Who Is This King of Glory (part 3 of 3)
Pat Mahoney- Christ’s Ministry and Authority
- Recognizing God in us
- Messianic Prophecies Fulfilled
Christ’s Ministry and Authority
- And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.
- And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers.
- And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing.
- And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?
- And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
- And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
- And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
A lot of people at that time saw Jesus as the flesh, not the spirit. Even his parents looked at him as a child, not as the fulfillment of prophecy. But he knew that his life’s purpose was to serve his father’s will. We know that he was in the flesh and subject to all the temptations of the flesh, but without sin.
- Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
- But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?
- And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
- And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
- And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
One of Christ’s very first examples in ministry was to establish baptism as an act of obedience to fulfill all righteousness. This happened even before he called his disciples. As leaders go, before you have a following, you have to set the example yourself. Otherwise, you followers won’t have much confidence in your ability.
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he knew God’s word and used it to withstand Satan. He was establishing his ministry and authority by the power of God’s word, not through the flesh. For homework, read Matthew 14:1-11.
- And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.
- And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
- The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
- To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
- And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
- And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.
- And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
So they were amazed at his ability to convey God’s word with authority that the Scribes and Pharisees didn’t have. Yet they fell back on their fleshly understanding, saying, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”
Read all of John 5, where Jesus withstood the religious hypocrites by healing on the Sabbath and using his works to prove that God had given him authority. They wanted to kill him because he made himself equal to God.
- And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
- For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
- But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
- And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
When Jesus commanded the unclean spirit to come out, he didn’t call on any higher power to do so.
- And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
- And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
- They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
- Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
- This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
- So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
- And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
- And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
- When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
- She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Jesus had uncommon mercy, because he was able to see into the heart of man.
- And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.
- And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
- And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
- And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Jesus had authority over the creation. He even had power to raise the dead.
- And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
- And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Before this, Jesus had stayed away so that it couldn’t be said that he had healed Lazarus rather than raising him from the dead. Again, he didn’t call on any higher power or name; he simply said, “Lazarus, come forth.” And by the power of his own word, it was done. So his ministry bears witness that he was more than just a man.
- And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
That’s a pretty bold statement for “just a man” to make. There has been discussion and debate on how Christ, being flesh, could have the authority of God.
Recognizing God In Us
In the Old Testament, we studied the relationship the Jews had with God, through the law. But now in the New Testament, we have a relationship through the “inward man.” This inward man is the one that God “made in his own image.” Jesus said that he came that we might have life more abundantly. This more abundant life is in the inward man.
The law of the inward man is grace. Grace influences us spiritually, binds us to, and compels us to live according to the word of God. It is both desire and motivation, not out of fear, but out of love.
- Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
Worldly knowledge won’t do this for us. As a converted Pharisee, Paul was aware of the contrast between the Old Testament law and the New Testament grace, which has appeared to all men.
- For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
- Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
- In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
This law of the inward man rests upon us all, but it is not brought to fulness until we are baptized in Jesus’ name and risen to walk in newness of life.
Paul discussed the great tribulations and distresses faced by the New Testament Christian.
- For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
Though we suffer tribulation, we can take comfort from the Holy Spirit to continue on.
- And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Man can destroy the body but cannot destroy the soul. So we should fear the Lord more than men.
- For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
This passage would be meaningless if men were made of unholy material and not subject to spiritual influences.
- That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
So there is an extra measure, like “spiritual vitamins” that helps you keep on going. It’s like having a deep desire, as an individual, that keeps you going. Thomas Edison used to work late nights, and sleep in his workshop, because of his dedication. Paul said he lived of the gospel. This is something more than “taking your sacrifice to the temple” because you’ve done something wrong. This is a constant effort of will.
- Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
- But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
- And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
God foretold that this law of the inward man would be established in the New Testament.
- A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
- By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
When you consider all the weight of the law, all the “do’s” and “don’ts”, it’s amazing how much simpler it is in the New Testament.
- Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
- For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
- Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
So simple, yet so against the nature of man. To be more like Christ is to love more, and thus to fulfill the law. The Children of Israel had to be accountable to the myriad requirements of the Old Testament law: the sacrifices, the offerings specific to each sin.
- But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
If you don’t have the understanding of that love in your heart, which is only given through the Holy Ghost, it will seem to be foolishness. There is a law that the world doesn’t understand, and it can live within us, if we have that relationship with God.
- But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
At the beginning of this study, we talked about how important it is to have the word of God and to know it accurately. In order to have it brought to our remembrance, we had to study it first.
- And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
Messianic Prophecied Fulfilled
One of the biggest problems in the Trinity doctrine is Jesus Christ being God in the flesh. How can a man in the flesh be God? This study will center on Christ’s oneness of God as the Father. We’ll forego the study of Jesus being the fullfilment of the prophecies concerning the messiah, because most people know and agree with them.
Last Sunday we heard that Jacob wrestled with an angel, and asked for his name. The angel answered, “Why do you ask?” In another passage, another angel answers, “Why do you ask, seing it is secret?” Even the name “Jehovah” literally means “The mighty name of God.” It isn’t really a name. When Moses asked God for his name, God said, “Say that ‘I AM’ sent you.” So God had a name reserved, to be revealed at a later time.
- Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
- For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
- Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
- Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
Sometimes that’s not enough for people to understand that Jesus was “God in us.” They explain it away saying, “It was the presence of God with him,” or something like that.
Here we see a literal reference to the name of God being revealed:
- And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one.
- I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word.
- manifest
- Made known to the senses.
The only name manifested was “Jesus”.
- Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
- This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner.
- Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
God said in Isaiah 53 that he was the savior, and there is none else. But it says here that the name Jesus Christ was the only name given whereby we must be saved.
- Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
- I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear.
That was God talking.
- But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
- For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
I don’t think that Jesus was saying, “Bow to me, but confess to God.” I think that God had made Jesus “both Lord and Christ.”
- And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
The wording is kind-of odd here. God speaking through the prophet said, “they shall look upon me whom they have pierced”. I don’t think the prophet was speaking of himself. And when it says, “his only son”, and “his firstborn”, I don’t think it was just a play on words.
- For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
- I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
- They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
- But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
- Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
- Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.
- I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
This is an exact prophecy of the crucifixion of Christ.
- O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me.
- And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Note the echoing of “I will declare thy name,” and compare with John 14.
- For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
- Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Whether you want to talk about God the father or about Christ, the name is Jesus.
- And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Again, the word “manifest”, meaning “revealed” or “made known.” This verse is a pretty good description of Christ’s ministry.
- Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
- For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Some say that God was on vacation and said, “Take over, son; I’m retiring.” But I believe that God has the power to work however he wants to; he doesn’t have to be divided to manifest his power in a different way.
Only a perfect sacrifice or priest could establish the New Testament.
- But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
- Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.
- For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
- How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
- 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.
- For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator.
- For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.
- Whereupon neither the first testament was dedicated without blood.
- For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and of goats, with water, and scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book, and all the people,
- Saying, This is the blood of the testament which God hath enjoined unto you.
- Moreover he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle, and all the vessels of the ministry.
- And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.
- It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
- For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
- Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
- For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
- And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
- So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
No man or fleshly being could contain all of the spirit of God.
- For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
- And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
All the fulness of the godhead bodily means “everything that could be known of God”. And it was all found in Christ.
It is helpful in understanding the role of Christ to consider that the flesh is of no importance to God. God doesn’t want the flesh to be glorified. I think it’s relevant to consider that Mary Magdalene didn’t recognize Jesus in the garden. I don’t think it was because the flesh had decayed in three days; it was because Jesus didn’t want the flesh to be lifted up, or glorified.
- And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
- Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
- That no flesh should glory in his presence.
- There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
- One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
- One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.