Christ's Redemptive Work: From Suffering to Exaltation

Devotional

Day 1: The Joy of Redemption

The Apostles' Creed transitions abruptly from Jesus' birth to His suffering, emphasizing the centrality of His redemptive work. This shift highlights that His life of perfect obedience was essential for His sacrificial death, which was not a tragic end but a joyous fulfillment of His destiny to redeem humanity. This underscores the joy of the Gospel, where Jesus was born to die for our redemption. The joy of redemption is not just a theological concept but a lived reality that transforms our understanding of suffering and sacrifice. Jesus' life and death are a testament to the profound love and purpose that God has for humanity, inviting us to embrace this joy in our own lives. [02:09]

Isaiah 53:10-11 (ESV): "Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities."

Reflection: How can you embrace the joy of redemption in your daily life, especially in moments of suffering or sacrifice?

Day 2: Historical Grounding of the Gospel

The mention of Pontius Pilate in the Apostles' Creed places Jesus' suffering within the realm of world history, countering attempts to dehistoricize the Gospel. This historical grounding is crucial, especially in an era where Neo-Gnosticism seeks to detach the Gospel from its historical roots. By situating Jesus' life and work in a specific historical context, the Creed emphasizes the reality of His existence and the tangible impact of His actions. This historical perspective invites believers to engage with their faith not as a set of abstract ideas but as a lived experience rooted in the real world. [04:24]

Luke 3:1-2 (ESV): "In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness."

Reflection: How does understanding the historical context of Jesus' life and work deepen your faith and influence your daily actions?

Day 3: The Depth of Jesus' Sacrifice

Jesus' crucifixion, a Roman method of execution, signifies His role as the ultimate scapegoat, bearing the curse of the law outside the camp. This fulfills both the sacrificial lamb and the scapegoat roles, highlighting the depth of His sacrifice and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies. The crucifixion is not merely a historical event but a profound spiritual reality that reveals the extent of God's love and justice. By understanding the depth of Jesus' sacrifice, believers are called to reflect on the cost of their redemption and the transformative power of His love. [11:16]

Hebrews 13:11-13 (ESV): "For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured."

Reflection: In what ways can you honor the depth of Jesus' sacrifice in your interactions with others today?

Day 4: The Hope of Resurrection

The resurrection is central to our faith, as Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15. Without it, our faith is futile, and we remain in our sins. The resurrection is not just a vindication of Christ but a promise of our own resurrection and justification, affirming the hope and victory we have in Christ. This hope is not a distant dream but a present reality that empowers believers to live with confidence and purpose. The resurrection assures us that death is not the end, and it invites us to live in the light of eternity, with a focus on the things that truly matter. [20:16]

1 Peter 1:3-5 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

Reflection: How does the hope of resurrection influence your perspective on challenges and opportunities you face today?

Day 5: Christ's Ongoing Intercession

The ascension marks the transition from humiliation to exaltation, where Christ is enthroned as King and serves as our High Priest, interceding for us continually. This ongoing intercession assures us of His presence and advocacy, preparing a place for us and promising His return to judge the living and the dead. The knowledge that Christ is interceding for us provides comfort and strength, reminding us that we are never alone in our struggles. His role as High Priest invites us to approach God with confidence, knowing that we have an advocate who understands our weaknesses and is committed to our ultimate good. [25:58]

Hebrews 7:24-25 (ESV): "But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need to rely more on Christ's intercession and advocacy today?

Sermon Summary

In our exploration of the Apostles' Creed, we delve into the profound truths encapsulated in the work of Christ. The Creed succinctly moves from the birth of Jesus to His suffering under Pontius Pilate, highlighting the pivotal role of His life and death in our redemption. This abrupt transition underscores the significance of His suffering, not as a tragic end but as a joyous fulfillment of His destiny to redeem humanity. The mention of Pontius Pilate situates Jesus' suffering within the realm of world history, countering any attempts to dehistoricize the Gospel. This historical grounding is crucial, especially in an era where Neo-Gnosticism seeks to detach the Gospel from its historical roots.

