THE GLORY OF THE EXALTED CHRIST
THE GLORY OF THE EXALATED CHRIST
Sunday, February 22, 2015, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
As we approach resurrection Sunday, I will be preaching a series of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection Glories.
In Luke 14, the scripture tells us that when “certain women” could not find Jesus’ body, they had seen a vision of angels, who said He was alive.
The Lord spoke to “certain of them”: “O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken; ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory” (Luke 24:25-26)
The mediatory work of Christ involved both suffering and glory.
We are in a serious time concerning those things which have been prophesied with reference to the battle between the spirit of anti-Christ and the Kingdom of God. It will be the responsibility of pastors and Christian leaders to prepare the people. Christians and Jews are being killed by Muslims for no other reason except for their faith. The present government of the United States of America is providing covering for the Islamic Terrorists.
With increased persecution of Christians, increase of Chrislam, perversion and denouncing of scripture even by so called ministers, the church must be equipped to stand in our faith.
2 Tim 2:12-13: “If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us.”
Do not mistake me that I am calling anyone to volunteer to be a martyr. Absolutely not! We are to be the church triumphant and we are to be victorious. However, we must absolutely consider what is happening to Christians in the Middle East as a great tribulation.
Satan and the world both offer immediate glory, but this glory will be followed by eternal suffering.
Luke 17:25: “Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime, you received good things, and likewise Lazarus (the beggar) evil things; but now he is comforted, and you are tormented. Besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed; so that they which would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us.”
I have previously shared that John Owen who wrote and preached in the 1600’s wrote what I believe an amazing revelation of the two witnesses of Zechariah 4: 11-14: Zerubbabel was given a vision (Vs2) of a candlestick all of gold, with a bowl upon the top of it, and its seven lamps…and two olive trees, one upon the right side of the bowl, and the other upon the left side. Zerubbabel asked the Lord twice “What are these two olive trees upon the right side of the candle stick and upon the left side? What are the two olive branches which empty golden oil through the two golden pipes? He answered me and said, “These are the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth.”
The Lamp stand is revealed in the Book of Revelation as Jesus Christ in the midst of His churches.
The golden oil is the Holy Spirit.
The plummet or measuring line is used by one of the seven angels in the Book of Revelation; and to measure the temple in Ezekiel. In Ezekiel the outer court is measured, but in Revelation the outer court is not measured. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is received in the Holy Place which is the second court.
Here in Zechariah, the measuring line has been placed in the hand of Zerubbabel. The plummet has seven eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth. These are the seven spirits of God, Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Council, Might, and the Fear of God. (Rev. 1:4; Isa. 11:2)
John Owen “Suffering and glory are the two anointed ones that stand before the Lord of the whole earth, from which all the golden oil by which the church is dedicated to God and sanctified, flows.
The glory of Christ which he entered into in His exaltation after his sufferings is the Resurrection Glory story. Christ prayed that his disciples might be where he is in order to see the glory of his exaltation. While he was in the world, a veil was drawn over this glory which the Father gave him before the foundation of the world. When we see this glory, we shall see Christ as he really is.
Luke 24:31: “Their eyes were opened, and they knew Him…”
That very nature itself which Christ took on him in this world is exalted into glory. The great foundation of the church and all gospel faith is that Jesus was made flesh.
When Jesus appeared to the disciples in Jerusalem, (Luke 24:37-39), “…they were terrified and frightened, supposing they had seen a spirit. Jesus said, “…Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; handle Me, and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see Me have.”
I do not pretend to fully understand the true nature of the glorification of the humanity of Christ. However, 1 John 3:2: “Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”
“Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high.”
Believers also shall have a glorified human nature, when we see him as he is, we shall be like him. His glory however, will out shine all of the glories of Heaven.
“There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.”
The glorification of his flesh is not the true glory of Christ in his exaltation. What then is the true glory?
- The exaltation of his human nature in union with His divine nature far above the whole creation in power, glory, honor authority and rule.
- The glory of Christ in his exaltation lies in the infinite love that God the Father has for him, and in the Father’s delight and satisfaction in him. He is seated at the right hand of God, at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
- The glory of Christ in his exaltation by the full revelation of his divine wisdom, love and grace in his mediatory work and redemption of the church. In Heaven this glorious work of redemption shines forth in all its brightness to the eternal joy of those who behold him.
