are still human. We occasionally blow it, we make mistakes, and we sin and fall short of his glory.
Does Jesus in his position at God’s right hand, this place of power, condemn us?
No; John in his first letter says this about Jesus and this is also further qualified.
“But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defence – Jesus Christ the Righteous one. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, not only for ours but the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:1b-2.
Here is Jesus, who paid the price for our sins on the cross, seeing us in our weakness, continuing to sin and speaking on our behalf to the Father.
As Salvationists; this is our eighth doctrine; “We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.” Now that might be a little hard to follow what the last bit means is ‘The witness of that justification is the Holy Spirit’s presence in the believer.’
And -
We believe that continuance in a state of salvation depends upon continued obedient faith in Christ. (Doctrine 9)
Jesus knows our weaknesses; as I said before, he knows what it is to be tempted, but is still without sin.
Jesus our Lord understands. The interesting thing is that, when we sin and we know Jesus; we should be repulsed by our actions, no longer wanting to embrace them. (repeat) Our very actions should revolt us.
John summed it up this way “We know that we have come to know him, if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘I know him,’ but does not do as he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” (1John 2:3-6)
Now this is heavy stuff, this is holiness teaching. How can we do this? How can we walk a faultless completely sinless life, walking like Jesus? Because he is with us, as we do his will. (SBI)
He is there at the right hand of the Father putting in a defence for us, also working with us as we do his will.
We are called to live holy lives, lives beyond reproach; we can only do this through his grace and his mercy, and as he allows us to do his will; because as we do his will he is there with us. His desire is for us all to have a relationship with God that is clear of barriers, clear of sin and regret. This can be achieved, because he is with us, as we do his will. (SBI)
Where is Jesus?
What is his throne like, what is it built of (grace and mercy?)
Who is it who speaks to our Heavenly Father on our behalf?
So in his place at the right hand of the Father, he extends to us Grace and Mercy, we are able to receive these things that we don’t deserve, it is God’s intention that even the worst of sinners can approach His throne of Grace and Mercy, he knows us and understands us. (Repeat)
He is with us as we do his will, working with us as we share his word and confirming that word through life change fruits and gifting, through his Holy Spirit.
Jesus puts in a good word for us, he has the Fathers ear, and he advocates for us, he speaks on our behalf.
Jesus Christ is at the right hand of the Father acting for your best interests, what an honour; the Lord of all creation extends to all of us.
If this is new to you if you feel that you are isolated, battling on your own, we have a place here we call interestingly enough ‘the Mercy Seat’, come and experience Jesus grace, mercy and forgiveness.
Maybe you have never heard that Jesus is in heaven and that God wants to have a relationship with you, that works for your good, for your growth.
Many of us here bear witness to this as being true in our lives. If you would like someone to pray with you at this place, please take the opportunity. If you would like to experience the Mercy and Grace that he pours out, Jesus is ready to receive you.
Benediction.
The Lord Jesus reigns in Heaven,
At the right hand of the Father,
His throne is built on Grace and Mercy,
Approach him – receive his kindness and favour,
And extend his compassion to all men,
And may you find yourself blessed as he works with you.
Amen.
