Exaltation & Intercession

Welcome and Recap

Good morning, Cornerstone!  Welcome back to our Apostles’ Creed journey.  We’re in week six of this 12-week series, diving into the ancient confession that guards our faith against heresy while uniting us in orthodoxy.  Last week, we explored Christ’s descent and resurrection: He suffered, died, descended to the dead, and rose victorious.  We asked ourselves, if He truly conquered death, what response does it call for?  To live in that hope and victory, stewarding our blessings and carrying our own crosses daily.  Today, we turn to His exaltation: “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.”  This isn’t just the parentheticals in the script, Jesus quietly slipping out stage left—it’s our hope played out.  His coronation as King-Priest, His stepping into the heavenly court as our lead counsel for our defense, which is a pretty good thing because there’s a killer prosecution.

Interceding for us, Christ reigns and advocates for us— our present power and future promise.  So, cool, Jesus loves me, this I know, got it, why do I come to church then?

Because we ask ourselves, if this is true, what response does it call for from us?  Let’s unpack our profound hope.

As I introduced the message in week four, repentance is part of a process, but it is not all we’re called to.  We are also called to make restitution—now we could never make right the wages of sin, that costs our life, but in heeding the call of Jesus, we live as if we owe something, and we do!  Last week’s message, we saw that through baptism, we have been crucified with Christ and no longer live, but Christ lives in us.  The life we live in the body, we live by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us. 

Illustration

There’s a Spiritual song you may have heard, recorded by a group called The Myers Jubilee Singers in 1928.  It goes like this:

Them bones them bones them dry bones

Them bones them bones them dry bones

Let me hear you!

Them bones them bones them dry bones,

Now, hear the word of the Lord.

You may have heard a secularized version, where they change that last bit, which makes sense culturally, sort of?  Really—it doesn’t, is it just a Halloween thing now?  Outside of its context, this makes no sense.  Why would dry bones walk around?  Without Ezekiel, it’s just a quirky kids’ tune about skeletons dancing.  With Ezekiel, it’s prophecy: God will breathe life into what’s dead and hopeless.  That’s our future hope, our resurrection.  Our present hope, in communion with one another—supporting, uplifting, encouraging one another in our journey of sanctification; our becoming Christ-like, because the King is enthroned.

Then it goes into what may be a little more familiar, the “Toe bone connected to the foot bone,” and I’ll spare you my singing, it goes like that all the way to the head, and it ends “Them bones, them bones gonna walk around.”  But it does make sense, so long as you don’t secularize it, if you keep it in its context, the original lyrics inspired by Ezekiel 37:1–14, where the prophet Ezekiel visits the Valley of Dry Bones and prophesies that they will one day be resurrected at God’s command, picturing the realization of the New Jerusalem, that makes sense!  And that’s our hope, the resurrection!

Last week, we explored one of the reasons we proclaim His death is because we testify to His actual death, not simply the appearance of His death. 

This isn’t Princess Bride, and I’m not Miracle Max.  Jesus wasn’t MOSTLY dead—because we all know, “There’s a big difference between mostly dead and all dead.  Mostly dead is slightly alive.  With all dead, well, with all dead there’s usually only one thing you can do.” (Go through their pockets!)

Our Lord was as dead as Ezekiel’s bones.  Verse two of Ezekiel 37 says that the bones in the Valley were “very dry.”  This is to say the same thing.  They weren’t just sleeping.  Neither was Jesus. 

Transition

This morning we sang, “Who You Say I Am” declaring our identity in the ascended Christ: “I am a child of God... chosen, not forsaken.”  The ascension isn’t a farewell—it’s the culmination of redemption, where Jesus takes His rightful place, blessing us with boldness, advocating for us, and promising power through the indwelling of the Spirit.  From incarnation to cross to resurrection, now to enthronement—God’s narrative arc of creation is completed in our restoration, as declared from the cross, “it is finished,” and in like fashion at the completion of each day of creation, it is good; through our exalted Mediator.

Illustration

In the epic climax of The Avengers: Endgame, after years of battles, losses, and sacrifices, the heroes face ultimate defeat—Thanos, who had gathered all five infinity stones, gaining power over Space, Mind, Reality, Power, Time, and Soul, snaps his fingers, and half of all life disappears.  This is where last week left us, an empty tomb, and the risen Lord appearing in relative secrecy—at first!  This week, we proclaim what happened after His ascension—after He rose from the grave, after His appearance to his disciples over the 40 days—eating, teaching, giving infallible proofs that he was physically alive and that it was without a doubt, He—Himself, teaching and providing clarification about the Kingdom of God, and how he fulfilled Scriptures; before publicly ascending. 

Application

That’s what we talk about this week.  In the same way, Stan Lee captures the hero’s journey in a similar fashion, the Marvel Universe, the turning point sees Captain America, battered but unyielding, standing alone against an army, whispering, “I can do this all day.” Suddenly, portals open, and allies from every corner return, empowered and united.  Iron Man makes the ultimate sacrifice, but it’s not the end—it’s the enthronement of victory.  The scattered team is recommissioned, the fallen are avenged, and a new era of peace begins, with the promise of ongoing guardianship.  This story grossed $2.799 billion, making it one of the highest-grossing films in history—because it resonates with a story hardwired within us: the Gospel, God’s good news to us, also, unironically, the most widely distributed book in the history of the world, topping over 150 million copies produced annually, translated into over 2,400 languages, estimates exceeding 5 to 7 billion copies total, a miraculous feat in and of itself—not to mention that its distribution has seen over 4 billion more copies than the next closest publication, Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung (The Little Red Book) which was printed during China’s Cultural Revolution in the 1960–70’, and ownership was made mandatory for citizens.  In comparison, The Little Red Book was translated into only 36 languages and international distribution limited largely to neighboring countries and idealistic prodigies over whom the party hoped to gain influence.

