Mark 16:19
So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Message: Ascension and Session
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - Jesus is crucified and then rises again. He appears to a woman first and it is women that first hear of him. He appears later to 2 of the disciples and then the rest and starts out by speaking a work of reproof towards them because they did not believe others. His complaint was over the hardness of their hearts in not even giving others an opportunity to present their evidence. But, he commissions them to preach the gospel, telling them that belief is followed with baptism as unbelief is followed with condemnation. He remarks that a believers life will simply look different and that person will be able to do things, radical things, and have a radical effect on other people's lives.
Jesus had declared that eventually He would sit at the right hand of God. Back in chapter 14 when He was taken before His accusers, Jesus answered the question of whether he was the Christ, the Son of God with I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” Jesus had an eternal position with God. And following His speaking with the disciples the writer here remarks So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
Some may have thought that Jesus was appearing to them and now would be with them again and walk with them. But, Jesus clearly has a purpose that goes beyond His time on earth. His crucifixion and resurrection fulfilled His mission on earth - to be offered as the Lamb of God and conquer sin. Jesus bore the wrath of God on the cross. In the end, it killed Him. But, days later He rose. Sin had not defeated Him. It did kill him but it didn't defeat Him for He rose again. The resurrection is central to the gospel message.
I've noticed in our world today that much of life is about living a good life. The message of tolerance has invaded our church to the point that we no longer contrast the sinner and the saved. Our church songs and worship songs are focused more on enjoying God's presence and glorifying God. It is less and less about confronting our culture with the message of the Gospel - that God hates sin, but God loves sinners. Jesus spent much of His time on earth correcting thinking. He challenged the thinking that goodness is found in keeping a set of rules. Instead He preached that we need to embrace the rule-keeper. Our sins must be forgiven and can be forgiven once and for all. Once this happens we are to live for Him which means following Him in however He commissions us.
Jesus would eventually leave earth and go to sit at the right hand of God. Even as He walked on the earth His authority was different. He spoke of it often and he showed His authority in casting out demons, raising people from the dead, walking on the water, calming storms. Today, Jesus still has authority over our lives and wants us to continue to change our world. I'm concerned instead that we are being changed by our world.
In reality, Jesus is presently seating at the right hand of God. He has previously descended to earth but now He takes up His home with God. In the future there will be judgment but for now He resides, as a person of the trinity, with God. Jesus lived on earth to speak to us. It says So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them. The author could have been really only speaking of His most recent conversation with the disciples but in reality Jesus had spent His time on earth speaking to us. God in flesh was speaking to His creation in flesh, walking with them, experiencing what they experience, showing them a different way of living.
He was received up into heaven - He had completed the work on earth. He had lived, been accused, defended Himself, but still declared guilty, received punishment, mocked, crushed, and then received the complete wrath of God and felt the rejection by God in the process, and died. It was over, finished. But then as He predicted He rose again. He commissioned His disciples to now carry on the message. And He was received into heaven. His work was done. As in the creation story, after 7 days there was rest or rather there was the realization that everything had been done. We rest often declaring that there is nothing more that needs to be done. Christ did it all. And we can rest.
He sat down at the right hand of God. What a comfort it is to know that Jesus sits at the right hand of God. He is not shaken or stirred by the events of this world. He is steadfast and firmly planted at the right hand of God. He cried aloud, "It is finished." He remains at the right hand of God now as our intercessor.
Summary - Jesus work on this earth is complete. And witness to this is his ascension into heaven and then a seat at the right hand of the Father.
Promise: Only One deserves unquestioned allegiance - Jesus Christ. Let us resolve in our hearts now that we will serve Him as Lord of all so that we will be prepared to stand if we must ever suffer for our faith.
Prayer: Lord, you came to this earth, not because you had to but you did to walk with us and show us yourself and more clearly what it means to live with God. Emmanuel is God with us and you did that, you came to us. I am forever grateful. I am forever changed. Lord, help me to not acquiesce into this world and become a part of it. It wants to bend me in its direction. And Lord, out of own concern now for safety and comfort, relaxing and entertainment, I find myself often not living a manner that I believe you have called me to live: a radical life. Lord, I want to obey You.
