Highly Exalted

Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens: Hebrews 8:1

Jesus is now left alone. Peter had followed him into the courtyard at a distance. He had come a little too self-sufficient. Overwhelmed by the enormity of the task, he shrinked back from following Christ. Christ's prediction that he would deny Him was confirmed as the rooster crowed that third time and Peter looked across the courtyard into the eyes of Christ. It was just too much for Peter. He wasn't ready and now he knew it. Peter left the courtyard, crying bitterly. And now Jesus is left alone with those who hated Him.

After a difficult and unrestful night of mockery and beating by the guards, he is brought at daybreak before a high council. All the leaders of the people are assembled, including the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They ask Him a direct question, "Let's not beat around the bush, tell us if you are the Messiah."

What is disturbing is how far away from godliness and holiness and righteousness ALL THE LEADERS OF THE PEOPLE are! These are God's chosen people. And ALL THE LEADERS OF THE PEOPLE are so far away from God's will that they aren't asking a question that if they get the answer they will respond appropriately. No! They are asking a question because they have already determined that He is not.

His life and His ministry lined up with what is taught in the Scriptures. And with not only the leading priests, but also the teachers of religious law, they could not see that He indeed was the Messiah.

It is frightening to think that some of us become so arrogant in what we know about God and the things of God that we've got all the answers. We ask questions, not because we truly want to probe deeper, but to prove what we already know. What high-handed arrogance! I dare say that some of us would tell God Himself that He is wrong. Some of us feel we have studied some prophecies and understand some doctrines that we go as far as saying what God cannot do!

God is in their midst! And they are treating Him as if he is some seditious criminal. He is standing before them, not by force, but by choice (no man takes my life).

Jesus' reply is to say, "If I tell you, you wont' believe me. And if I ask you a question, you won't answer." Jesus says, you guys already have your minds made up about who I am not. And nothing I say will convince you differently. It wasn't that Jesus was afraid to answer them. He knew that the answer wouldn't do them any good. But He did give them something to put somewhere in their minds to call to remembrance at a future date. He said, "The time is soon coming when I, the Son of Man, will be sitting at God's right hand in the place of power."

That was enough for them. It was an admission that He was the Son of God. And if He wasn't, then it was blasphemy. Unfortunately for them, He was the Son of God. Correction: He IS the Son of God.

Christ stands alone, bruised from the beatings of the guards, despised by the leaders and teachers of religious law, and rejected of his people. What does it look like to you? If you can't be honest, I will: it doesn't look very good. It doesn't look good at all. He never had much help. But it appears that now all of His help is gone. It doesn't look good. But Christ does not seem to be shaken up about it. He calmly affirms the truth that the teachers of religious law came to and says, "You are right in saying that I am [the Son of God]."

We get a window in the the faith of Christ. We know that He didn't make a move while He lived on earth without receiving instructions from the Father. And I see a faith that knows that when every earthly help is gone, you're not alone. The circumstances of life can turn in ways that you never expected. And people who you thought were in your corner will turn on you and leave you ALL BY YOURSELF. But look at Christ standing there before folk who hate him and learn a lesson: don't ever forget that you are God's child even when other folk do.

Christ remembered at His baptism that God said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." And he never forgot it. You and I need to remember John 1:12 "But as many as received him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name." And you need never forget that you are God's child.

I trust in God, I know He cares for me,
On mountain bleak or on the stormy sea;
Tho' billows roll, He keeps my soul,
My heavn'ly Father watches over me.

Though you may not see how God will deliver you out of your affliction, know that He will.

Every member of that high council now sleeps in the dust. Hebrews 8 tells me that the Christ they crucified is NOT sleeping in the dust. Well where is He? Run over to Hebrew 8 and it'll tell you: "We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens:"

They are not even aware of it, but THEY WILL know. The words that He spoke to them will come back to them with great force and clarity. In John 5:28-29 Jesus says, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice. And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."

Trust in God. Be faithful to Him. And though circumstances may say that you're going to lose, remember that you're His child. As E.E. Cleveland would say, "in the absence of evidence, yea, even in the face of contrary evidence" let your faith take hold of the fact that you are God's child. I don't know how. And I don't know when. But I do know THAT He will exalt you . . . in due season. Just look at Jesus. In Luke 22, He's battered and bruised. In Hebrews 8, He's sitting in the place of power (the right hand) of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.