This is that glory which our Lord Jesus Christ especially prayed that his disciples might see.
The glory of Christ’s exaltation has been seen by men and angels in this world through vision and visitation in the Old Testament, in the New Testament and in the Church. We can also behold His glory through the Holy Scripture. By faith as we meditate on the glory of Christ, our joy will be full and we will draw closer and closer to seeing His glory.
Much of Christianity is so selfish that they tend not to look any further than their own concerns and interests. So long as they feel they are pardoned and saved, they care very little about Christ’s interest, will or concerns. “Lord for what would you have us to pray?” “Lord what is the desire of your heart that we may bring our hearts into agreement with yours?”
The chief duty of faith and love is to lead us to prefer Christ and others above ourselves, and his desires above our own. Again, I am not speaking of self-sacrifice to the point one makes themselves a door mat. No! Never!
Moses, the prophets and all the Scriptures testify to Christ and his glory. (Luke 24:27). Not to see Christ and his glory in all the Scriptures is to be like the Pharisees. They had a veil on their minds. Faith alone can remove that veil of darkness which prevents the minds of men from beholding the glory of Christ.
2 Cor. 3: 15-16: “Their minds were blinded; for until this day remains the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which veil is done away in Christ. Even to this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart. Nevertheless when he shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.”
All of the temple and tabernacle worship was a type and a shadow of the real person and glory of Christ.
Everything Moses did in erecting the tabernacle and instituting all its services were a testimony of the glory of Jesus.
This was the substance of the message of the prophets. 1 Pet. 10-12: “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come to you; searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow…they minister the things which are now reported to you by them who have preached the gospel to you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”
The glory of Christ is seen in the Song of Solomon of the divine love and grace of Christ to his church.
We have received far greater revelations of the same glory. We should have a greater desire to behold the glory of Christ.
John tells us Isaiah’s vision of the glory of the Lord was a vision of the glory of Jesus Christ. “The train of his robe filled the temple”. This symbolizes the glorious grace which filled the temple of his body. This is the true tabernacle which God pitched, and not man. It is the temple which was destroyed and which he raised again in three days in which dwelt the fullness of the Godhead (Col. 2:9).
This glory was revealed to Isaiah and it filled him with awe and astonishment. But by the ministry of one of the glorious seraphim, his iniquity was taken away by a coal of fire from the altar, which symbolized the sacrificial blood which cleanses from all sin.
His glorious appearance to Moses on Mt. Sinai is described by the psalmist and applied by Paul to the ascension of Christ following the resurrection.
Eph. 4:8: “When he ascended upon high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men.”
Christ’s fulfilling of the Law brought life because it procured pardon and righteousness which he gives freely to all people who will receive Him as Savior.
Nothing but Satanic pride which will not accept what one cannot understand makes people shut their eyes against the light of this truth.
The glory of Christ in the Old Testament was revealed in promises, prophecies and predictions about his person, his coming, his offices, his kingdom, and his glory; all to reveal to mankind and creation His wisdom, grace and love.
These are the things which Christ expounded to his disciples out of Moses and all the prophets. “Search the Scriptures, for they are they which testify of me.” Those who do not see the glory of Christ in the Scriptures have a veil of blindness over their minds. Once we read the Holy Writ considering the glory of Christ, we will be catapulted into His glory.
So, to many the Bible is a sealed book.
In the Old Testament, Christ is called the rose, sweet perfume of his love, grace and obedience. He is called the lily for the beauty of his grace and love. In the New Testament, he is called the pearl of great price because he is precious to believers. He is called the vine for his fruitfulness; the Lamb for his meekness and fitness for sacrifice; the Lion for His boldness and courage.
Dear Jesus, we can add nothing to you, nothing to your glory. It is our joy that you are who you are and gloriously exalted to the right hand of God.
We long to behold that glory more and more as we go from faith to faith and from glory to glory according to your prayer and promise.
Amen
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. I entered into the labors of John Owen, (1616-1683) “The Glory of Christ.” Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Rev. Owen.