Showing posts with label Right Hand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Right Hand. Show all posts
Friday, December 14, 2018
Saturday, November 24, 2018
Mark 14:61-62 - The Son of Man at The Right Hand of Power
Mark 14:61-62
61 But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
Message: The Son of Man at The Right Hand of Power
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - Jesus has appeared before the Sanhedrin court after being seized under the cover of darkness by the elders, priests, and scribes. Witnesses have been brought to the court as they seek evidence against Jesus. The only item mentioned is Jesus stating that the temple will come down in 3 days, though this was referring to His body, the temple and not a literal temple. Throughout all of this He (Jesus) kept silent and did not answer. Silence was actually a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 53:7). Peter and John have followed him to the courts to watch, after initially fleeing from the scene when Jesus was arrested.
The court scene is continuing to occur. Again the high priest was questioning Him. Up to now Jesus had been silent. There was no reason to speak for he was completely innocent of everything. But the high priest continues to question Jesus, which is what the high priest(s) have been doing often over the last 3 years. The high priest was saying to Him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" The question presented is whether Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Mark doesn't use the name God but instead refers to God as the Blessed One, which was common at this time because the name of God should not be mentioned or the Jewish people often wouldn't use the name of God.
Jesus responds now for the first time with "I am" affirming that what has been said is correct. He didn't respond when things were said to Him that were not true. But now he responds with a quote from the Old Testament as was often the way Jesus responded to questions. Jesus says and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” He uses the name Son of Man which was the most common way that he addressed himself. But the Son of Man that he is quoting from Daniel is also referring to God incarnate so He is claiming Himself to be God. Daniel 7:13 says, "I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him." Psalm 110:1 also says, "A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." So there is a combination of these verses and the sentiment from Jesus of the prophecy of himself.
Jesus uses words from the Old Testament that are clearly prophecies of the Messiah and His position before God and how He will come in the future. He is stating that He is the Messiah and aligning Himself with God.
Summary - Jesus responds to the answer from the chief priest, most likely Caiaphas about whether Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, Son of God. Jesus responds for the first time with the affirmative because what is asked of him is a valid question with an affirmative response.
Promise: Jesus affirms his deity, his purpose and that he is the Messiah.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for confirming who you are, the Son of Man, the son of God, the Messiah as predicted. Help me Lord to always proclaim You as such. It saddens me to see how you are put forth and projected in our world today. Forgive me for sitting there and laughing along with it. Be praised God. I do want to praise Your name.
61 But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.”
Message: The Son of Man at The Right Hand of Power
Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.
What the Lord is Saying:
Preface - Jesus has appeared before the Sanhedrin court after being seized under the cover of darkness by the elders, priests, and scribes. Witnesses have been brought to the court as they seek evidence against Jesus. The only item mentioned is Jesus stating that the temple will come down in 3 days, though this was referring to His body, the temple and not a literal temple. Throughout all of this He (Jesus) kept silent and did not answer. Silence was actually a fulfillment of prophecy (Isaiah 53:7). Peter and John have followed him to the courts to watch, after initially fleeing from the scene when Jesus was arrested.
The court scene is continuing to occur. Again the high priest was questioning Him. Up to now Jesus had been silent. There was no reason to speak for he was completely innocent of everything. But the high priest continues to question Jesus, which is what the high priest(s) have been doing often over the last 3 years. The high priest was saying to Him, "Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?" The question presented is whether Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God. Mark doesn't use the name God but instead refers to God as the Blessed One, which was common at this time because the name of God should not be mentioned or the Jewish people often wouldn't use the name of God.
Jesus responds now for the first time with "I am" affirming that what has been said is correct. He didn't respond when things were said to Him that were not true. But now he responds with a quote from the Old Testament as was often the way Jesus responded to questions. Jesus says and you shall see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING WITH THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN.” He uses the name Son of Man which was the most common way that he addressed himself. But the Son of Man that he is quoting from Daniel is also referring to God incarnate so He is claiming Himself to be God. Daniel 7:13 says, "I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him." Psalm 110:1 also says, "A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet." So there is a combination of these verses and the sentiment from Jesus of the prophecy of himself.
Jesus uses words from the Old Testament that are clearly prophecies of the Messiah and His position before God and how He will come in the future. He is stating that He is the Messiah and aligning Himself with God.
Summary - Jesus responds to the answer from the chief priest, most likely Caiaphas about whether Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, Son of God. Jesus responds for the first time with the affirmative because what is asked of him is a valid question with an affirmative response.
Promise: Jesus affirms his deity, his purpose and that he is the Messiah.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for confirming who you are, the Son of Man, the son of God, the Messiah as predicted. Help me Lord to always proclaim You as such. It saddens me to see how you are put forth and projected in our world today. Forgive me for sitting there and laughing along with it. Be praised God. I do want to praise Your name.
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