Yesterday

REVIEW - Yesterday we took a look at this Man Jesus. Drawing from Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same… Today I want to look at that word - YESTERDAY. I want us to remember throughout this study that what was true about Jesus is true about Him. He is the SAME - YESTERDAY TODAY AND FOREVER.

YESTERDAY - John the Beloved writes at least four times in his books that "No man hath seen God at any time." Now how does this square with scriptures like;

Exodus 24:9-11 (KJV) 9 Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel: 10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness. 11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

An interesting scripture. When they came down from the mountain they were probably asked, "What happened up there? Oh we saw God and ate a meal with Him. Really what did he look like, well I can't explain it but you should have seen the blue under his feet.

They couldn't describe God, they could just see under his feet. Or Isaiah 6:1 In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.

Isaiah is asked what did the Lord look like? Well I don't know, but you should have seen his hem." It's really the only description of God given in this passage.

Or Ezekiel 1:26 And above the firmament that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire stone: and upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it.

Well there are all kinds of theories and speculation, but here is what I think. Can I just share with you my opinion for a little while. There are two theological terms I want to bring up. Now these words themselves are not found in the Bible but the principles are.

The terms are called 1. Theophany and 2. Christophany. These often overlap and are often the same thing so I may use the terms interchangeably but they mean Jesus did appear on occasions in the OT = these appearance are called “pre-incarnate” appearances. Theologians call such pre-incarnate appearances either “theophanies” or “Christophanies.” The word “theophany” means an “appearance of God,”(Can be a voice, or in fire, or thunder and lightning.) and the word “Christophany” means an “appearance of Christ.” Both terms are referring to appearances of Jesus.

Christophanies -

The Angel of The Lord - Perhaps the most well-known term used in the Bible for a Christophany is the phrase, "Angel of the Lord." or in Hebrew "Malek Yahweh"

It appears 67 times in the Old Testament. Angel Can have the simple definition of minister or representative. either natural or supernatural. This is a special phrase. Many scholars feel where this appears in the OT this is the Lord Jesus Christ in one of his pre-incarnate experiences.

The reason for this is in a number of Old Testament passages, as we will see in a moment, an individual described as an angel or Angel of the Lord is either called "The Lord" (Gen. 12:7; 17:1; 18:1) or becomes recognized as the Lord (Gen. 16:13) In Exodus 23:20-23 Where God tells Moses he is sending an angel before them in context this "angel" can only be "The LORD" as he would have power to;

Either forgive or not forgive sins Would teach and give commandments to be obeyed Had within him God's name Was a judge and destroyer of Israel's enemies All of these attributes are clearly associated with God alone many times elsewhere.

"That the Angel of the Lord is the second person of the Trinity is derived from two main lines of evidence.

First, the Angel of the Lord in the Old Testament serves the same role as does Christ in the New Testament: The Father is the one who plans and sends the Redeemer, the Son is the one who is the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts and applies redemption to those who are redeemed…. Second, once the Son (Christ) came in permanent incarnate form (John 1:1, 14; 1 John 4:2), never again does the Angel of the Lord appear, though an angel appears from time to time (cf. Acts 12:7ff.). No angel that commands or accepts worship or claims to be God ever appears again." Geisler's Systematic Theology - Systematic Theology – Volume Two: God, Creation.

Some Examples -

The Angel of the Lord and Hager - Gen. 16:13

LORD is all capital proper name of God. Heard it pronounced Jehovah more properly pronounced Yahweh. We started out with an Angel now we have God. Is this just an ordinary Angel? It might have been the Lord Jesus.

Genesis 16:13 (KJV)

13 And she called the name of the LORD that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

The Angel of the Lord and Abraham - Gen 18:22 The men turned away (two of them) But Abraham remained standing before the LORD

Genesis 18:22 (KJV)

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

The Angel of the Lord and Jacob -

Genesis 32:1-2 (KJV)

1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This isGod's host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Genesis 32:29-30 (KJV)

29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

The Angel of the Lord and Moses

Exodus 3:1-2 (KJV)

1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.

2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.

in v. 4 called both Yahweh [ Lord] and God:

The Angel of the Lord and Manoah

Judges 13:1-23 (KJV)

1 And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD delivered them into the hand of the Philistines forty years.

2 And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare not.

3 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto the woman, and said unto her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive, and bear a son.

