What Did God Do With Jesus?

What Did God Do With Jesus? By Mark Mayberry 6/3/2012 Introduction Various individuals have left their mark upon human history. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin D. Roosevelt are remembered for their notable accomplishments. Others are less well known. Some are almost forgotten. However, none have had a greater impact than Jesus Christ. None deserve more honor. None are more exalted. What did God do with Jesus? This question is answered in Ephesians 1:20-23. Ephesians 1:20-23 (NASB95) 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Raised Him From The Dead The Old Testament prophesied that Christ would be raised from the dead (Psa. 16:8-10). Psalm 16:8-10 (NASB95) 8 I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. The New Testament records the fulfillment of this promise (Acts 2:22-32; 13:35-38). Acts 2:22-32 (NASB95) 22 Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24 But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. 25 For David says of Him, I saw the Lord always in my presence; For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; Moreover my flesh also will live in hope; 27 Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, Nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of gladness with Your presence. 29 Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 And so, because he was a prophet and knew that

God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. Acts 13:35-38 (NASB95) 35 Therefore He also says in another Psalm, You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; 37 but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, Seated Him At His Right Hand The Old Testament prophesied that Christ would be seated at the right hand of God (Psa. 110:1). Psalm 110:1 (NASB95) 1 The Lord says to my Lord: Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet. The New Testament records the fulfillment of this promise (Mark 16:19-20; Acts 2:33-36; Heb. 12:1-4). Mark 16:19-20 (NASB95) 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. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.] [And they promptly reported all these instructions to Peter and his companions. And after that, Jesus Himself sent out through them from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation.] Acts 2:33-36 (NASB95) 33 Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. 34 For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, 35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified. Hebrews 12:1-4 (NASB95) 1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin; 2

Put All Things Under His Feet The Old Testament prophesied that Christ would put all things under his feet (Psa. 8:3-9). Psalm 8:3-9 (NASB95) 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained; 4 What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him? 5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas. 9 O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth! The New Testament records the fulfillment of this promise (Heb. 2:5-9; 1 Cor. 15:25-26; 1 Pet. 3:21-22). Hebrews 2:5-9 (NASB95) 5 For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying, What is man, that You remember him? Or the son of man, that You are concerned about him? 7 You have made him for a little while lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And have appointed him over the works of Your hands; 8 You have put all things in subjection under his feet. For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 (NASB95) 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death. 1 Peter 3:21-22 (NASB95) 21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him. Gave Him To Be Head Over All Things To The Church The Old Testament prophesied that Christ would occupy a position of authority (Gen. 49:10; Isa. 9:6). Genesis 49:10 (NASB95) 10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. Isaiah 9:6 (NASB95) 6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 3

The New Testament records the fulfillment of this promise (Matt. 28:18-20; Eph. 5:23-24; Col. 1:18; 3:17). Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB95) 18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Ephesians 5:23-24 (NASB95) 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. 24 But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything. Colossians 1:18 (NASB95) 18 He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. Colossians 3:17 (NASB95) 17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father. Conclusion In this lesson, we have sought to answer the question, What did God do with Jesus? We want to close by asking two additional questions: What will Jesus do with you? He will raise you from the dead (1 Cor. 15:12-22). He will seat you in a place of honor (Rom. 2:6-11). He will put you in a position of authority (1 Cor. 6:2-3). He will give you a home in heaven (2 Cor. 5:1-2). 1 Corinthians 15:12-22 (NASB95) 12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. Romans 2:6-11 (NASB95) 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every 4

soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. 1 Corinthians 6:2-3 (NASB95) 2 Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? 3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (NASB95) 1 For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven, What will you do with Jesus? Will you obey him and be saved (Heb. 5:8-9)? Or will you reject him and be lost (Acts 13:45-46)? The choice is yours. Eternity hangs in the balance! Hebrews 5:8-9 (NASB95) 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, Acts 13:45-46 (NASB95) 45 But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming. 46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first; since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. 5