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UNIT 20Jesus the Messiah

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The Person & Work of Jesus the Messiah

ThebiblicalteachingsaboutJesustheMessiahareprofoundandchallenging.Evenso,theBibleempowersustocometojoyousandvictoriousfaithinJesusasSavior,Lord,andMessiah.

ILLUSTRATION 20AbuildsonthesymbolfortheTrinityusedinILLUSTRATION 19A.FromthelowerleftcircleoftheTrinitytriangle(inwhichistheServant-King carrying His cross),ashort arrow points downtowhattheBibleteachesaboutJesus’person,andanother arrow points upwardtowhattheBibleteachesaboutJesus’work.

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The Person of Jesus (Savior) Christ (Messiah) ThelowerportionofILLUSTRATION 20AdepictstheprofoundtruththatinJesustheMessiah,

thatwhichisfullyGod(John20:28;1John5:20)uniteditselfwiththatwhichisfullyhuman—butsinless,Luke2:7;John1:14.

Jesus’deityordivine natureisdepictedbytheyellow section,withanarrow pointing backward and forward—toindicatethatJesus is the eternal God, without beginning and without end,Hebrews13:8;John8:58(“IAM”;seeExodus3:14).Totheleftisthesymbol for God.Jesus,theeternalsecondPersonoftheTrinityexistedbeforecreation(Creative hand of God,symbols of creation),andwillalwaysexist.

Halfwayalongtheyellowsectionisamanger,asymbolofJesus’birth—thateventinwhichGodclothedHimselfinflesh.Totherightofthemangerisablue sectionsignifyingJesus’human nature.ThisunionofthedivineandthehumanbeganwhenJesuswasconceivedandbornoftheVirginMary,Matthew1:18–25.Jesusremains true manaswellastrue God today,willshowHimselfastrue-God/true-manatHisfinal appearing,andwillremaintrue-God/true-mantoalleternity.Thequestion markservestoremindusthatalthoughJesuswill reappearattheendofhistory,wedonotknowwhenthateventwilltakeplace.

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The Work of Jesus the MessiahThenumberscorrespondtothoseintheuppersection.

1 Jesus,theMessianicKing(Servant-King),livedthelifeofanobedientservant,totallydedicatedtodoingthewillofHisheavenlyFather(arrow going up to symbol for God linked to arrow pointing to neighbor),2Corinthians5:21;Galatians4:4,5.Jesusaservedsinfulhumanity(person in posture of indifference,symbol for sin),subjecttodeathandcondemnation(tombstone with skull).

2 JesustheMessiahfinallysurrenderedHimselftocrucifixion(cross)andburial(tomb)toendurethepunishmenttheworlddeservesforitssin,1John3:8;2Timothy2:10;Romans5:19.

3 GodraisedJesusfromthedead(open tomb)tovindicate(tosay“Yes!”to)Jesus’Messiahship,andtodeclarevictoryandauthorityoverdeathandthegrave,1Corinthians15:51–57.

4 InHisascension(arrow rising into cloud),JesusdidnotwithdrawHispresencebuttransformedit.JesusremainsamongusthroughtheHolySpirit(dove; cloud of the divine presence).

AllthatJesusaccomplished,Hedidfor us.AstheGod-Man,Jesuswastherepresentative for the human racewholivedthelifeweweremeanttolive,but cannot,andsufferedthedeathwedeservetosuffer,so that we need not.Ingrace,GodoffersusallthatJesuswas,is,andaccomplishedtopossessasourveryown.WereceiveandlayholdofGod’sgracioussavinggiftsinfaith.

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HUMILIATION EXALTATI0N

Jesus’ Humiliation and Exaltation

TheGod-Manabusedbyhumanity?TheGod-Mancrucified?IfJesusreallywasGodandManinonePerson,whydidHepermitthesethingstohappen?TheNewTestamentanswersthesequestionswithreferencestowhatsomespeakofasJesus’humiliationandexaltation.ILLUSTRATION 20BdrawsonILLUSTRATION 20Atoconveyitsmessage.

