A Man in Heaven for us
John 14:1-4
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14:1)
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2)
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:3)
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. (John 14:4)
The Timekeeper
  We have before us a message in time, in fact, in the fullness of time, and the message is from the timekeeper. It is a message for time, but it is also a message for eternity where we have the absence of time. Time and eternity are only linked by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. In the above section of the Gospel of John in Chapter 14, the Lord of glory is speaking to His disciples, He is presenting to them a word on the present In my Father’s house. He also is giving them a prophetic message in these words, I go and prepare. The divine nature of the Son of God has never changed. He has always inhabited eternity, the creation was given to magnify the eternity that it sprang from, and this eternity, and creation, is maintained and controlled by the Lord Jesus Christ. In the realm of time, He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and this is the man, Christ Jesus, in heaven for us. In the days of His flesh, He knew exactly what His path would be, and His path would take Him to the cross of Golgotha. He went to the cross to fulfill the will of the Father, and this will was known to Him before the foundations of the earth.
For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (Hebrews 10:1)
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. (Hebrews 10:2)
But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. (Hebrews 10:3)
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4)
Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: (Hebrews 10:5)
In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. (Hebrews 10:6)
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. (Hebrews 10:7)
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; (Hebrews 10:8)
Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. (Hebrews 10:9)
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10)
The Body Prepared Before Time
  Notice in verse 10, it is the offering of the body of Jesus Christ, then compare this statement with verse 5. In this verse we see a body prepared for Him before time began in the counsels of God. This was not a body tainted by Adam or his sin. This was a divine body for a divine sacrifice. This body had neither spot nor blemish in this world. He came into the world, and yet He was above the world.
The First Divine Law — The Law of Sin and Death
  Verse 9 states, Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. It is the Lord of glory that taketh away the first. From the comparison of verse 10 with verse 5, ask yourself, Is this speaking of the removal of the law, or is it the removal of Adam? We realize that the law is satisfied in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ, but the law was not taken out of the way, in fact, the law was established in the life of Christ, and was completed in the death of Christ. It was Adam who brought sin into the world, and death by sin. Adam in his disobedience brought forth the first divine law given to man. This was The Law of Sin and Death, and because of Adam’s sin not only was the world shrouded by sin, but sin brought death into the world. This was because of the transgression of Adam, and so, we have with us today, the law of sin and death. Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. (Romans 5:20) God presented the law through Moses, and this law would reveal the true heart of man and show man his fallen state before an Almighty God. The law only magnifies the offenses of man against God because of man’s condition. The law of sin and death preceded the law of Moses. Every man dies because of sin, the issue at hand is not whether or not sin is committed, but that sin is within mankind. Sin has a residence in man. Man is controlled by sin, and not the law of God. It is not action that defines sin, but sin is defined because it resides in all men. For if man was controlled by the law of God we would live in a righteous world. The law teaches man that man has failed and transgressed against the Almighty God. The law became a teacher, or a school master, to show man his vile condition under sin. There was, and there is, no appeasing sin, for sin working in me brings forth death.
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. (Romans 7:23)
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? (Romans 7:24)
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:25)
  The law of sin and death, therefore, came first (before the law of Moses), and Christ took sin out of the way and nailed it to His cross. The Son of God, being the pure and holy sacrifice, pleased the Father in every way. The Father would say of His Son, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (Matthew 3:17)
Body Prepared — Given — Satisfied — Sacrificed
  In Hebrews Chapter 10, verse 5 there is a body prepared. In Hebrews Chapter 10, verse 10, there is a body given, and in Matthew 3:17 this body pleased the Father in every way for there was no blemish without or within our precious divine Savior, Jesus Christ. This sacrifice was well pleasing to God the Father as we read of that sacrifice in Ephesians 5:2. And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. God the Father announced this divine body given at the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ through an innumerable company from heaven at His birth. This is not only a statement from God, but it is a divine decree given by God that this One would be the Savior, Christ the Lord. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. (Luke 2:11) There has been no other being, whether angels or man, who has these credentials from God Himself. The statement is not to give comfort, but to take away the burden of our guilt, and deliver us righteous before an Almighty God through this Savior, Jesus Christ. In Psalm 2, verse 7, I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee, in this psalm we are prophetically looking forward to the fullness of time to the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ; in Luke’s gospel we see this prophecy fulfilled in the fullness of time. But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law. (Galatians 4:4)
  The promise given to Abraham, and the promise given to Eve was that there would be a seed, and this would be a heavenly seed, who would come forth to remove the curse of sin and death. Christ was the promised seed. He did not spring from the earth but came from heaven. Under the Levitical law He came to be the burnt offering for God, and the sin offering for man so that man could approach God in newness of life in Jesus Christ. All seven of the Levitical offerings speak of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice that in Leviticus, Chapter 1 the burnt offering comes first. Also notice that it is called a sweet savour to God, compare that with Ephesians 5:2. The reason that the burnt offering is given first is God must be completely satisfied before He can shed forth grace upon man. Christ satisfied God the Father by taking sin out of the way and defeating death on the cross of Calvary. In Christ we have all seven offerings fulfilled in both His life and in His death. And we have the absolute proof that He satisfied God in His resurrection from the dead. Christ made one offering for man and his sin, and one offering to glorify God the Father. In His offering, however, He fulfilled all the characteristics of the seven offerings in Leviticus Chapter 1 through Chapter 7.