4 Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing:

5 For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.

6 Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name:

7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.

8 Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.

9 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.

10 And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.

11 And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the woman? And he said, I am.

12 And Manoah said, Now let thy words come to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?

13 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Of all that I said unto the woman let her beware.

14 She may not eat of any thing that cometh of the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing: all that I commanded her let her observe.

15 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee.

16 And the angel of the LORD said unto Manoah, Though thou detain me, I will not eat of thy bread: and if thou wilt offer a burnt offering, thou must offer it unto the LORD. For Manoah knew not that he wasan angel of the LORD.

17 And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, What isthy name, that when thy sayings come to pass we may do thee honour?

18 And the angel of the LORD said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?

19 So Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on.

20 For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.

21 But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.

22 And Manoah said unto his wife, We shall surely die, because we have seen God.

23 But his wife said unto him, If the LORD were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such thingsas these.

Isaiah 9:6 (KJV)

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

THE INCARNATION - Now we come to another great point in the life of Christ. Christmas in July. The Incarnation. That is just a fancy word for Jesus becoming flesh. Deity in Diapers one author said. The Term Incarnation: “In the flesh”. The incarnation of Jesus means the time Jesus assumed a permanent fleshly body.

Dr. Vic Reasoner gives these Seven Spiritual Truths from the incarnation -

Seven Spiritual truths derived from the incarnation -

We know what God looks like - No one has seen God, Christ has made him known by becoming flesh. Wonder what God is like look at Jesus. (If you've seen me you've seen the Father. That was his purpose in coming here, to show us what God was like. We have seen his glory full of grace and truth which one was full father or son? Both It provides us with a High Priest who can sympathies with human weakness. The Bible is very clear. Jesus never became a sinner, but he identified with the human race. If Jesus had sinned then he would have needed a substitute to take care of his sin. We have a high priest HEB tempted like as we are yet without sin. We can now approach the throne of grace. Sin is not originally a part of our nature. God didn't create us sinners. So Jesus could be fully human and not a sinner. It provides a substitutionary sacrifice for all the sins of the world. It was a prerequisite for the atonement before Jesus could ever take our place he had to be one of us. Hebrews tells us this clearly. To destroy Satan's stronghold and deliver us. 1 John 3:8 to destroy the devil's work. Peter says he came to provide us an example show us how to live Provided us with a judge John 5:42 The Father judges no one but gave it to the Son. He has This doctrine of the incarnation is a litmus test of true doctrine. It is non-negotiable. It is not something we can take or leave. John ?? Do not believe every Spirit but test the Spirits to see if they be of God etc if a spirit denies the incarnation it is a demonic spirit. Same thing is said in 2 John There are three passages that describe the incarnation and birth of Jesus:

Matthew 1:18-25 (the Annunciation to Joseph) Luke 1:26- 2:20 (the Annunciation to Mary and birth of Jesus) John 1:1, 14, 18 (Jesus’ pre-incarnate state as the Word and His incarnation) John 1:14 is the classic passage on the incarnation - "And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us." WORD or the Greek (logos) describes the Son.

He is called the “Word” because He is the One who communicates to us what God is like. A “word” is a means of communication. Jesus is the primary communicator of the God head I like what Lee Strobel wrote in his book "The Case for the Real Jesus" “If John had simply written, ‘God became a human being,’ it would have given the false impression that the Lord was no longer filling the universe or reigning in heaven, but that he had abandoned his throne to take up residence here, like one of the pagan deities. Instead, John tells us that it was the divine Word that became a human being, and through the Word, we can know God personally." Lee Strobel (2012-01-03T16:45:27+00:00). The Case for the Real Jesus (Kindle Locations 3665-3692). Kindle Edition. John 1:18—"the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him. Jesus’ purpose was to “declare”(exegete: interpret, reveal, explain) the Father. This is why Jesus said in John 14:9, "he that hath seen me hath seen the father." Probably one of the greatest of all questions of humanity, Why did not Jesus come earlier in the history of mankind?

The answer - Galatians 4:4—: "In the fullness of the time." God did not send Jesus earlier because the fullness of time had not arrived. Charles Wesley in his hymn "And Can It Be" He writes of Jesus - "Emptied Himself of all but love." Now I think that Wesley is taking creative license here because if anyone believed in Jesus being God in the flesh it was Charles Wesley.

