Thank you to John for this message.
What is the Lord Jesus doing now?
Some people might regard this as a silly question, because they think “Jesus was just a figure of history who died about 2000 years ago, and that was that.”
But Christians believe in the Jesus revealed in the Bible, who says “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever” (Revelation 1:18). This week the church celebrates Ascension Day (May 9th) – the end of the 40-day period during which the risen Jesus appeared to his apostles and spoke to them (Acts 1:1-3).
So what is he doing now? The Bible tells us very clearly, in two New Testament passages:
a) “Christ Jesus….is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).
b) “He is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
And in the Old Testament, Isaiah’s prophecy pointed forward to Jesus as the suffering servant, who “bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (Isaiah 53:12).
Jesus’ presence at the right hand of the Father shows that his work of atonement is complete – “It is finished”. And his intercession means that he continually secures for his people the benefits of his death.
The apostle Paul, in Romans 8:34 quoted above, asks the rhetorical question “Who is the one who condemns?” But sometimes our own heart tries to condemn us. And so do our critics, our enemies, and all the demons of hell. They sometimes whisper, sometimes shout “YOU ARE GUILTY”.
But their accusations will all fail, because “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). He rescues us for ever by his life, his death and resurrection, his exaltation and his ongoing intercession. He is always interceding for us.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you for all the benefits you have won for us, for all the pains and insults you have borne for us, for your intercession for us. Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen.