The crucifixion, a Roman method of execution, signifies Jesus' role as the ultimate scapegoat, bearing the curse of the law outside the camp, fulfilling both the sacrificial lamb and the scapegoat roles. His burial, contrary to the fate of common criminals, marks the beginning of His exaltation, fulfilling the prophecy of His grave with the rich. The phrase "He descended into hell" has sparked various interpretations, but it emphasizes the completeness of His suffering and victory over death.

The resurrection is central to our faith, as Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15. Without it, our faith is futile, and we remain in our sins. The resurrection is not just a vindication of Christ but a promise of our own resurrection and justification. The ascension follows, marking the transition from humiliation to exaltation, where Christ is enthroned as King and serves as our High Priest, interceding for us continually. The Creed concludes with the promise of His return to judge the living and the dead, affirming His roles as King, Priest, and Judge.

Key Takeaways

1. Gnosticism seeks to detach the Gospel from its historical roots, emphasizing the reality of Jesus' life and work. [04:24]
3. Jesus' crucifixion, a Roman method of execution, signifies His role as the ultimate scapegoat, bearing the curse of the law outside the camp. This fulfills both the sacrificial lamb and the scapegoat roles, highlighting the depth of His sacrifice and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies.

4. The resurrection is central to our faith, as Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15. Without it, our faith is futile, and we remain in our sins. The resurrection is not just a vindication of Christ but a promise of our own resurrection and justification, affirming the hope and victory we have in Christ.

5. The ascension marks the transition from humiliation to exaltation, where Christ is enthroned as King and serves as our High Priest, interceding for us continually. This ongoing intercession assures us of His presence and advocacy, preparing a place for us and promising His return to judge the living and the dead.

** [04:24]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - Overview of Christ's Work
[01:38] - Suffering Under Pontius Pilate
[03:19] - The Joy of Redemption
[05:11] - Historical Context and Neo-Gnosticism
[06:31] - Human and Divine Elements in Crucifixion
[09:25] - The Scapegoat and Outer Darkness
[11:16] - Significance of Crucifixion
[14:47] - Burial and Exaltation
[17:16] - Descent into Hell
[19:48] - Importance of Resurrection
[22:00] - Implications of Resurrection
[24:21] - Ascension and Exaltation
[25:58] - Christ as High Priest
[26:55] - Promise of His Return

Sermon Clips

"I ask myself, first of all why does the creed jump so abruptly from a confession of the birth of Jesus immediately to the passion of Christ? As if nothing happened between birth and death. And well, of course we know that the New Testament and the early church and the creeds of the church place great importance on the life of Jesus. It's not simple the death of Jesus that redeems, but His life of perfect obedience is a prerequisite for the sacrifice and offering that He makes as an atonement for us on the cross." [00:01:54]

"But we have to say here that we do have this abrupt move from birth to suffering. But the confession of Christ's suffering is not a negative thing in the early church. It's part of the joy of the Gospel. Did you ever wonder for example why we call Good Friday, Good Friday? I mean, it's blackest day of the history in the world from one perspective, and yet from another perspective it is the day of redemption and so there is a sense in which the creed is indicating to us something joyous, that there is a link from birth to death." [00:02:54]

"That Jesus was in fact born to die. Not as a tragic hero, not as one Who dies in disillusionment, not as one Who is, who is like a Buddhist resigned to the inevitability of suffering and the tragic. But His death is His destiny for us, for our redemption. But the more puzzling question to me is not why the creed should mention the suffering of Jesus because we know it's through suffering, through the Via Dolorosa that our redemption is secure." [00:03:19]

"By saying that He suffered under Pontius Pilate, immediately puts the suffering and the passion of Jesus into the arena of world history. And some maintain that the reason why the allusion to a well-known, secular person was to stop the mouths of the Gnostics and the docetists, who had an attempt to spiritualize the significance of Jesus and divorce the work of Christ from the arena of world history." [00:04:24]

"And since Pilate is not simple a Jewish figure, but he is a known secular figure according to the annals of world history, this indicates the historical foundation to the work of Jesus. Now, that is particularly important in today's theological atmosphere because some historians have said that we are living in the strongest period of Neo-Gnosticism since the second century. All kinds of attempts have been made in modern theology to dehistoricize the Gospel, to rip it out of the context in history and put it in some existential realm or supra-temporal realm, what Rudolph Bultmann calls a theology of timelessness." [00:05:11]

"Jesus is killed not by the Jews; He is taken by the Jews to the Romans. The Romans try to give Him back, Herod's in town, they say 'Hey, He's under -- He's a Galilean, He's under Herod's authority,' and so they, Pilate shuffles Him back to Herod, Herod shuffles Him back to Pilate, and the final judgment comes by Gentiles. And even the means of death, the means of execution is not a Jewish means. He suffered under Pontius Pilate -- was crucified." [00:11:16]

"The Jewish method of capital punishment was through stoning, not through crucifixion. Paul makes enormous mileage out of the fact of the means of Jesus' death in the book of Galatians. Calling attention to the fact that under the Old Testament legislation there were laws of purification and laws of defilement. And, the formula in the Old Testament for the sanctions of the law, that were positive and negative were the positive benefits for those who kept the law were called what? Blessings, and the negative punishment for breaking a law was called what? Curses, and to be cursed meant to be cut off from the presence of God." [00:11:26]

"Jesus is killed not by the Jews; He is taken by the Jews to the Romans. The Romans try to give Him back, Herod's in town, they say 'Hey, He's under -- He's a Galilean, He's under Herod's authority,' and so they, Pilate shuffles Him back to Herod, Herod shuffles Him back to Pilate, and the final judgment comes by Gentiles. And even the means of death, the means of execution is not a Jewish means. He suffered under Pontius Pilate -- was crucified." [00:11:16]

"Paul makes enormous mileage out of the fact of the means of Jesus' death in the book of Galatians. Calling attention to the fact that under the Old Testament legislation there were laws of purification and laws of defilement. And, the formula in the Old Testament for the sanctions of the law, that were positive and negative were the positive benefits for those who kept the law were called what? Blessings, and the negative punishment for breaking a law was called what? Curses, and to be cursed meant to be cut off from the presence of God." [00:11:26]

"Now, Deuteronomy tells us cursed is anyone who hangs upon the tree. And Paul makes a big deal out of the fact that the mode Jesus' death was by crucifixion, which is under the ban, under the curse of the Old Testament system. It's a Gentile form of death. And so for Jesus to take all of the curse that is the penalty for disobeying the law of the Old Testament, He must not only offer His blood like the paschal lamb, but He also must fulfill the role of the scapegoat, and be delivered to the Gentiles -- die outside the camp, not only outside of Israel at the hands of Pilate and of Gentiles, but you would think if Jesus is going to fulfill the role of the lamb without blemish, where would you expect Him to die?" [00:12:17]

"Why is the resurrection so important to Christianity? Well, let me ask it another way: Is it conceivable, remotely conceivable, that we could have a meaningful Christian faith apart from resurrection? Again, in our day there are theologians who are arguing that the resurrection that as a historical event is not necessary for a meaningful Christian faith. Paul of course had a different view, the whole fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians argues in what we would call, 'Ad Hominum' fashion." [00:19:48]

"Paul of course had a different view, the whole fifteenth chapter of 1 Corinthians argues in what we would call, 'Ad Hominum' fashion. He's faced with the problem in the Corinthian community that some people were denying the reality of resurrection. And so what Paul does masterfully in 1 Corinthians 15 is two things, in the first place, he gives us a detailed argument for the resurrection based upon the fulfillment of Scripture, the eyewitness testimony of the apostles, of the 500 people, and of his own eyewitness experience." [00:20:16]

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