Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

… that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

• 1 Corinthians 15:4

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

• Mark 16:19

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

• Acts 1:9

… and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

• Ephesians 1:19-20

For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

• Acts 17:31

“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

• Acts 1:11

“Q. 27. Wherein consists Christ’s exaltation?
“A. Christ’s exaltation consists in his rising again from the dead on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4), in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19), and in coming to judge the world at the last day (Acts 17:31).”

• Charles H. Spurgeon, Spurgeon’s Catechism (Scripture proofs in bold above)

“Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?
“A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.”

• The Shorter Catechism (Westminster Assembly)

As I mentioned last week, the Larger Catechism questions for this week answered the questions of Christ’s humiliation and exaltation in a “Larger” way, with thirteen questions instead of two, last week’s and this week’s questions.

We had just covered three questions before the last two.  Jesus Christ executed the roles of prophet, priest, and king.  We then have a question of Christ’s humiliation, when for the most part, the humiliation was falsely accused and crucified, which became the perfect sacrifice that made Jesus Christ the ultimate prophet, as the book of Hebrews states, after the order of Melchizedek.

But if the story ended there, there would be no exaltation and only a king-wanna-be.  But God raised Jesus from the dead and placed Him at His right hand, not literally, but spiritually.  God the Father is a spirit and does not have a body like man.

Thus, Christ came to earth and declared Himself as the Messiah, or in so many words (prophet).  He died for our sins, He being blameless and perfect (priest).  And He reigns in Heaven and will return to earth to reign (King).

It is the totality of Christ’s ministry that make Him prophet, priest, and king, but it also leads to His humiliation and exaltation.

And now let us sing.

The following hymn, Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty is sung by St. Andrews Cathedral, Sydney.  I the description, this song was recorded upon the second outbreak of COVID-19 in New South Wales.  And why not praise the Lord in times of suffering and loss?  For God reigns on high and He will hear our prayers.

“Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee
Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty
God in three persons blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and Seraphim falling down before Thee
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see
Only Thou art holy There is none beside Thee
Perfect in power, in love and purity

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty
All thy works shall praise Thy name, in earth and sky and sea
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!”

• Reginald Heber, Holy, Holy, Holy

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We can never thank You enough.  We can never praise You enough.  Maybe it is our earthly state that limits us.  Maybe it is our language that cannot find words that are glorious enough to express how we feel.  But we know that someday, we will be with You forever and the right means of expression will come to us.
In thy Name we pray.
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.