But we do find an interesting passage of scripture one of my favorites in Philippians 2:5-7 5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

Now that phrase in verse 7 "but made himself of no reputation" is one Greek word - κενόω,v \{ken-o'-o}

1) to empty, make empty 1a) of Christ, he laid aside equality with or the form of God From <http://www.greekbible.com/l.php?keno/w_v-3aai-s--_>

Now the Question is of what did Christ empty? Did he leave his Godhead behind to become man?

There is what is called a "Hypostatical Union" simply put it is this union in Christ of two natures.

We are born with one nature. That nature is either alive unto Christ or Dead in trespasses and sins. Christ has two natures

Humanity - Although without sin Deity - Complete God.

He is not half and half, but All God and ALL MAN!!! DO NOT DIMMINNISH OR INCREASE HIS HUMMANITY – IF YOU DO YOU STOP HAVING A REPRESENTATIVE HUMAN YOU HAVE A SUPER HUMAN. Jesus does not pretend to be human he is a normal human being.

When Jesus identified with the human race, that was a permanent identification. That was not terminated with his resurrection and ascension. That Jesus Christ in heaven today is still the God-man. That he has permanently identified with us. It wasn't that He for a while was God and then for a short time was a God-Man and then went back to God. He has permanently identified with us. Heb. He has become a priest forever…

The Incarnation was a humiliating experience. Emptied Himself What did he empty himself of?

He did not lay aside his Godhead. He laid aside his glory.

John 17:4-5— 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was. He did lay aside the glory He had with the Father when he came to earth. (He gave up His majestic glory.) He did not divest Himself of His deity prerogatives—He divested himself only of His glory. He came into this world in disguise incognito. If he hadn't laid aside his glory the blazing brilliance of his majesty would have killed people. He came and Isaiah said he had no form or comeliness. That was humiliating to lay aside. He emptied himself of his glory.

There was a change in his form - his appearance became like a man There was a change in his position he became a servant But there was no change in his nature. He was God before and he was God afterward and He's still God.

I want to look at another passage Colossians 1:15-20 - I remember in my studies reading after one individual, and I can't remember his name, but who siad that he wanted to write a commentary on the book of Colossians, but he could never get passed the first chapter. I encourage you to really read this chapter and think about it. Meditate on it. Study it. I only have time for a few highlights.

This is often called an ancient hymn Verse 15 - Jesus is the "Image of the invisible God" I think Phill Cross got this point when he wrote the lyrics, Compassion has a tear. Joy has a laughter.

Here ever after, peace has a smile.

Redemption’s blood has veins to flow in

A temple to glow in. Light is a child. CHORUS -

Hope has hands, Freedom has feet

Truth will stand, the Word will speak

The holy and lowly will finally embrace,

For love has a heartbeat, and grace has a face. From https://truthandsong.com/weekly-music-recommendation-grace-face-hope-hands-greater-vision/

Then there is the term - "The firstborn of every creature" While firstborn can refer to biological relations in New Testament Times it could also refer to rank and position. Which seems to fit better here.

Now Jehovah Witness people will try to use this verse to say Jesus was created. Don't let them tie you up like that. It only means that before Abraham was, I AM he was before all in priority in time, and he is higher than all created things Superiority in rank.

If you need help just read a little farther to verse 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. The proper meaning of the word here used , refers to the commencement of a thing, not its authorship, and denotes properly primacy in time, and primacy in rank, but not primacy in the sense of causing anything to exist.

The Virgin Birth - So often we go to Isaiah and use 7:14 and Matthew 1:23 they use the term virgin but it just means a young girl or a single woman not necessarily a virgin. The classic passage for proof of the virgin birth is Luke 1:34 - "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man."

The agent of conception was the Holy Spirit Matthew 1:20 "That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit" The Humanity of Christ - I want to quickly go through this - Jesus not only claimed to be truly God, he claimed to be truly man.

