This week we continue to look at the transformation of Christ: From Suffering to Glory.
“He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” (Isaiah 53:3)
Today, we consider His ministry.
His Suffering: Jesus came as the Messiah of His people. The nation of Israel. To the Jews. But they rejected Him.
“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.” (John 1:11)
From the first chapter in the Gospel of Matthew, the writer shows us how Christ fulfilled the prophetic scriptures of the Old Testament which spoke about the coming Messiah.
Jesus came, teaching and healing. Accepting and loving. Yet, the Jewish authorities responded with nothing but suspicion, coldness, and hostility.
His Glory: A time is coming when every nation, every person, every creature, will give Him praise and honor.
“Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil 2:9-11)
Do you believe in one God? Good, even the demons believe and tremble. (James 2:19) The question is, have you made Jesus Lord of your life? Have you turned away from your sin and accepted His forgiveness?
It is better to praise Him now and receive eternal life than to be forced to praise Him from the depths of Hell.
“And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!’” (Rev 5:13)
His Suffering: Some say Jesus never claimed to be God. Yet, when Jesus said, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM,’ the Jews knew exactly who He was claiming to be.
Their response confirms this.
“Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.” (John 8:58-59)
His Glory: When He returns as the King of Glory, the men of the earth will choose death over life, calling down stones upon themselves.
“And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” (Rev 6:15-16)
His Suffering: Jesus' ministry was fraught with sorrow. Those who were closest to Him misunderstood Him. The very people He came to save rejected Him. He endured physical hardship, financial poverty, and homelessness. He grieved.
“‘O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!’” (Matt 23:37)
“Jesus said to him, ‘Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'?’” (John 14:9)
His Glory: Our resurrected Lord is a glorified Christ, as God the Father anointed Him with the oil of gladness. (Heb 1:9)
“God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” (Act 10:38)
Scriptures are clear: Christ, as a man, felt pain and sorrow. Yet, He endured it all for the JOY set before Him. You and me. The salvation of our souls. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb 12:2)
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Beloved, this Glorified Savior, Jesus Christ is our Hope. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
This week, as we meditate on His exalted place at the right hand of God, may we remember He intercedes for us against our enemy, the devil.
“Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.” (Rom 8:34)
We are safe under His watchful and all-powerful care.
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