Introduction:
We have in the last couple of posts considered the Nicene Creed's confession about Jesus "and ascended into Heaven". Jesus Christ's ascension and exaltation resulted in His "session" or royal seating at the right hand of God the Father. Mark 16:19 "So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God." Readers who want to review every Biblical reference touching upon the ascension may review part 22 of this post series here Growing Christian Resources: Post #22 1700 Years of the Nicene Creed - Part One: "and ascended into heaven"
In today's post we want to continue to expound on the entailments of the Nicene Creed's "and ascended into heaven" by seeing Christ not only as our ascended Heavenly Prophet who speaks through the Word of God, but also as the believer's High Priest who intercedes for the Christian before God.
Jesus the Heavenly High Priest
The sixteenth century reformer John Calvin wrote extensively on Jesus' three-fold activity in His session at the Father's right hand. In his "Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 3, Chapter 15, Section 6", Calvin expounds on Christ's royal priesthood.
"With regard to his Priesthood, we must briefly hold its end and use to be, that as a Mediator, free from all taint, he may by his own holiness procure the favor of God for us. But because a deserved curse obstructs the entrance, and God in his character of Judge is hostile to us, expiation must necessarily intervene, that as a priest employed to appease the wrath of God, he may reinstate us in his favor. Wherefore, in order that Christ might fulfil this office, it behooved him to appear with a sacrifice. For even under the law of the priesthood it was forbidden to enter the sanctuary without blood, to teach the worshipper that however the priest might interpose to deprecate, God could not be propitiated without the expiation of sin."
As for the Christian confession "and ascended into heaven", the office Christ occupies as our heavenly High Priest has much benefit.
Jesus the appointed High Priest for those who follow Him by faith
When Jesus died on the cross, He did so as He and the Father had planned from all eternity (2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 1:2). He became man for us because He was the eternally appointed mediator. Jesus' heavenly priesthood at the Father's righthand provides the following benefits for Christians.
A. Permanent representation.
The Old Testament's revelation of the Levitical priesthood through Aaron in the Book of Leviticus foreshadowed what was to be Christ's permanent priesthood. Hebrews 7,8,9, and 10 all tie Christ's priesthood to the pattern shown earlier than Leviticus by Melchizedek, the priest-king who met Abraham after the battle with Chedorlaomer and his allies in the Valley of Siddim in Genesis 14. Priesthood in the Old Testament only persisted from one generation to the next. Death was the barrier. Melchizedek's earlier priesthood never stated its end, but only its uniqueness and what would come to be its superiority to the Levitical mediation of the priests in ancient Israel. Jesus came to be the unique and permanent high priest for his people.
Hebrews 7:17-24 summarizes perfectly how Jesus' current heavenly priesthood as our ascended Mediator aids the Christian in daily life:
"For it is attested of Him, 'You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.' 18 For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19 (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. 20 And inasmuch as it was not without an oath 21 (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
“The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever’”)
22 so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. 23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing, 24 but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. 25 Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."
B. Prayer's representation.
Not only is Jesus' ascended high priestly ministry permanent, but also representative. This especially is encouraging by how He helps the Christian pray by the Holy Spirit whom He promised to give to every believer (John 15:26-27) for their aid in prayer (Romans 8:26-27). A recent lecture by a scholar I listened too gave the illustration of a small child trying to lift a heavy object. Unknown to the child, the parent comes up behind and gives "lift assistance". To the little one their confidence soars as they successfully maneuver the heavy lifting. That's what Jesus is doing now in heaven for every believer who prays and seeks Him. His current heavenly ministry as our ascended heavenly High Priest gives wings to our prayers and guarantee that we have a hearing.
C. Personal representation.
We know that Jesus retained His humanity following His ascension (Acts 1:9-11). Let's not forget too that He ever remains truly God, worthy of worship (Hebrews 1:5-10). What our ascended Lord does is to provide personal representation. Hebrews 4:14-16 summarizes:
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."
Closing thoughts:
Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 2:5 "For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." As the believer's sole representative in Heaven, He is truly God as God with the Father and He is truly man as with us. He ascended to represent us and to pull up those sinners whom His Holy Spirit calls up from darkness and unto His marvelous light. Our Lord Jesus ascended into Heaven and prays, intercedes, and represents His people. In our next post we will explore how He not only ascended to be our Prophet and Priest, but also our reigning and soon coming King.