The Virgin birth insures that Jesus was not born with inherited depravity. (As there was no genetic material from an earthly father.) He was on the same level as Adam before Adam fell. Some passages that show the humanity of Christ -

Hebrews 4:14-16—Jesus was tempted in all points like we are, yet without sin. (especially v. 15). Yet w/o sin implies that He could have sinned.” Hebrews 2:14-17 – Jesus was made like unto His brethren. This means he was a real man (“man of very man”). He became literally a partaker of flesh and blood. Matthew 26:53— “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?”

In Matthew 26:53 Jesus says he could exercise his own will contrary to the will of the Father. If he had done this it would have been self-centeredness and sin. We are to do the will of the Father, not our own will if our will is contrary to the Father’s will.

Human limitations of Jesus

Luke 2:52—He grew in grace and wisdom John 4:6—He got weary Matthew 21:18—He got hungry John 19:28—He got thirsty Luke 22:15—He felt pain “suffered” I Cor 15:3—He died Jesus did no miracles before His baptism with the Holy Spirit

Luke 3:22—The baptism of Jesus with the Spirit John 2:11 - After his baptism - “This beginning of miracles” John 4:54 - “second miracle” His baptism was accompanied by the descent of the Holy Spirit as a dove which abode upon him continually. After his baptism we read: Luke 4:1—Jesus returns full of the Holy Ghost. Why did Jesus go into the wilderness? He was led of the Spirit. Luke 4:14-21—

v. 14—Jesus returns in the power of the Spirit v. 18—The Spirit of the Lord was upon Him and He preached the Gospel by the Spirit. He healed by the Spirit. He preached deliverance by the Spirit. A Question. Did Jesus do His miracles through His deity power?

Matthew 12:28—Jesus cast out devils by the Spirit of God Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

“Jesus of Nazareth” – emphasizing his true humanity – not his deity “a man” - emphasizing his true humanity - not his deity He was approved of God by: Acts 10:36-39: The word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all:) 37 That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; 38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

“Jesus” – emphasizes his humanity – the name given him at his human birth. “Christ” – “the anointed one” – a title for the Messiah “he is Lord of all” – speaking of His deity ou-to,j evstin pa,ntwn ku,rioj( Notice the mention of the Baptism – Jesus did not function as the Messiah prior to His baptism.

He was the Son of God from eternity. He retained His deity. He became truly man. His baptism was for his humanity, not for his deity. At the baptism, the Holy Spirit anointed him for ministry and His role as Messiah. Note: Jesus did not limit his activity strictly to a Spirit-led humanity. There are times when He used His deity power. We must establish these times (as well as when he operated in the human) by Scripture, not logic or systematic theological conclusions, if such logic or conclusions contradict the clear teaching of Scripture.

In forgiving sin, Jesus exercised deity prerogatives. Jesus does not tell us to forgive sins. We can declare a person’s sins forgiven only if they have met the conditions of Scripture. This is what Jesus meant when he said to Peter, “He whose sins you remit are remitted and he whose sins you retain are retained.” (John 20:23). Jesus gave eternal life to those that believed in him. This is undoubtedly a divine action. In his substitutionary sacrifice his deity was operative. The issue is not did Jesus ever use his Deity power. Of course he did! The issue is when did Jesus use his deity power and when did he operate in his humanity through the power of the Holy Spirit? Jesus did not use His deity in any aspect of his human life that He expects us to imitate. Jesus did exercise deity power. But He choose to limit the use of his deity powers to those areas of Messianic ministry and authority we are not expected to imitate. DEATH & RESURRECTION - Again I don't have much time to spend on this, but these are probably two of the greatest studied aspects of Christ. I do want to make mention of three things

Jesus Really Died - he didn't swoon, he didn't faint, he didn't pass out - HE WAS DEAD!!! REALLY DEAD!!! No heartbeat, no breath, no pulse, clinically absolutly dead. Jesus Really Rose AGAIN!!! That enemy of death met it's match that third day as Jesus who was dead, wrapped in clothes laying in a tomb. But suddenly an energizing something went through that fleshly body and a gasp of air, eyes opening, a sitting up, however it happened what once was dead was now alive. The Songwriter couldn't contain his joy no doubt when he penned those words, "UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE, WITH A MIGHTY TRIUMPH ORE HIS FOES. HE AROSE A VICTOR FROM THE DARK DOMAIN AND HE LIVES FOREVER WITH HIS SAINTS TO REIGN. HE AROSE, HE AROSE, HALLELUJAH CHRIST AROSE.