Glorious Mystery - Chapter 19 (You do the math!)

Here we are dealing with "the exaltation of Christ, with his present state and condition in glory during the continuance of his mediatorial office" (p. 235) That Christ is in heaven in the great confidence and hope of the Church - so we must take note of it in our thoughts on Christ. Chirst is continuing in his office in heaven until the end of this time, until every elect member is brought in.

In John 17:24 Jesus prays for the disciples to behold his glory, this does not mean the essence of his divine person, but a glory peculiar to himself – and it is not just the glorified state of his human nature. Chiefly this glory is the honour given to Christ by the Father – for the strengthening of our faith we consider these things:

Christ’s glory – how does it differ from that of the saints/ how is it similar. I) It differs in kind and nature in the following ways: a) His human nature is subsistent in the person of the Son of God. b) The communication between Christ’s human nature and God are unique. We only share by faith and the Spirit. c) So Christ is worthy of all divine worship – no other creature can attain to such a position. d) It was God’s choice to make Christ the means by which God’s glory was manifested. So our aim in faith is to behold the glory of God in the face of Christ. Which God has given us light to do yet we see it in a mirror dimly. So what do we see now: i) every believer sees an excellency in the mystery of Christ. This will happen in various degrees except in times of temptation and darkness. ii) as we see this measure of glory, we are given a chance to obey. iii) as we believe in Christ’s glory we are provoked to love him. iv) Christians should long for these things. v) heaven will satisfy these longings.

So what are our present longings for heaven? How much do we want the things which we now see in part? “According as our desires are after them, such and no other are our desires of the true heaven” (p. 245)

II) The glory of Christ’s human nature differing from ours after the ressurrection concerning the degrees of it. a) Christ's body is our resurrection pattern - but it stops at that, his is the best. b) his body contains a grace a grace of the same nature which we shall have in heaven, but his is a far greater grace.

Christ’s glory – as he acts as mediator. We will consider: 1) the way he entered the office in heaven. This first point may be considered in two ways, a) as his enthronement as King, triumphant: i) which was openly triumphant and glorious. ii) which ended in him being in heaven, him having crowns and a sceptre so we might realise that Jesus is King. iii) he triumphantly went to heaven so that FIRSTLY he might destroy his enemies and SECONDLY that he might rule his church, in terms of the souls of believers and the order of church govt. and worship and preservation. b) his ascent of the High Priest: i) to ascend and joyfully proclaim the year of jubilee. ii) he entered in the holy of holies, heaven itself to appear before the mercy seat. iii) he did it to appear before God for us. 2. the state and glory of the office. This was two-fold: he has a glorious power as King, and he has a glorious grace as High Priest.