We experience turmoil in our life. We look at all of the unrest and suffering in the world and we wonder, “What is going on?” “Is God in control?” The Bible has a lot to say about that!
This week the Christian church celebrates Ascension Day. We recall Jesus’ ascension into heaven forty days after Easter. So what’s Jesus been up to lately? Paul writes: “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” (Romans 8:34) This verse tells us that although Jesus’ work to save all people was completed on the cross, as evidenced by His cry “It is finished!” (John 19:30), Jesus’ love for you will never be finished.
Jesus did not go to heaven after His earthly ministry and “take a break” from His role as protector and Good Shepherd for His people. “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10). If when He was despised, dying, and dead, Jesus had the power to accomplish so great a work as reconciling us to God, how much more will Jesus be able to do for us now that He is a living, exalted, and triumphant Redeemer, raised to new life and interceding on our behalf before the throne! (Romans 8:34) Clearly, Jesus is still very active on our behalf in heaven. God is in control!
Jesus ascended to heaven and is at the right hand of God the Father. He returned to the glory He had before His incarnation to carry on His role of King of Kings and Lord of Lords! Jesus is now your Advocate. He is your great Defender. This is the intercessory role that Jesus currently fulfills for those who are His (1 John 2:1). Jesus is always pleading your case before the Father, like a defense lawyer on your behalf.
Jesus is interceding for us while Satan (whose name means “accuser”) is accusing us, pointing out our sins and frailties before God. But the Devil’s accusations fall upon deaf ears in heaven, because Jesus’ work on the cross paid our sin debt in full; therefore, God always sees in His children the perfect righteousness of Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, His righteousness (perfect holiness) was given to us, while our sin was placed on Him. This is the great exchange Paul talks about in 2 Corinthians 5:21. This work of Jesus, took away forever our sinful state before God. Now God can accept us as blameless before Him.
It is important to understand that Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. No one else— not any Christian saints, not angels—has the power to intercede for us before the throne of the Almighty. Christ alone mediates and intercedes between God and man. “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5).
What else is Jesus doing? He’s coming back to bring you home! Don’t forget Jesus' last words on earth, “I am with you always, even to the very end of the age!” (Matthew 29:20) God is in control. We certainly may not fully understand God’s workings in the world, but we know “that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28). We may not know what God’s plans are, but we can trust that God does indeed have a unique plan just for you! “A plan to prosper you and not to harm you. A plan to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)
Living in His Grace,
Pastor Maske