BS4E - WHAT IS JESUS DOING TODAY?
HE’S INTERCEEDING FOR US
We come now to Christ’s very last day on earth. He had died. He had risen from the dead. He had spent 40 more days on earth appearing to His disciples and followers. He had commissioned them to continue His work on earth.
Matthew 28:16-20
What did Jesus do with his disciples after this commissioning?
Luke 24:50-51
Where specifically did Jesus go when He left the earth and was taken up into Heaven?
Mark 16:19
It was the exact place Jesus prophesied He would be for all eternity.
Luke 22:69
While Jesus was on earth, He had set aside his “God powers” and humbled himself to be truly human as we are.
Philippians 2:6-8
But now, as the risen Christ, how did God honor Him?
Philippians 2:9-11 / 1 Peter 3:22
Why is this place at God’s right hand significant for us? We get a clue from this verse:
Hebrews 9:24
“…. He entered into Heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf.” NLT
What are the two names given to Christ’s role today?
1 Timothy 2:5 / 1 John 2:1
A mediator acts as a middleman between two parties at variance with each other. Because of our sin, we are at odds with God. But since Jesus died on our behalf, He leans over and reminds His Father that while it’s true we have sinned and fallen short of all we should be, nevertheless, He has paid the price for what we’ve done and all is now settled.
Advocate is the second name given to Christ and it gives us a broader picture of what He is doing for us today. He’s not only interceding on our behalf, but He’s supporting us and promoting our interests before the Father. As our advocate, Jesus helps us find our voice in praying to the Father ourselves.
I remember many times growing up how my mom did exactly what Jesus is doing today. When we (my brothers and I) would do wrong things, she would soften the blow (or mediate) with my dad and then advocate for us so that our punishment wouldn’t discourage us. She would suggest to dad what could be done to help us grow up and improve. Inevitably, he listened to mom and did as she suggested.
One of the ways that Jesus cares for us today is by praying for us. Because He’s constantly praying for us what does this enable us to do?
1 Peter 5:7
The more we get into the habit of casting our cares over to Jesus, the more peaceful our life will become.
We might ask ourselves what exactly is Jesus praying for in regards to us? I’m sure there is no exhaustive list but we do get some clues from John 17.
- Jesus knew that the world would be split into two when his disciples went out to share the good news of salvation in Him. Some would rejoice and eagerly embrace Jesus, but others would attack his messengers. Therefore, what is the first thing Jesus prays for in our regard?
John 17:11-12, 15
For Christ’s disciples then and all of us today who serve Jesus, what is constantly going on?
1 Peter 5:8
It is not an exaggeration that Satan is constantly on the look out for any of God’s people whom he can devour. But at the same time what else is true?
2 Chronicles 16:9A
- Jesus wanted his disciples then and us today to have a real sense of His sufficiency for our lives. What does He pray that we’ll have in this verse?
John 17:13
Depending on your Bible translation, you’ll read where Jesus says He wants us to have the full measure of His joy within us. He wants His joy filling our hearts with delight in Him. He wants us to experience what being citizens in God’s kingdom is really about.
Romans 14:17
The sufficiency and joy of Jesus gives us a sense of well-being no matter what is going on around us. What does it enable us to do every day?
Psalm 118:24
- Then, Jesus prays that we’ll “grow up”. How does He phrase this?
John 17:17, 19
The Greek word for sanctify is hagiazo which means to “set apart for sacred use, or to make holy. The chief means to do this is knowing the Bible (or the Word of God). The more God’s Word gets “into us”, the more we become like Jesus.
Psalm 119:9-11
- Jesus prays for our mission on earth.
John 17:18-20
Jesus was the first missionary and now that mantle has fallen onto us. Why don’t we need to fear being Christ’s ambassadors?
Ephesians 2:10
The fact that we’ve been created to do good works prepared ahead of time by God should take all the stress and anxiety off our shoulders. All we need do is walk through what God has already prepared.
- The Church of God is very important to Jesus (He calls “her” His bride). What is vital for the church that Jesus prays for?
John 17:21-23
How many times does Jesus say the same message?
John 17:21-23
Christ’s own little band of disciples were full of varying personalities that were thinking in all directions. But WHO breaks down all barriers and becomes the glue that sticks us together?
Ephesians 2:14
This means that all causes for separation and disunity are removed in Christ.
- Jesus prays for our destiny.
John 17:24
Jesus wants us to be with Him where He is. Therefore, when we are saved where are we spiritually located?
