Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard
Grace and Peace Episode 25
Presbyterian Church of Easton
March 2, 2021
Grace and Peace Episode 25
Presbyterian Church of Easton
March 2, 2021
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:2
Heidelberg Catechism
50Q. Why the next words: “and is seated at the right hand of God”?
A. Because Christ ascended to heaven to show there that he is head of his church, the one through whom the Father rules all things.
A. Because Christ ascended to heaven to show there that he is head of his church, the one through whom the Father rules all things.
51Q. How does this glory of Christ our head benefit us?
A. First, through his Holy Spirit he pours out gifts from heaven upon us his members. Second, by his power, he defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies.
A. First, through his Holy Spirit he pours out gifts from heaven upon us his members. Second, by his power, he defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies.
52Q. How does Christ’s return “to judge the living and the dead” comfort you?
A. In all distress and persecution, with uplifted head, I confidently await the very judge who has already offered himself to the judgment of God in my place and removed the whole curse from me. Christ will cast all his enemies and mine into everlasting condemnation but will take me and all his chosen ones to himself into the joy and glory of heaven.
A. In all distress and persecution, with uplifted head, I confidently await the very judge who has already offered himself to the judgment of God in my place and removed the whole curse from me. Christ will cast all his enemies and mine into everlasting condemnation but will take me and all his chosen ones to himself into the joy and glory of heaven.
According to John Calvin, when Jesus held the broken bread and the cup at the last supper and said, “this is my body and this is my blood” he was referring not to the bread and wine but to himself, the one holding the elements. Jesus meant, literally, that when you eat this bread and drink from this cup you will see him, in his resurrected, flesh and blood, body.
Now, where is Jesus' flesh and blood body right now? It is in heaven sitting at the right hand of God. How can we see Jesus' body? The only way, according to Calvin, is if we too are in heaven with him. The communion table is the intersection of heaven and earth. Whenever we come around the communion table we ascend into heaven before Jesus who is sitting at the right hand of God and is seated at the head of the table. This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to lift our hearts to heaven when we eat and the bread and wine of communion. That's why we say, “Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.”
So what should our response be to all this? When we spiritually ascend to heaven for a dinner party with our Lord Jesus what should we then do? Jesus told us what to do just before he ascended to heaven. Here is what he said.
Now, where is Jesus' flesh and blood body right now? It is in heaven sitting at the right hand of God. How can we see Jesus' body? The only way, according to Calvin, is if we too are in heaven with him. The communion table is the intersection of heaven and earth. Whenever we come around the communion table we ascend into heaven before Jesus who is sitting at the right hand of God and is seated at the head of the table. This is the ministry of the Holy Spirit to lift our hearts to heaven when we eat and the bread and wine of communion. That's why we say, “Lift up your hearts. We lift them up to the Lord.”
So what should our response be to all this? When we spiritually ascend to heaven for a dinner party with our Lord Jesus what should we then do? Jesus told us what to do just before he ascended to heaven. Here is what he said.
Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." 9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.”
Jesus wants us to be witnesses. We have been empowered as witnesses. We are to tell the people we know and people we may meet that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead and now lives in heaven at the right hand of God. Let’s pray.
Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you and praise you for lifting us up into your presence at the communion table. We praise you for the promise of our own resurrection and eternal life. We wait for your coming again. This we pray in your glorious name. Amen.
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