The hero’s journey formula mirrors the human experience of growth, transformation, and overcoming adversity, tapping into what creation declares and our ancestors preserved through creeds.

It parallels Luke’s ascension narrative: Jesus blesses and commissions His disciples with boldness before ascending, promising His return.  Seated at the right hand, He’s interceding until His enemies are defeated, it’s like the post-credits scene where heroes like Black Panther or Captain Marvel step into intercessory roles—ruling realms, advocating for the vulnerable, and ensuring the victory holds.  In our chaotic world, this story reminds us: Christ’s ascension isn’t abandonment; it’s empowerment.  We’re not left alone—we’re blessed with the Spirit’s boldness to face our “Thanos” moments, knowing our King-Priest intercedes from the throne.  Whereas atonement merely squares us.

Point 1

The first thing we can take away from this line in our creed is that Jesus doesn’t vanish into obscurity.  He ascends bodily, lifted up before His disciples’ eyes, completing His earthly ministry.  Luke 24:51 tells us that He blessed them as He departed, His hands raised, like a priest, imparting peace and power.  In Acts 1:9–11, angels affirm He’ll return the same way—visibly, triumphantly.  This isn’t a retreat—it’s a launch.  But enthronement takes it further, Jesus says in John 16:7, “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.” Jesus, having taken on flesh, was also bound by the human limitation of being in only one place at a time.  But the ascension unleashed the Spirit for an unabated, global mission, commissioning us to proclaim the Gospel with boldness.

This fulfills prophesy from Daniel 7:13-14, where the Son of Man approaches the Ancient of Days on clouds, receiving an eternal kingdom. 

Point 2:

Not only does he ascend bodily, but the second thing we learn is that He is seated at the right hand–exalted

After purifying us from sin, Jesus “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3).  This isn’t lounging—it’s enthronement, signifying completed work and supreme authority.  Romans 8:34 adds He’s there interceding for us: “Who is to condemn?  Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God.  If he’s your defense lawyer, I can hear the advertisement now: ‘because of the crucifix—no accusation sticks!’ And if that shoe fits—you must acquit!

Transition

This fulfills Psalm 110’s king-priest prophesy, quoted throughout the New Testament:

1 The LORD says to my lord: [it says in verse 1] “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” [in verse 4] 4 “…You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

Melchizedek, appearing in Genesis 14 without genealogy, symbolizes a priest without “beginning of days or end of life.”  This indicates his superiority to the Aaronic order of priests.  He blessed Abraham, from whom Levi was descended, meaning this order is considered superior to the Levitical priesthood.  Melchizedek was King of Salem, which means peace, and Priest of God Most High; meaning Jesus similarly functions as both King and High Priest, but whereas our priests had to atone for our sin annually, the intercession of Jesus never grows faint, and never fails.

Application

So, what does this mean for us?  In a world of injustice, suffering, and chaos—like political turmoil or personal trials—this truth anchors us.  Christ’s bodily ascension and exaltation mean that He reigns now above every power; our rightful place is seated with Him [Ephesians 2:6], citizens of heaven [Philippians 3:20].  So, do we have hope in the midst of our trials?  Absolutely—He turns enemies into footstools. 

David, who was pursued by Saul after being anointed, he’s credited with 88 of the 150 psalms, approximately one-third of which are psalms of lamentation; “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me—a direct quote from psalm 22, by David, says also in Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old; Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.”

Lamentation is a process for grieving; it features a four-part structure: turning to God in prayer, complaining (sharing raw emotions/describing pain), asking for help (petition), and choosing to trust and praise God, recalling His great faithfulness.  So, do we have hope in the midst of our trials?  Absolutely—He turns enemies into footstools. 

Can we be bold in prayer?  Yes—approach the throne of grace confidently [Hebrews 4:16]. 

Do we have reason to bear witness for the hope we have?  Empowered by the Spirit, as in Acts 1:8, in our song, “Who You Say I Am,” live in His identity, and pray confidently, knowing your High Priest hears you and advocates for you.  Live as if Jesus conquered whatever your hardship is.  Because He did.  In the same way that repentance isn’t restitution, there are still consequences for our fallen nature, and we’re suffering from that now—but not forever!  

Atonement squares the debt—paid in full on the cross.  But enthronement means the victory isn’t just defensive; it’s offensive.  He reigns, subdues our enemies, releasing us from the bondage of sin and death, and seats us with Him to live from that victory now.

Close

Whatever uncertainties lie ahead—be it global unrest or personal storms—remember: Christ ascended and is seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding and reigning.  He’s not distant—He’s victorious, drawing us into His triumph.  One day this present world will be refined by fire, but we’re already citizens of heaven—our seat is reserved beside Him.  Until then, we live out His final command as He ascended:

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age (Matthew 28:19-20).

Because Jesus isn’t Miracle Max and we’re not slightly dead, which is mostly alive—We’re fully alive in the Spirit, a state in which death has no part!  Friends, eternity doesn’t start at our death.  It started the day we accepted Jesus, and the Spirit dwelt in us.  In the same way, we don’t wait until our earthly death to live into our Heavenly citizenship—we live into that now!