HUMILIATION(from conception and birth to death and burial)

TheperiodfromJesus’conceptionuntilthemomentpriortoHisreturntolifeinthetombmightbedefinedasJesus’humiliation.ThistermdoesnotmeanthatJesuswalkedaroundboastingofHishumility—inthespiritofUriahHeepinCharlesDickens’David Copperfield,“I’mso‘umble,Mr.Davey—so‘umble.”Rather,itsignifies:

DuringHisearthlyministry,JesusdidnotceasetobeGod,orbecomeanylessGod.JesusremainedfullyGodandfullyManthroughoutHisministry,anddoessostilltoday(Servant-King on blue section of arrow).However,duringHisearthlyministry,JesusdidnotalwaysorfullyuseHisdivinepowers,buthumbledHimself,Philippians2:4–11.

WhatJesusdidthroughoutHislife,JesusdidastheGod-Man.HumanityhadbrokenGod’slaw(person in posture of indifference,symbol for sin),andwassubjecttodeath,judgment,andcondemnation(tombstone with skull).AstheGod-Man,Jesuskeptthelawperfectlyfor sinful humanswhocannotkeepit(Servant-King, with arrow pointing up to symbol for God, and sideways to sinful humanity).Furthermore,Jesussufferedwhatsinful humanitydeservestosufferforbreakingGod’slaw(cross).Jesus’deadbodywasplacedintoatomb.

BecauseJesuswasfully human,Hecouldenterthehumanscene,dowhatthehumanracewasmeanttodo,andsufferwhatthehumanracedeservestosuffer.BecauseJesuswasalsofullyGod,whatHeaccomplishedwasdoneforallhumanityandcanbenefitallhumanity,Galatians4:4,5;1John5:20;2Corinthians5:15;1John2:2.

EXALTATION (beyond the resurrection to all eternity)

Beyondtheresurrection(open tomb),Jesus,accordingtoHishuman nature,fullyandalwaysmakesuseofthepowersandqualitiesofHisdivine nature,Ephesians1:19–23.Forexample,justasJesus,accordingtoHisdivine nature,hasalwaysbeenomnipresent(everywherepresent),Jesus’human natureisnowalsoomnipresent,Matthew28:19,20.

WhenJesusrosefromtheearthintothecloud(ascension: arrow rising into cloud,Acts1:1–9),thecloudsymbolizedthepresenceofGod,Exodus40:34–38;1Kings8:10,11.Inascending,JesusdidnotwithdrawHisphysicalpresence—Hetransformedit.JesusmerelywithdrewHisvisible,physicalpresencefrom one placesoastobepresenteverywhere in every placeinvisibly.

Jesuswillonedayreappear(FINAL APPEARING)todeclareanendtohistoryasweknowit,andtousherineternity,2Peter3:1–13.Wedonotknowwhenthisgrandfinaletohistorywilltakeplace(question mark);onlyGodknows,Mark13:32.

JesusdidnotceasetobetruemanateitherHisresurrectionorHisascension.Jesus remains the God-Man. This truth invites us to approach Jesus in prayer with confidence.(Hebrews4:14–16) He understands us completely, for He is still true man. Jesus is able to help us, for He is true God.

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Humiliation and Exaltation

ILLUSTRATION 20CexpandsonILLUSTRATION 20BtodepicttheprofoundtruthsembeddedintheshortstatementsoftheApostles’Creed,andtorelatethemtoJesus’humiliationandexaltation.TheCreeddeclares:

I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who…

Steps Down in Jesus’ HUMILIATION

1 was conceived by the Holy Spirit(dove,Luke1:35),

2 born of the Virgin Mary(manger,Matthew1:20–23),

3 suffered under Pontius Pilate(scourge or whip,John18:28ff),

4 was crucified(cross,John19:18),

5 died, and was buried(sealed tomb,John19:30,42).

Notethesuggestedadditional“step”(beyondthereferencetoJesus’birth)whichproposesthatausefulpurposewouldbeservediftheCreedalsoconfessed,“walked the way of a humble servant without limit.”

Steps Up in Jesus’ EXALTATION

6 He descended into hell(shattered tombstone with skull,1Peter3:19–20),

7 the third day He rose again from the dead(open tomb,Matthew28:1–10),

8 He ascended into heaven(arrow rising into cloud,Luke24:50,51),

9 and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty(glorified Jesus at God’s right hand,Ephesians1:19–22),

10 from there He will come to judge the living and the dead(sheep and goat separated,John5:28,29;Matthew25:31–46).

The Descent into hellStep6intheexaltationsegmentdoesnotmeanthatJesuswenttohelltosuffer.Jesus’sufferingforthesinsoftheworldcametoanendwhenHecried,“Itisfinished,”John19:30.Manyinterpret1Peter3:19tomeanthat,afterreturningtolife,JesusproclaimedHisLordshipandauthorityalsoovertherealmofthedead—oftencalledSheolintheOldTestament.(NotethattheSadduceesbelievedthatthosewhodiedwenttotheabodeofthedeadwheretheywerecutofffromGod,andforgottenbyGod,Psalm88.)Jesus’returntolifetookplacebeforeHisdescentintotheabodeofthedead.However,JesusshowedHisdisciplesthatHewasaliveafterthedescent—hencetheorderofthestatementsintheApostles’Creed.

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Aspects of Jesus’ Work

ItistraditionaltospeakofJesus’workasProphet,Priest,andKing.ILLUSTRATION 20Daddsafourth—JesusasWisdom.

1 ProphetILLUSTRATION 10AandtheaccompanyingtextinTheDIVINE DRAMA—The Biblical NarrativediscussedtheroleoftheprophetinthelifeofOldTestamentIsrael.IntheNewTestament,Jesusproclaimed,or“forth-told,”withHislipsandlifethemindandwillofGod,John17:8.AsGodproclaimedtheOldCovenantthroughMosesatSinai,soJesusestablishedandproclaimedtheNewCovenantrelationshipbetweenHisFatherandhumanity,Jeremiah31:31–34andHebrews8:6–12;Exodus24:3–11andMark14:22–25.(For the details on the covenant symbol depicted, see ILLUSTRATION 16B,DIVINE DRAMA—The Biblical Narrative.)

2 PriestTheOldTestamentpriestsactedasmediators(go-betweens)betweenGodandtheIsraelitesintheworshipandsacrificialritualsconductedattheshrinesinancientIsrael.JesusisnowthemediatorbetweenGodandhumanity.JesussacrificedHimselfas“thelambofGodwhotakesawaythesinoftheworld,”John1:29,36;Hebrews9:11–14;Romans8:34.(Servant Jesus wearing a priest’s hat, and carrying his cross.)

3 KingTheNewTestament,especiallytheGospels,refersfrequentlytoJesus’roleasKing,John18:33–19:22.Jesus(Servant-King)rulesathree-foldkingdom:

a. Kingdomofpower: JesushasbeendeclaredLordoftheuniverse,Ephesians1:20,21.

b. Kingdomofgrace: JesusisLordofGod’speople,thechurch,Ephesians1:22.

c. Kingdomofglory: JesusisLordoftheworldtocome,Colossians1:15–20.

4 WisdomTheOldTestamentcontainsanumberofbooksknownaswisdomwritings—Job,Proverbs,Ecclesiastes.Wisdomwriterstaughtthatthereisadivineplantotheuniverse,andananswertothemeaningoflife.Thisdivineplan,thisanswer,canbediscovered.Peoplewhoknowandbuildlifearounditpossesswisdom,andareequippedtoliveinharmonywiththeCreatorandcreation.

InMatthew12:42,JesusreferstoHimselfas“OnegreaterthanSolomon.”LittlewonderthatthewisemenfromtheEastpaidhomagetoJesusasthegreatestofallwisdomteachers,Matthew2:1–12;seealso1Kings4:34,10:23–25.Jesusnotonlytaughtwisdom—Hislifewasaliving displayoftruewisdom.PaulalsoreferstoJesusas“thewisdomofGod,”1Corinthians1:24.(Servant Jesus, the lamp of wisdom above his head.)

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Visible Son Reveals the Invisible Father

1 John14:8–11tellsofaconversationbetweenJesusandHisdisciples.Itmightbesummarizedasfollows:

Philip:Lord, show us what God is like. God is invisible. We cannot see God. If we could see God and know what He is like, we would find this very helpful.

