Our help is in the Name of the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.
Beloved, grace and peace be to you from God our Father, and the Lord
Jesus Christ, through the mighty working of God the Holy Spirit.
Amen
Psalm of praise: 145:1, 10, 11, 12
Prayer
Psalm 104:1, 2, 19, 20, 21
Scripture reading: Ephesians 1:
15-23. Also: Luke 20:41-44 en Psalm 110
Scripture text: Catechism
Sunday 19. Ephesians 1:20 (NIV)
. . .
which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and
seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, . .
David prophesied in Psalm 110 the expected Priest King of Israel who
would reign in Zion.
- He emphasised in particular that part of God’s
sovereignty where the Messiah is taken up with God in his sovereignty
and glory.
- Prophetically he saw how the Messiah takes his
place at the right hand of God and shares in world rule.
- He also saw how world history takes a final turn
with the Messiah’s accession to the throne. He rules over all his
enemies.
In the meantime Psalm 110 was fulfilled. Jesus Christ was born and
during his life on earth He taught the people that He was the promised
Messiah.
He said to them,
“How
is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit,
calls him 'Lord'? For he says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my
right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ (Matthew
22:43,
44, NIV)
Then
Jesus said to them, “How is it
that they say the Christ is the Son
of David? David himself declares in the Book of Psalms: “‘The Lord said
to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool
for your feet.”’ (Luke 20:41-43, NIV)
- He also said that He and his Father are one, and
that He was going to destroy all his enemies.
- Paul testifies of this in his letter to the
Ephesians. He is in fact one who can speak about the place Jesus Christ
now fills after his ascension, because he saw Jesus as He is now. As
you know it happened when he was on his way to Damascus.
In this sermon we are going to look at the following aspects of the
ascension:
1. The ascension of Jesus Christ
2. Sitting at the right hand of God
the Father
3. Jesus your God en King
1. The ascension of Jesus Christ
The Lord not only prophesies and promises – He also acts. Ephesians
1:20 describes how Jesus moved away from this world to the throne of
God the Father. The disciples saw it happen. Mark (16:19) describes it
as follows:
So
then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into
heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. (ESV)
David
himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.’” (Mark
12:36)
Luke also describes this and then refers to what David said in Psalm
110. It is therefore quite clear that the Lord prophesied the ascension
of the Lord Jesus in Psalm 110.
We have more references to the kingship of Jesus in the hereafter.
- One such example is what happened to Stephen. He
was the first martyr in the church. The moment he died he received the
grace to see what happens in heaven.
- The Bible says that he gazed into heaven and saw
the glory of God, and Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God.
- Jesus ascended into heaven to reveal his godly
power, and so that the churches will know that he can and will preserve
them with this almighty power. The ascension of Jesus Christ guarantees
their salvation
Now you could perhaps say that it was not (or is not) necessary that
these things are described and confessed in so much detail, because we
all know that Jesus is God himself. No, it is not that easy.
- We need the prophecy and its fulfilment so that we
can believe, because without proof of the Lord’s ascension and without
the testimony that He is at the right hand of God, our faith could
possibly lose its power.
- Then heresy would have been established more easily
by those who already -disputed the Divinity of the Lord Jesus.
We can therefore clearly see that the Lord reveals his plan to us
through all these things that were written down, to strengthen our
faith and so that we would know that we are preserved and ruled by
Jesus Christ.
2. Sitting at the right hand of God
the Father
The ascension of Jesus taking his place at the right hand of God the
Father is an act in which Jesus is elevated. Therefore it is good to
investigate the meaning of this event in more detail.
Since very early times it was a form of highest tribute when a
dignitary would let another sit at his right hand.
- An example of this we find in 1 Kings 2:9 where
Bathsheba went to see Solomon about Adonia.
- After the king had greeted her, he had a chair
placed at his right hand for her.
- It was not customary for any person visiting the
king to be seated at his right hand and therefore the Bible tells this
as being an exception.
- In the New Testament we find the instance where
Salome asked the Lord to let her sons sit on either side of Him.
- The right hand is of course also a sign of love. We
find such an example in Matthew 25:33 where the Lord Jesus says that at
the final judgement he will place the sheep at his right and the goats
at his left
- The sheep at his right hand are the elect who will
enter eternal life, and the goats at his left are those going to hell.
- Care and maintenance are also signified by the
image of the right hand. Psalm 16:11 states it in a striking way that
we receive fullness of joy and pleasures from the Lord and that these
come to us from his right hand!
- The right hand in the Bible is also the symbol of
strength because most people are right-handed and therefore their right
hand is stronger than the left hand.
