Together, we have faith

April 24, 2025
Week #16 — Day 5
Jesus Exalted in His Session
Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?
A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in
ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.
1 Cor. 15:4; Mark 16:19; Eph. 1:20; Acts 1:11; Acts 17:31.
“that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”
“So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.”
“that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places”
“After Christ’s work on earth, He took His seat at “the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). Jesus is not simply “away.” He is symbolically on a throne in a real place doing real work. In His rule Christ directs all things to the best ends. He is making His enemies His footstool (Ps. 110:1), frustrating evil and executing preliminary justice (10:2). And He is gathering a church and receiving our praise as we await His return.”
Excerpt From
Glorifying and Enjoying God: 52 Devotions through the Westminster Shorter Catechism (Boekestein & Cruse & Miller)
Jesus exalted in his session — “in sitting at the right hand of God the Father.” “The session does not make Christ king. Rather, it represents the public inauguration of Christ in his kingly glory. Upon being seated in heaven, the administration of his reign and rule was formally committed to Christ. . . . Jesus continues to exercise kingly rule, priestly intercession, and prophetical speech, but the work of satisfaction, upon which all the rest is based, has been accomplished.” (DeYoung, Daily Doctrine) While the modern church rarely uses the “session” of Christ to speak of his present status and authority, we do make reference to at least three things Jesus does for us now in his “session.”
Jesus prays for us. He intercedes for us before the Father, having satisfied the Judge of the earth with his own sacrifice for our sins. He pleads our case and our cause. He makes a pathway to God for us to come to him at any time, in any place and in every situation. Jesus also rules over us. He is gathering his Church through the ages and frustrates his enemies and executes preliminary justice (READ Psalm 110). Jesus cares for us by preparing “a place for us” with him in glory. He is like a mother hen gathering her chicks under her wings. We worship this all-seeing and all-caring resurrected Christ seated at the right hand of God the Father.
A Puritan Prayer —
“O DIVINE REDEEMER,
Great was thy goodness
in undertaking my redemption,
in consenting to be made sin for me,
in conquering all my foes;
Great was thy strength
in enduring the extremities of divine wrath,
in taking away the load of my iniquities;
Great was thy love
in manifesting thyself alive,
in showing thy sacred wounds,
that every fear might vanish, and every doubt be removed;
Great was thy mercy
in ascending to heaven
in being crowned and enthroned
there to intercede for me,
there to succour me in temptation,
there to open the eternal book,
there to receive me finally to thyself;
Great was thy wisdom
in devising this means of salvation;
Bathe my soul in rich consolations of thy resurrection life;
Great was thy grace
in commanding me to come hand in hand with thee to the Father,
to be knit to him eternally,
to discover in him my rest,
to find in him my peace,
to behold his glory,
to honour him who is alone worthy;
in giving me the Spirit as teacher, guide, power, that
I may live repenting of sin,
conquer Satan,
find victory in life.
When thou art absent all sorrows are here
When thou art present all blessings are mine.”
Excerpt From
The Valley of Vision
Edited by Arthur Bennett