Ephesians 2:4-6 (especially vs. 6)
If you are a follower of Jesus, then even while you live on earth your spirit is with Jesus at the right hand of God. At the same time that you’re walking through your life events, you’re also looking down on them with Jesus and praying accordingly. Was Paul messing with our minds? No! He was relaying to us an unseen reality that will change our entire perspective.
To learn more about our position in Christ this course may be helpful:
https://seekinggoddaily.com/our-position-in-christ-table-contents/
JESUS IS STILL WORKING THROUGH ANY LIFE FILLED WITH THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT
Christ’s heart is drawn to his people NOW as much as when He was on the earth, but --- His role has changed. What is Jesus doing NOW for us?
Romans 8:34 / Hebrews 7:25
Intercession is when a third party comes between two others and makes a case to one on behalf of the other. Christ’s intercession connects our hearts to the Father’s heart. But, why is this necessary? Hasn’t Jesus done everything needed to acquit us? Was something left unfinished?
Hebrews 10:12-14
Jesus did all that the Father asked Him to do to restore our relationship. But the fact that we continue to fail on earth is the reason He continues to intercede for us in Heaven. Why is Jesus our permanent High Priest before God?
Hebrews 7:24
The Father’s deep delight is to say “Yes” to Jesus pleading on our behalf and Jesus’ deepest desire is to pour out His heart for us. God’s forgiveness and restoring touch reaches down to the places where we are most defeated and ashamed. We cannot sin our way out of His tender love and care for us. While Satan (as our continual accuser) may have the first word, Jesus has the last!
While Jesus is interceding for us in Heaven He continues to do His work on earth –but-- in a different way. What did Jesus instruct His disciples to do BEFORE they would go out to be His witnesses?
Luke 24:49
And what is it that the Father promised to give them (and us)?
John 7:39 / John 14:16-17 / John 16:7
The Advocate (Comforter or Counselor) is named in John 14:17.
Jesus is saying that all who believe in Him will be given the Holy Spirit who will lead us into all the truth. The gift is a person, not a thing. What else will the Holy Spirit be in us?
Acts 1:8
The gift of the Holy Spirit is the same Spirit that is filling Jesus and God the Father. Notice in this verse that Paul uses the phrases “Spirit of God” and “the Spirit of Christ”.
Romans 8:9
Therefore, the gift of the Holy Spirit is God and Jesus choosing to indwell our human spirit and to continue to do all their work among men through us! The Holy Spirit will guide us into all the truth so that we’ll know what to say and do. But more than that, the Holy Spirit will be the power behind our words and actions. When we let the Holy Spirit work through us, we are letting Jesus continue His work on earth. It is not Jesus “helping” us to do our work, but it’s Jesus living “as us”. It is Christ using us as His body so that He can carry on the work He started through His own life. Paul sums it up best with these words.
Galatians 2:20
Paul also challenges us today with a question:
1 Corinthians 3:16
It’s a fact that all who commit their lives to Jesus receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. He then immediately sets to work from the platform of our lives to touch other lives. Maybe He’ll ask you to say an encouraging word to someone, or to write a letter. Every time you obey, you give Jesus a chance to continue working. If you don’t follow the Spirit’s inner promptings then He’ll get quieter and quieter, until you may not hear Him at all.
It's a sobering thought that Christ can only continue His work on earth if we’ll let Him live using our hands, our feet, our minds, our emotions, and our will. He will NEVER bypass us. If we won’t listen and act as the Spirit directs, then He can’t touch whoever He wants to touch.
Jesus knows all about our poor ability to speak, or to empathize, or encourage. That’s why He’s given us His Holy Spirit to be our counselor and advocate. Our power to obey Jesus will not be our natural power but HIS power.
There is a saying you sometimes hear from believers that is a half truth and therefore false. It goes like this:
“The Lord never asks us to do anything that we can’t do.”
That sounds good and it’s comforting --- but it’s false. We should say:
“The Lord never asks us to do anything that His Spirit within us can’t do.”
Anything that we can do without the Holy Spirit in our own natural strength will have no lasting consequence. Why?
Galatians 5:16-17
Listen carefully to Paul’s advice to us.
Galatians 5:25
The New International Version puts it this way: “….let us keep in step with the Spirit.” It’s a moment by moment walk and when we keep in step with the Holy Spirit then Jesus can fully continue His work of saving the men and women we come in contact with. We enable Jesus to continue doing the same work He did while He was here on earth!
Next Study: BS5- WHAT DID JESUS CLAIM?