Jesus: I have been with you for quite some time, Philip, and you still do not know who I am? If you have seen me, you have seen the invisible Father. I make Him visible through my Person, words, and works.

2 WhatJesusteachesinJohn14istaughtelsewhereintheNewTestament:

Jesus the Messiah is the image of the invisible God.(Colossians1:15)

No one has ever seen God; it is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.(John1:18)

The god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

He [Jesus] is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being.(Hebrews1:3)

3 ILLUSTRATION 20Edepictsthetruthsexpressedabove.Theeyeintheillustrationisoureye.WhenwelookatwhattheNewTestamentteachesaboutJesus’visiblePerson,life,teaching,andministry(Servant-King carrying His cross),welearnmoreabouttheinvisibleGod(cloud depicting the presence and glory of God).

AsJesuswasonearth,theFatherisnow.AsJesustreatedpeoplethen,sotheFathertreatsusnow.AsJesus’dispositionwas,theFather’sdispositionis.AsJesuswasandisandalwayswillbe,sotheFatherwasandisandalwayswillbe.JesusandtheFatherareone,John17:11,20–22.To know Jesus is to know the invisible God.

4 TheGospelsoffermanyinsightsintoJesus’personality:

a. Hiscompassionindealingwithoutcasts,Matthew8:1–4.

b. Hiskindnesstowardthoseburdenedbysin,Luke7:48–50.

c. Hisboldnesswhenconfrontedbythedemonic,Mark1:25.

d. Hiscomposurewhendealingwithopponents,John8:42–47.

e. Hislovingpatiencewithconfuseddisciples,John21:15–17.

f. Hiscourageinthefaceofimminentdeath,Mark10:32–34.

When we understand how Jesus related to people during His earthly ministry, we understand how God relates to us today.

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At the Right Hand of the Father

InEphesians1:19–23,PaulsaysthealmightypowerofGodthatraisedJesusfromthedeadisalsoatworkintheheartsandlivesofthosewhobelieveinJesus.PaulgoesontosaythataftertheFatherraisedJesusfromthedead,“GodseatedHimatHisrighthandintheheavenlyplaces,”1:20.Whatdoesthisstatementmean?

Intheancientworld,theownershipofanationorcitywasassignedtoaparticulargod.However,thatgoddidnotrulethenationorcitydirectly,butusedanearthlyrulerastherepresentativetodoso.Accordingly,instatuesandillustrations,theearthlyrepresentativewasdepictedstandingatthegod’srighthand;tostandattherighthandwastobeinthepositionofauthority.

Paul’spointinEphesians1:19–23isthataftertheFatherraisedJesusfromthedead,He gave Him the place of honor and authority in the universe.JesusrulestheuniverseforHisFather,anddoesitwiththewelfareofHispeopleinmind,“forthechurch,”1:22.

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Thesymbol for Godissuperimposedonathrone.Theglorified JesustheMessiahisatGod’s“right hand,”theplaceofauthority.

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Thelowersectionoftheillustrationdepictsa corner of the universe,withPlanet Earthandphases of the moon enlarged.

Intheupperleft,Jesus’newcommunity,thenewandtrueIsrael,gathersarounditsLord,JesustheMessiah(circle of small circles around the Servant-King carrying His cross).

ThetruthsdepictedinILLUSTRATION 20FareasourceofgreatcomforttoChristians.JesustheMessiahhasauthorityovertheuniverse,thechurch,andourlives.WeknowthePerson“incharge,”andweknowthatHeisforus,Romans8:1.Wecanhaveaninnerpeaceinallwedo,Philippians4:4–7.

Attimes,historyseemstobe“justonefoolthingafteranother.”Evenso,theBibleinsiststhatJesusguidesallhistorysothatwe,Jesus’brothersandsisters,aregiventheopportunitytolive,notnecessarilycomfortably,butusefully—inawaythatreflectsJesus’attitudetowardstheFather,thecreatedorder,andhumanity.

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All Things Under Jesus’ Feet

InEphesians1:22,Paulwrites:

And He [God] has put all things under his [Jesus’] feet and has made him the head over all things for the church.

