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The Resurrected Jesus
The intent and purpose of this message is to introduce to you the Resurrected Jesus. I would like also to provide some graphic insight into the power and majesty of our Lord Jesus Christ.
There are two poignant questions that I would like to present to you. What is Jesus now? Who is Jesus now?
It is interesting to notice that many believers, when they think of Jesus Christ, have as their reference point the Jesus of the four Gospels. They have in their minds the certain Jesus that was born in a manger in the town of Bethlehem. They may see the Jesus that walked upon the sea and along the shores of Galilee.
You may see the Jesus that raised Lazarus from the dead. You may see the Jesus that cast seven devils out of Mary Magdalene. You may even think that Jesus is still from that seemingly insignificant Roman garrison town of Nazareth.
Well, dear friend, I have some potentially disturbing news for you. The Jesus of the Gospels who did the afore mentioned miracles no longer exists. He died on a Roman cross on Golgotha's hill. He was buried in a borrowed tomb. He literally died and is no more. Jesus of Nazareth no longer lives (Acts 4:10-12). He ceases to exist altogether.
You may say to yourself: Who have I been worshipping on Sunday mornings then? Who is that person found as the subject of countless paintings and effigies around the world? That person died and no longer exists.
Do you see it dear saint? Do you see where many times in our minds, thoughts and even in our prayers where our emphasis has been. It has been on a Jesus that no longer exists. The image in many believer's minds as they pray, as they sing worship songs and as they meditate on Jesus, is that of the Jesus walking the shores of Galilee. It is the Jesus before the cross. It is Jesus the son of Mary and the step-son of Joseph the carpenter. We even see Jesus the Jewish individual.
This Jesus died. Someone else rose from the dead. A different person altogether arose. A New Creature came out of that grave. He is no longer from Nazareth. He is no longer the son of Mary. He is no longer Jewish. He is no longer affiliated with earth in those ways.
Who is He then? What is He?
Jesus says these things about Himself in Revelation 1:18: "I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen and have the keys of Hell and of death." This provides some insight into this "New" Jesus. He died and is now alive forevermore. We know who and what died from the accounts in the Gospels, but Who and What is this that is now alive forevermore? He is Jesus the Resurrected One.
John the Devine saw the following in Revelation 1:13-16: "One like unto the Son of man clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as a flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And He had in His righthand seven stars: and out of His mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength."
John also says this about the "New" Jesus in Revelation 19:11-14,16: "And I saw Heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns and He had a name written, that no man knew but Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called the Word of God...And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS".
This "New" Jesus is a far cry from that familiar "babe" in a manger. The Apostle Paul boldly states by the Holy Ghost in the book of Second Corinthians 5:16: "...though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more". What does this ominous statement mean: "now henceforth know we Him no more"? It means that the man of Galilee no longer exists as we knew Him. Whatever and Whoever He was in the flesh for 33.5 years, He is no longer. Even as Paul says about anyone in Christ in verse 17 of chapter 5, this specifically also refers to Christ: "Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new". He is the "firstborn among many brethren" as Romans 8:29 says.
The Firstborn
The "Firstborn" is one of Jesus' new titles. What does this mean? Romans 8:29 calls Him the "firstborn among many brethren". Colossians 1:15 says that He is "the firstborn of every creature". This refers to the firstborn of every "new" creature as mentioned in Second Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new". This "new" creature is "the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" as mentioned in Ephesians 4:24. A new creature after God, not after man or human origins. Jesus Christ is now the Firstborn. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is called in Hebrews 12:23 the "church of the Firstborn" of which Jesus is the Head (Ephesians 1:22, Colossians 1:18). He is the first to have risen from the dead. All after Him are made like him. If He died, we died. If He arose, we arose (Romans 6:1-11). Since He arose first, then He would be considered the Firstborn. He was born again after overcoming the sinful satanic nature that caused his death. He laid down his life and took it up again ( John 10:15-18). After three days in the grave and spiritual death he was born again with a new spirit and a new nature. He was the first, but not the last. Colossians 2:15 says that Jesus "having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it". This was for you and for me.
The Resurrected Jesus
You see my dear friend, Jesus is very much alive and well. One man died and another rose. Jesus of Nazareth died and Jesus of Heaven arose. We worship a resurrected Jesus. One that shall return with 10,000 of His saints (Jude 1:14). One that has a sword coming out of His mouth that shall smite the nations and shall rule them with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15). This resurrected Jesus is the Person we find in Revelation 5: 12-14: "Worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever".
This is THE Lord Jesus Christ. Head of the body of Christ. Firstborn from the dead. Lamb of God. Our Redeemer. I pray you see Him with new eyes. He is alive forever more and worthy to be praised.