Side Note: In Leviticus, Chapter 8 (remember that the number 8 is the number of new beginnings) as Aaron and his sons took on the garments and the anointing oil of the earthly priesthood, so in fulfillment, Christ ascended up to heaven on the 8th day, to present Himself to God the Father and to put on His priestly garments, and to be anointed with the oil of gladness above all, and then present Himself in the Holy of Holies in the heavens. Not only did He purge the earth, but He purged the heavenlies as well.
Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. (Hebrews 9:12)
It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. (Hebrews 9:23)
For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us: (Hebrews 9:24)
Seven days shall they purge the altar and purify it; and they shall consecrate themselves. (Ezekiel 43:26)
And when these days are expired, it shall be, that upon the eighth day, and so forward, the priests shall make your burnt offerings upon the altar, and your peace offerings; and I will accept you, saith the Lord GOD. (Ezekiel 43:27)
Read (Leviticus 9:1-4)
The Great Qualifier
  The seven offering in Leviticus were in a figure (or type) the complete offering of Christ on the cross. When He made one offering for sin, and to glorify God, this offering of Himself was a sweet savour unto God. He saw the travail of His soul and was satisfied. He is called God’s righteous servant in Isaiah 53. In that title He is validating who He is, and what He is. He is God, and He is God’s righteous servant. He is validating His life, and this validation is His worthiness to cast out sin, and defeat death. He would lay down His life as a ransom, or payment, for sin; and thereby, sin would now be taken out of the way by Him on the cross of Golgotha. Also, in Isaiah, we have the prophetic message that Christ is the complete servant of Jehovah. Isaiah 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. This is the only time that the Lord Jesus Christ is referred to as the elect of God. In the Old Testament, we only have this one reference to the election of Christ. In this prophecy in Isaiah, God is looking forward to the fulfillment of His determinate counsels. The word ‘elect’ takes us back before the foundations of the world, and this servant to come forth would be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s glorious Son. This statement falls in line with all of God’s statements concerning His beloved Son, or Son of His love. When we consider the so-called mount of transfiguration, we seem to pass over that Moses and Elijah were there to confer with the Lord Jesus on what He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem concerning His death. And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:(Luke 9:30) Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Luke 9:31) This was a witness from heaven to the three Apostles, Peter, James, and John. They would all see His transfiguration, and the glory, the true glory, of the Son of God. Moses represents the law that would end in the death of Christ. Elijah represents all the prophetic word that was given in relationship to the coming, the life, and the death of God’s dear Son. For Christ would fulfill all prophecy concerning His death on the cross. Yes, we still have prophecy to be fulfilled by the Son of God, but the purpose and reason for Moses and Elijah too appear at this point of the transfiguration was as the Lord Jesus said, the law and the prophets, they go hand in hand to God’s determinate counsel to send forth a seed in His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. These two men were sent by God as a witness, and a comfort for God’s dear Son. They talked of His approaching decease in Jerusalem. Christ was never ignorant of His path through this life. He knew before the foundations of the world the ground He would tread upon, and the blood He would give for the atonement of man. We should see the complete life of Christ as His qualifications to be that sacrifice on the cross, and this resurrected man (Jesus Christ) is now the man of glory and is completely qualified to be in heaven for us as He is the great qualifier for us. Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. (Psalm 73:25)
Elect and Chosen
  Oh, yes, let’s not forget the prophecy in Isaiah, Chapter 42, verse 1, for when the Holy Spirit of God quotes this verse in Matthew, Chapter 12, verse 18, He drops the word ‘elect’ and changes it to ‘chosen.’ Why? The word ‘elect’ denotes the foreshadow or foreknowledge of God, where the word ‘chosen’ is used because of Christ’s qualification as the Son of God. It is Jehovah’s righteous servant now chosen and presented to man proving the foreknowledge of God in the simplest words.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. (Isaiah 42:1)
Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. (Matthew 12:18)
  The servitude of Christ is magnified in Philippians 2:5-8.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (Philippians 2:5)
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:(Philippians 2:6)
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (Philippians 2:7)
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:8)
  Notice that in Philippians, Chapter 2, we have the descent of God’s righteous servant from heaven’s glory to the cross of Calvary. This mind that was in Christ was the mind that took Him to the cross of Calvary. It was also the mind that took Him to heaven above.
Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: (Philippians 2:9)
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; (Philippians 2:10)
And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:11)
  In the path that Christ trod, he came from heaven’s glory to death beneath. Have you ever asked yourself, What have I done? This entire sequence in divine thought, and life was because of us (you and me). There is no other blame for the death of Christ, but ME! I nailed Him to the cross! My sin killed the Prince of life! My guilt was placed upon Him! And because He was the obedient, righteous servant of God the Father, He went into death for me. Now, the man in heaven is for us! Philippians 2:9-11 shows us the glorious path that He took to heaven, His exaltation, and His name which is above every name. This is the man in heaven who is made higher than the heavens.
His Name — Jesus Christ — Christ Jesus
  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens. (Hebrews 7:26) This is the One, the Lord of all glory, who God has placed in heaven for us. The man, Christ Jesus, is at the right hand of God. This is a man in glory for us. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:3) The Holy Spirit of God relates to us the result of Christ’s death on the cross after He had purged our sin, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. He sat down as the man in heaven. In Chapter 3 of the Book of Hebrews, we have His divine name: Christ Jesus. Verse 1 presents the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, and this is the man Christ Jesus. In the first Chapter of Hebrews, we have the Son, the only begotten of the Father. In Chapter 2, we have the man of the earth: Jesus. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. In Chapter 3, verse 1, we see the divine man as the risen man, Christ Jesus. He is the Apostle and High Priest of our profession. His name, Christ Jesus, is attached to the risen man. This name configuration seems to be particular to the Apostle Paul beginning in Acts 19:4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. Paul continues the use of this name through most of his epistles, it is only absent in 2 Thessalonians, and Titus. And strangely, in the Book of Hebrews, when Paul is bringing us to the man in heavenly places, and showing us His heavenly ministry, Paul only uses the term once in Hebrews 3:1. The only other mention of Christ Jesus by an Apostle is two mentions by the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter 5:10, and 5:14. The first mention by Peter is in reference to the Lord’s eternal glory. The second mention is our position in the heavenly man Christ Jesus.
  In the Old Testament we have many names that relate to the Person of God, and each name is a description of His particular facet at that time. And as in the Old, so in the New: we have distinctions concerning the earthly name of Jesus Christ, and the heavenly Christ Jesus (the man ascended up into glory): one and the same, but two different facets: suffering in Jesus Christ, and glorification because of suffering in Christ Jesus. This is the man, the total righteous man in heaven for us. He is one and the same, the Son of God and Jesus Christ. But we see different positions, just as in the Old Testament. He is the suffering Savior, He is the glorified man of resurrection, He has fulfilled His part of the divine plan of redemption, the man in heaven is over all things (higher than the heavens), He is called Savior, mediator, the second man, He is called the wisdom of God, He is called the Apostle, and the High Priest, He is called the Lord from glory (which reminds us of the list of names in the Old Testament in Isaiah 9:6). For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
  There are many more synonymous for His name and for His Person. The Lord Jesus sits upon a throne of righteousness, and grace. On the righteous side of the throne, we see the complete character of God. In this character He must judge sin in all its forms. He must be the purifier for none can stand before Him in righteousness unless they come through the throne of grace concerning the finished work of Christ. Whether it be heaven above, or earth beneath, His righteousness must be upheld in the fire of His judgment. Concerning His judgment: it fell on His Son on the cross on Golgotha, and thus, made way for the throne of grace. He removed His raiment of suffering and put on His garments of glory. As a servant, He put on the clothes of servitude, and He descended from heaven’s glory to fulfill God’s righteousness on the cross. Sin must be removed by Himself (the divine man from heaven’s glory), and to accomplish all this He came in the form of a man, a righteous man from heaven. This is where the man, Jesus Christ, on the cross becomes Christ Jesus, the anointed of God with the oil of gladness above all. The only one who could remove the sting of death, and the sin of the world is the man from heaven. Now, in resurrection glory, we have His garments of light, and life. Light breaking out of the tomb, and life (the new man) ready for heaven. He is the forerunner who has passed into heaven for us to be the minister of the sanctuary, and the minister of the everlasting covenant. He is there in heaven’s glory to engage us as the great High Priest. He is dressed in His glorious garments of grace and truth. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14) As the Lord Jesus upholds all that we see by the word of His power, (Hebrews 1:3) so in like manner in the world of Spirit and truth, He upholds the unseen with the same word of His power. The sword of His mouth is the sword of the Spirit. The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1)
The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:2)
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:3)
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: (Ephesians 6:17)
  The word of truth proceedeth out of the mouth of God. The Lord Jesus (in rebuking the Devil in Matthew 4:4) states that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. This is not a metaphor; it is a reality of life in this world. The word of God is the only light and life for man, it not only brings light to the soul, but it also brings life to the soul. There is no bread on earth that can satisfy the hunger of the soul. There is no bread on earth that can give eternal life. Eternal life can only be through the bread from heaven, the Lord in glory, the man Christ Jesus who is in heaven for us. Amen.
© Copyright 2017, Michael Haigh
Article may be used, but not for gain. Freely ye have received, freely give.
All Scripture references are from the King James Bible. (KJB)