AncientpracticescolorPaul’sstatement.IntheancientNearEast,akinghadthefacesorfiguresofconqueredenemiescarvedorembroideredontohisfootstool,andthenplacedhisfeetonit.Theimplicationwasobvious;thekinghadauthorityoverthosewhoseimagesappearedonhisfootstool.

ILLUSTRATION 20GdepictsJesus’ feet resting on a footstool.OnJesus’feetaresymbolsoftheServant-King,across,anopen tomb,andarising arrowsymbolizingJesus’resurrectionandascension.Abovetheseisadove,asymbolfortheHolySpirit.

Thesixsymbolsonthefootstoolare(readingclockwisefromupperleftcorner):

1 The power of sin(symbol for sin):ThroughoutHislife,JesustheMessiahsubmittedtothewillofHisFather,nottothepowerofsin,John8:46;Luke22:42.Insodoing,Jesusbrokesin’sholdonthehumanrace.Jesusissin’smaster!Jesusdeclaresoursinsforgiven!

2 The law(law-codes):Jesus,theGod-Man,wasperfectlyobedienttoHisFather’swillforhumanity.InColossians2:13–15,PaulusesthepictureofaRomangeneral,returningintriumphantprocessionafterconqueringhisfoes,todepictJesus’ashaving“conquered”alllaw-codes—includingthosesetforthintheOldTestament.JesusalonemaydeclareGod’sdispositiontowardssinners.JesusalonemaydeclarewhatGodrequiresofhumanityintermsofobedienceanddiscipleship.

3 Judgment and condemnation(gavel):Jesus’dealingswith,andvictoryover,alllaw-codes,includingthosesetforthintheOldTestament,destroyedtheirauthoritytojudgeandcondemnthosewhoputtheirtrustinHim,Romans8:1,2,33,34.

4 Satan(satanic face):Jesus’ministrythroughoutHislifeonearthwasabattlewithSatanandhisrealm.Jesuswonthebattle,Mark3:22–27;1John3:8.

5 The heavenly powers(crown with the astrological symbols):ThereferenceistotermsPaulusesinEphesians1:21,6:12;Colossians1:16;Romans8:38,39.Inthesepassages,PaulstatesthatJesushasauthorityovereveryso-calledpowerintheuniverse.(FurtherreferencewillbemadetothesepowersinUnit30.)

6 Death(tombstone with skull):JesusisLordoverdeath.ThegravemustobeywhenJesusfinallycommandsittoyieldupitsvictims,Luke7:11–17;John5:25–29;11:25,26,43,44.

PaulvividlysumsupJesus’Lordshipwhenhewrites:

Therefore God also highly exalted Jesus, and gave Him a name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians2:9–11)

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POINTS TO PONDER

20AAtJesus’conception,GodunitedHimselfwithhumanityinoneperson,JesustheMessiah.AstheGod-Man,Jesuslivedthelifeweweremeanttolivebutcannot,anddiedthedeathwedeservetodiesothatweneednot.

20BAlthoughfromHisconceptiontoHisburial,JesuswastrueGodaswellastrueman,Hedidnotalways or fullyuseHispowerasGod(humiliation).However,Jesushasalwaysdonesoafterreturningtolifeinthetomb(exaltation).

20CTheApostles’CreedreferstobothJesus’humiliationandexaltation(humiliation: from“wasconceivedbytheHolySpirit”to“wascrucified,died,andwasburied”;exaltation: from“Hedescendedintohell”to“tojudgethelivingandthedead”).

20DTheNewTestamentspeaksofJesus’rolesasProphet,Priest,King,andWisdom.

20E AlthoughwecannotseeGodinHisgloryandmajesty,Jesus’lifeandteachingsrevealHisFather’sheartandcharacter.

20F AfterGodraisedJesusfromthedead,GodgaveJesusauthorityoverthecreatedorderandthecourseofhistory.JesusdirectsallthingssothatHisFatherisglorified—ofteninwayshumanitydoesnotreadilyunderstand.

20GTheNewTestamentstatesthatJesushasauthorityoverallpowersandauthoritiesintheuniverse,anddirectsthemtothegloryofGodandforthewelfareofGod’people.ChristiansfindgreatcomfortinknowingthatJesusisbothSaviorandLord,andthatJesusisfor usintimeandeternity.

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