- Therefore the image of the right hand in the Bible
is also the image of God’s power.
- It is a comfort for the faithful because they know
that this strong hand will protect them but, at the same time, it is a
threat to those who do not believe, because this same right hand will
cast them into hell
Jesus Christ therefore has all this power, because He says of the day
of his judgement that everyone will see the Son of God seated at the
right hand of God’s power, and that they will also see Him when He
comes with the clouds of heaven. (Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69; Acts 7:56).
Take note of the different ways in which the Bible puts this matter:
- Sometimes it says that Christ is at the right hand
of God, e.g. Romans 8:34.
- In other places that He sits at the right hand of
God.
- And elsewhere, e.g. Acts 7:56, that Jesus stands at
the right hand of God.
Every time it has a different meaning.
• When Jesus sits at God’s right hand, it means Jesus
the Judge. Every time his judicial power is portrayed like this,
because when a king sits on his throne he administers justice. Consider
Proverbs 20:8 that says:
When a
king sits on his throne to judge, he winnows out all evil with
his eyes. (NIV)
or Isaiah 16:5:
. . .
then a throne will be established in steadfast love, . . . one
who judges and seeks justice and is swift to do righteousness.” (ESV)
Here we already see Jesus in the Old Testament as the judge who will
sit in judgement over justice and injustice.
The Lord confirms Jesus Christ’s present authority where He literally
rules over everything:
(Jesus sits) . . . far above all rule and authority,
power and
dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present
age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his
feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, . .
. (Ephesians 1:21, 22).
3. Jesus your God en King
Now consider the meaning of Jesus being at the right hand of God. By
this He is equal to the Father because He shares the glory and
authority of the Father.
- The meaning of Jesus being at the right hand of God
is that He, as part of the Holy Trinity, reigns over the church and the
world.
- The word “Almighty” in Greek means “the natural
power or authority or ability to do and fully complete works”.
The elevation of Jesus and his power to be able to rule is symbolised
by the fact that He stands at the right hand of God.
- He stands at the head of all reign.
- He stands so that He can rule over evil. “. . .
your enemies a footstool for your feet . . . “
- He is in fact so powerful that He can protect his
church against the worst trials and attacks from the devil.
Be therefore at ease, because you have a Divine King who cares for you
and plans your life.
- This Priest King will again appear on the clouds
the same as on the day He left this world.
- On the day of his Second Coming He will remove the
righteous from the unrighteous and we will go to meet Him in the air.
- Then He will let us enter the new heaven and the
new earth while He will remove evil forever.
One can hardly offer greater comfort than this to anybody. You can see
the spirit of our world and the spirit of the people living in this
world.
- Everything is crooked and sick.
- But the day will come when all this will end.
- The curse of the Fall will be removed when the
elevated Christ appears on the clouds.
For that reason we continue to believe that Jesus ascended into heaven,
and that He sits at the right hand of God the almighty Father. This
part of our confession of faith is the power of our faith for the
future: The power from God Himself, because it reveals his grace to us.
It also reveals the love He is giving us until He will gather us like
his herd at his right hand forever.
Let us read together Catechism Sunday 19.
50. Q. Why is it added, And
sits at the right hand of God?
A. Christ ascended into heaven
to manifest Himself there as Head of His
Church,[1] through whom the Father governs all things.[2]
[1] Eph. 1:20-23; Col. 1:18. [2] Matt. 28:18; John 5:22, 23.
51. Q. How does the glory of
Christ, our Head, benefit us?
A. First, by
His Holy Spirit He pours out heavenly gifts upon us, His members.[1]
Second, by His power He defends and preserves us against all enemies.[2]
[1] Acts 2:33; Eph. 4:7-12. [2] Ps. 2:9; 110:1, 2; John 10:27-30; Rev.
19:11-16.
52. Q. What comfort is it to
you that Christ will come to judge the
living and the dead?
A. In all my sorrow and
persecution I lift up my head and eagerly await
as judge from heaven the very same person who before has submitted
Himself to the judgment of God for my sake, and has removed all the
curse from me.[1] He will cast all His and my enemies into everlasting
condemnation, but He will take me and all His chosen ones to Himself
into heavenly joy and glory.[2]
[1] Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:22-25; Phil. 3:20,21; Tit. 2:13, 14. [2] Matt.
25:31-46; I Thess. 4:16, 17; II Thess. 1:6-10.
Amen.
Closing prayer
Closing hymn: Psalm 84:6
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
Amen
Dr MJ du Plessis
Gereformeerde Kerk Bellville
Date: 1November at Kleinmond and 9
November in Bellville (evening)