1709. Christ in the Presence of God for Us

Christ in the Presence of God for Us

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into Heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us" (Heb_9:24).

The exclusive piece of furniture in the Tabernacle, was the Ark. The Ark stands for the Lord Jesus Christ, who has ascended up on high, and has taken His seat in the presence of God, in behalf of His people. In the Ark, resident in the Holy of Holies, we see three things:

1. Christ is accepted of the Father. The great question which concerns us, as we consider the earth life and the atoning death of the Lord Jesus Christ, is this: Was Christ accepted of the Father?

We know that in His birth the Father acclaimed Him. The angels said: "There is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ, the Lord" (A. S. V.).

We know that at His baptism the Father accepted Him. God spoke out of the blue, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

We know that, as the Lord Jesus approached the Cross, He was accepted of the Father; for the Father announced His approval, both at the Transfiguration, and at the visit of the Greeks.

Our Lord, however, died in ignominy and in shame; despised and rejected of men. So far as outward appearances were concerned, He was deserted of the Father.

The supreme question therefore remains: Was the Father finally well pleased with Christ, and did He accept His work?

The answer to all this is seen, typically, in the presence of the Ark, with its mercy seat and its sprinkled blood, resting in the Holy of Holies. The Lord Jesus Christ in fulfillment of this type, having shed His Blood upon the Cross, passed into the holiest of all, carrying His Blood. There He sat down, at the right hand of the Father, accepted and acclaimed as Prince and Saviour.

2. Christ is a paraclete for us. 1Jn_2:1 tells us that we have a paraclete with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

The word "paraclete" means, "one at your side." There are two paracletes; Christ is our paraclete, at the side of the Father, representing us in the presence of God; the Holy Spirit is our paraclete, at our own side, representing God to us.

How blessed it is that we have One with the Father who manages our affairs, pleads our cause, and undertakes every requirement in our behalf.

"He ever liveth to intercede for us."

3. We are accepted by the Father, in Christ Not only does Christ sit at the right hand of God, but we, who once were dead and under the wrath of God, have been quickened and raised, together with Christ, and made to sit together with Him in the Heavenlies.

If God was in Christ, when Christ was on earth; then we are in Christ, now that He is in Heaven.

It is because Christ is at the right hand of God, that we have boldness to enter into the holiest by the Blood of Jesus. We can "draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith" (Heb_10:22).

"Seeing then that we have a great High Priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, * * let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb_4:14-16).

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR