Jesus’ New Role
David W Palmer
(John 16:28 NKJV) “I came forth from the Father and have come into the world. Again, I leave the world and go to the Father.”
Our wonderful Lord Jesus came forth from the Father; he came on a princely assignment from heaven. His mission was to rescue the lost and deceived human race from the tyrannical rule of Satan, and to reconcile them to the true King, God. To achieve this, he had to surreptitiously be placed onto the earth as a man—appearing to most people as a normal flesh and blood human being.
God’s precious Son arrived on planet earth as a baby, born to humble parents in a feeding trough for animals. He then grew through the stages of childhood and adolescence like any of us. He submitted to his earthly parents, contributed to the family, worked with his hands, and studied God’s word until the time set by his heavenly Father.
Jesus then revealed God’s heart and loving intentions to mankind through his miraculous ministry, his teaching and preaching, his forgiveness, and his love for people. The common people—who heard him gladly and who responded to his offer of reconciliation—welcomed this. But sadly, those already sold out to the kingdom of darkness reciprocated his love and favor with hateful murderous opposition.
Meanwhile, he chose, called and trained twelve apprentices to take over and continue his mission here on earth. Having completed his assignment, he fully prepared for his death. Amazingly, despite the hateful intentions by those under Satan’s control, God used the murder perpetrated against his Son to be the very act that would purchase forgiveness and freedom for all of those trapped under Satan’s slavery and dominion.
By his death, burial, and resurrection, God’s precious son became the firstborn from the dead. He is the captain of our salvation; he opened the way to heaven for us all.
After his resurrection, our triumphant Lord briefed his graduating class of apprentices on their commission. He then ascended to his Father’s right hand to take up his new ministry and anointed role:
(Hebrews 10:12 NLT) But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
(Hebrews 1:8–9 NKJV) But to the Son He says: “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom. {9} You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
Now that Jesus is seated at God’s right hand, he has rested from his assigned work in redeeming us. But that doesn’t mean he is on holiday; God’s word reveals that he is still active—very much on the job in his current ministries, as revealed in the Holy Bible. Jesus is now:
Our wonderful Savior really has laid his life down for us—before the cross, on the cross, now, and for all eternity. For example, as our faithful High Priest, he will never leave his ministry of intercession for us:
(Hebrews 7:25 NHEB) Therefore he is also able to save completely those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
As God’s living word, our Lord Jesus is the Surety—or guarantee—of the new covenant; he is upholding all things—including every aspect of the covenant’s promises and our assured standing with God—by the word of his power:
(Hebrews 1:1–4 NKJV)
