THINGS THAT ARE ABOVE The right hand of God is the place of Divine working – effectual working. It is the place from which Jesus is presently mediating the New Covenant. This mediatorship is of critical importance, and we cannot be saved without it. The death of Christ was necessary for our salvation. The resurrection of Christ was essential for our salvation. The present ministry of Jesus – His mediatorship and intercession – is also required for our salvation. Thus it is written, "Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, YEA RATHER, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us" (Rom 8:34). -- Tomorrow:
"If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory" (Col 3:1-4)
Devotion 8 of 25
" . . . where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
MY PERSONAL EXPERIENCE
With the single exception of the teaching of my good father, now with the Lord, I was a devoted follower of Christ for many years before I ever heard a minister expound the mediatorship and intercession of Christ. Even then, there have been exceedingly few whom I recall developing this matter. When traveling among a great number of churches from 1992 through 1997, I asked over 160 different congregations if they recalled hearing sermons or teaching on several key subjects. One of those was the present ministry of Jesus. Of all of those congregations, I received not one single acknowledgment of any one of them ever having heard the subject expounded.
WHERE CHRIST IS SITTING
Our text is admonishing us to seek the things that are resident where Jesus is at this present time. He does not ask us to seek what was at the cross, or what occurred at the tomb, but what is resident where Jesus is presently seated in glory.
CHRIST'S MEDIATORSHIP
Our Lord's present ministry is encompassed in the word "Mediator." Part of the mediation involves His faithful intercession, which is in order that we might be saved. As it is written, "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Heb 7:25).
The mediation of the Lord Jesus is the objective of His present reign. While the enemies of Jesus will openly and apparently be made subject to Him, that is not the purpose of His reign. His present objective is to bring all of the sons of God safely and triumphantly to glory (Heb 2:10). This is the focus of His present activity, with all other involvements being made subordinate to that aim – to "bring us to God" (1 Pet 3:18), presenting us "faultless before the presence of His glory" with exceeding joy (Jude 1:24).
It is imperative that we have some understanding of Christ Jesus "the Mediator."
1. ONLY ONE MEDIATOR. "For there is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Tim 2:5). Jesus is the "Daysman" for which Job longed – someone who could stand between God and man, putting His hand upon both. No such person existed in Job's day, yet he sensed the absolute need for such an one. "Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both" (Job 9:33). There is only one such Person, and it is the Lord Jesus Christ. Thank God, we are living in the time of the "Daysman."
2. A MINISTERING MEDIATOR. "But now hath He obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also He is the Mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises" (Heb 8:6). Jesus has embarked upon a "ministry" that is more excellent than the One He fulfilled when upon earth – when He "went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him" (Acts 10:38). As glorious as that earthly ministry was, the one in which He is presently engaged is more glorious.
3. IN ORDER TO AN ETERNAL INHERITANCE. "And for this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance" (Heb 9:15). The promise of an "eternal inheritance" cannot be realized without the present mediation of the Lord Jesus.
4. THE SPEAKING BLOOD. "And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel" (Heb 12:24). The "blood of His cross" (Col 1:20) did not obtain its power on the cross. It is what it testifies AFTER the cross – now that Jesus is enthroned in glory – that is the issue. The blood of Cain cried out "condemnation," testifying against Cain. That is why the Lord said to Cain, "What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground" (Gen 4:10). Christ's blood, however, cries out salvation, reconciliation, peace, forgiveness, and redemption. And it is speaking from the right hand of God.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for a Mediator whose blood is speaking better things.