Finished Work of the Cross
The global Christian community deservedly celebrates, honors, remembers, commemorates, and draws strength and power from the finished work of Jesus (our Lord and Savior) on the Cross, through His shed blood and broken body and sinless sacrifice, [and] all that [it] represents to us: redemption, propitiation, atonement, and the opportunity for all who believe in His name for repentance, salvation, justification, sanctification, and eternal life.
This historic event marked the end of His earthly ministry some 2,000 years ago. But, not all Christians realize or appreciate that Jesus began a new phase of His ministry when He ascended back into Heaven in Acts 1:6–12.
According to Scripture, Jesus was busy about His Father's business in Heaven before He came to Earth (Genesis 1:26–27; Acts 2:34–43; Colossians 1:15–20; Philippians 2:5–11), and He has other work that He is busily engaged in in Heaven now, where He is seated at the right hand of God, after He successfully completed His previous mission and assignment on Earth and ascended back to Heaven to be with the Father.
Ministry of Jesus in Heaven
Today, Jesus serves as our high priest, mediator, and advocate, among other ongoing responsibilities. He is also our heavenly intercessor (Hebrews 7:25) and is preparing a place for us to dwell eternally with Him (John 14:1–3) in the Father's house (Heaven).
In the future, as both the seed of David and the Son of God, He will open the scroll and its seven seals in Heaven at the appointed time, and return to Earth as King of kings and Lord of lords, where He will reign for a thousand years (Psalm 89:35–36, 132:11; Isaiah 9:6–7; Jeremiah 23:5; Matthew 1:1–17, 22:42; Luke 2:1–3:38; John 7:42; Romans 1:1–4; 1 Corinthians 15:12–58; Galatians 4:4–5; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 2 Timothy 2:8–12; Revelation 5:1–11:19, 12:1–22:21, 20:4–6). (Photo via Pixabay)
The following Scriptures highlight these important roles that Jesus is, and has been, fulfilling in Heaven ever since His ascension, each of which benefits us as saints in significant ways. These crucial roles are addressed below in the order of high priest, mediator, and advocate.
Jesus, Our High Priest and Mediator
Hebrews 4:14–16 (NIV) says, "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into Heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin. Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
This confidence must not be in the flesh, but in Christ alone. And this confidence, when mixed with faith, a knowledge of God's nature and character, and a personal relationship with God, results in a healthy, realistic expectation toward God. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) states, "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." Because of Christ, who showed us the Father and is seated at His right hand, we can find courage and confidence to come before Him in the courts of Heaven to plead our case and face our accuser(s).
Much additional information and detail about Christ's role as our eternal High Priest is found in Hebrews 8:1–10:25. There, the priesthood of Christ in Heaven, functioning in the lineage and order of Melchizedek, is compared and contrasted to the earthly priesthood of those functioning in the lineage and order of Aaron and Levi. The conclusion is that Christ's priesthood is superior in every way.
And, in case you are wondering what this heavenly venue looks like, Hebrews 12:22–24 (NLT) describes it in some detail:
"No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. You have come to the assembly of God's firstborn children, whose names are written in Heaven. You have come to God Himself, who is the judge over all things. You have come to the spirits of the righteous ones in Heaven who have now been made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel."
The blood of Jesus speaks on our behalf in Heaven from the mercy seat.
Jesus, Our Advocate
According to Merriam-Webster, the word "advocate," in a legal sense, is defined as "one who pleads the cause of another"; "specifically: one who pleads the cause of another before a tribunal or judicial court."
Jesus is our legal representative in Heaven, and 1 John 1:5–2:2 (NKJV) notes: "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. (Photo via Wallpaper Flare)
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
"My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world."
As our advocate, Jesus serves as our legal counsel and defense attorney in the courts of Heaven and represents us against satan's accusations and charges. So, let the saints of God be encouraged to make appearances in this heavenly court system to get help with their earthly cases. Jesus' track record is perfect, and He has never lost a case. So as good as Perry Mason, Ben Matlock, Barnaby Jones, Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. and Jr., Learned Hand, William Blackstone, and other barristers, attorneys, lawyers, judges, and law firms on Earth (both real and fictional) may be... you are in the best hands possible!
In closing, Isaiah 43:25–26 (NKJV) says, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins. Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted." God invites you to find freedom, justice, and mercy in the courts of Heaven through Jesus, your advocate, and Father God, the Supreme Judge.
(This article is an excerpt from Dr. Bruce Cook's new book, Prayers for Cleansing Ancestral Bloodlines in the Courts of Heaven, Second Edition.)
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Bruce Cook, Ph.D.
The Courts of Heaven
Email: Brucecook77@gmail.com
Website: thecourtsofheaven.org
Dr. Bruce Cook is a global influencer, apostolic teacher, thought leader, Kingdom ambassador, and trusted voice of revelation in the Body of Christ. He serves as a hub Leader and territorial director for Robert Henderson Ministries. Bruce consults, collaborates with, advises, equips, mentors, disciples, inspires, empowers, and commissions other leaders in the Church and the marketplace. He is president of The Courts of Heaven and Venture Advisers, Inc. Bruce and his wife Caroline live in the scenic Pacific Northwest region in the Puget Sound area. Bruce has written a number of Christian books which are available on Amazon and from Christian e-tailers and bookstores.
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