Weekly Devotional 2-16-15
The Eternal Son, Our Great High Priest
Humanity thinks in terms of time, and because of natural man’s inability to think in terms of eternity, it is difficult for natural man to think of Jesus as ever existing. It is the inclination of natural man to look upon Him as they would all other human beings and that His conception was His beginning. The Gospels of Matthew (Matt.1:18-25) and Luke (Luke 1:26-35) do speak of His conception and birth, but they also inform us that said conception was not of the normal processes. His mother Mary conceived not by man, but by the power of God.
It is declared of the Lord Jesus Christ by the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 10:5) that a body had been prepared for Him. This is difficult to understand unless we see this in connection with John 1:1-2 and 14. “1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. … “14And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
Much of the world celebrates His birth on December 25th each year, but many never give thought to its real meaning; that God took upon Himself human flesh. The end of the story, however, goes well beyond His birth. God became man (flesh) in order that he could die. Something He could not do as God. Daniel 9:26 tells us that Israel’s Messiah, the man Jesus Christ, would be cut off but not for Himself, and we find in the Gospel of John the reason for His being cut off (of His being killed). John 3:14-17 says, “ 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in Him should £not perish but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”
We are informed in verses 1&2 of John 1 that Jesus was not only with God in the beginning of creation, but was in fact God. That He took upon Himself flesh (vs. 14). The humanity of Jesus, therefore, did have a beginning, but Scripture affirms that before He took upon Himself flesh He existed as eternal God. Jesus Himself, in His instructions to John the revelator, said, “8I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” (Rev.1:8) and, “ 17I am the First and the Last “18I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Rev, (1:17-18). By His declaration Jesus ascribed to Himself that which is only applicable to God (see Isaiah 41:4; 44:6; and 48:12).
The “Born Again” Christian’s hope is not in a dead Messiah, but in a risen living Savior. Consider Paul’s words in Acts 13: 26-39; “26Men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. 27For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. 28And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death. 29Now when they had fulfilled all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the tree and laid Him in a tomb. 30But God raised Him from the dead. 31He was seen for many days by those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to the people. 32And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. 33God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’ 34And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ 35Therefore He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to see corruption.’ 36For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell asleep, was buried with his fathers, and saw corruption; 37but He whom God raised up saw no corruption. 38Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to you the forgiveness of sins; 39and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Again, turning to writer of Hebrews, we read of our eternal priest; “24But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. 25Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:24-25 NKJV).
Jesus, God in the flesh, is our Redeemer, Savior, and High Priest. Should we not then glorify Him by the way we live our lives?
stevelampman@comcast.net stevelampman.com
Transforming Power, The Work of God on Behalf of Man
www.gbchurch.us foundationchristcounseling.org