What did Jesus do?

Teacher, Prophet, Mediator, Messiah, Priest, and King.

Photo by Ilona Frey on Unsplash

Introduction

Jesus did many things during His time on earth. After describing His birth and mentioning His childhood once, Scriptures skip over to the beginning of His ministry at around the age of thirty. Jesus had (and still has) many ministries. The primary ones include being a Teacher, Prophet, Mediator, Messiah, Priest, and King. Some of these, like teacher and prophet, were primarily done while Jesus lived amongst people; others, like mediator, messiah, and priest, are the result of His death and resurrection; His ministry of kingship is both present and promised for the future.

Teaching & Preaching

Jesus was often seen teaching and preaching. One of Jesus’ most famous sermons was the Sermon on the Mount, recorded in Matthew 5–7. This sermon is all about followers of Christ flourishing in the kingdom that Jesus has come to establish.[1] Speaking to His disciples, Jesus: “expounds the reality of discipleship lived in the presence and power of the kingdom of God, but within the everyday world.”[2]

Jesus sets forth a set of perfect standards for righteousness, demonstrating that all men are sinners because of their habitual falling short of the perfect standards of God.[3] More specifically, Christ taught the following in His Sermon on the Mount:

1. What it means to be blessed and how to be a witness for the Kingdom of Heaven. [4]
2. What the relationship is between the Messianic Kingdom and the Law.[5]
3. How to develop Kingdom life in the real world.[6]
4. A warning about either being for Jesus or against Him.[7]

Beyond the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew records four other discourses:

1. The authoritative mission of the Messiah’s messengers — chapter 10.
2. The mysteries of the messianic kingdom being revealed through parables — chapter 13.
3. he community of the Messiah being revealed — chapters 18–20.
4. The delay, return, and judgement of the Messiah in the Olivet Discourse — chapters 24–25. [8]

Miracle Working

Jesus was much more than a teacher-rabbi, however. As His ministry progressed, Jesus began to reveal Himself as the Christ through various works. His works cannot be separated from His words because His works support the claims of His words, and His words reveal the significance of His work. [9]

Some of the miraculous works that Jesus did include healing the sick and blind, controlling nature, casting out demons, and forgiving sins. [10] People responded in various ways to Christ’s teaching and works, as He preached that they would. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus explains that there are four types of responses to God’s Word:

1. Some will hear the message, but it will land on a hardened and rejecting heart — Satan steals the Word from these people like a bird eating seeds.
2. Some will hear the message and receive it happily, but since they are unwilling to suffer for the kingdom, these people fall away quickly, like plants with weak roots.
3. Some will hear the message, but since these people care more about earthly things life wealth and pleasures, the Word will be choked out and no fruit will be produced.
4. Some will hear the message, understand it, and receive the Word — these people will bear fruit. [11]

The Ministry of the Cross

Preparing for Agony

The final stages of Jesus’ ministry began with Jesus’ triumphant entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey. People spread their cloaks for His colt on the dusty road, cutting off branches from nearby trees in the fields and spreading them out on the ground. They cheered:

“Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.” [12]

However, just a few days later, this very same Jesus was betrayed by Judas, one of His own disciples, to local authorities. Jesus prayed with agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, asking His disciples to support Him, but they just slept.

What was the nature of Jesus’ agony? As a human, Jesus was confronted with the torment of crucifixion as well as the pain of bearing the sins of the entire world. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked for the cup to be taken away from Him.[13] Nonetheless, He also prayed:

“Not my will, but thine be done.” [14]

Collins explains:

“Jesus was in such intense agony in Gethsemane because He knew He would experience what it means to be a sinner in the hands of a justly angry God.”[15]

He was in so much anguish that Scriptures say He was sweating blood.[16] Shortly thereafter, Jesus was detained.

Condemned to Death

Arrested and put on trial, Jesus was completely innocent. Jesus was accused of things He was not guilty of. He was declared guilty by Pilate, who was pressured into giving Jesus the death penalty, despite not considering Jesus guilty of anything. Jesus was whipped, beaten, and scorned. He was stripped of His clothes and mocked, spit on, and ridiculed. He was judged and abused, yet He took it all in meekness.

Jesus was made to carry His own cross to the place of His execution. Six-inch nails were driven through His wrists and ankles with a blunt hammer. Victims of crucifixion had to pull themselves up on the spikes to keep the shoulders from dislocating; once they could not hold up themselves up anymore, they would begin to suffocate as their body weight collapsed their chest cavity. Eventually, pain and gravity would win, and the victim would die. [17]

Theories of Sacrifice

Jesus was crucified as an atoning sacrifice. There are several different theories for the nature of this atonement. The most Scriptural position is that Christ acted as a substitute for sinful humans on the cross. In other words, Jesus took upon Himself the punishment people deserve, so that people can actively live their lives (both present and eternal) glorifying God through having an intimate relationship with Him instead of having to suffer sin and hell.

Faustus and Laelius Socinus held the (incomplete) view that Christ’s atonement was only but an example of the kind of sacrifice Christians are to express. When viewed in light of all Scriptures, this view falls short because it fails to understand the necessity of a just God seeking recompense for sins.

On the other side of the spectrum is Hugo Grotius, who held the (also incomplete) view that Christ’s atonement is only a demonstration of divine justice. When viewed in light of all Scriptures, this view falls short because it does not account for any sort of substitution of punishment that must have occurred for justice to truly have been served.

Gustaf Aulen held the view that Christ’s atonement was a payment made to Satan in exchange for humans; Satan, being the victim of his own pride, made the trade, thinking he could hold Christ, but because Jesus never sinned, Jesus was able to rise from death’s grip. When viewed in light of all Scriptures, this view falls short because it misreads the source of Satan’s power to hold humanity under his control and domination. Satan, whose name literally means “accuser”, sources his power from his ability to lay accusations down, condemning humans under the curse of the law. As such, no “payment” to Satan was necessary — rather, what was necessary is a redemption from the curse of law. [18]

All of these positions do not account for the gravity of the sacrifice that Christ made.

Substitutionary Atonement

The only true Scriptural position is that of Substitutionary Atonement, which means that Jesus substituted Himself for people. The wrath of God which was intended for sinners was poured down on Jesus instead. By Christ placing Himself on the cross, He covers the sins of believers and cleanses them of corruption. His sacrifice appeases God who hates sin and is opposed to it.

Evil is defeated.

There can finally be reconciliation between sinners and God. God is glorified; the relationship that humans were created for, but that sin destroyed, is finally restored. Christ’s atoning death does not only cover sin and cleanse believers from corruption (this is known as expiation) — the sacrifice appeases God who hates sin and is radically opposed to it (to this known as propitiation). [19]

Mediation, Prophesy, & Priest

Results of Atonement

As a result of the atonement, Christ becomes a mediator — that is, a person who brings two opposing parties together by overcoming the rupture in relationship — between man and God. [20] The work of mediator is defined by three roles — prophet, priest, and king. [21]

A prophet was someone whose job it was to reveal God to people — no one could reveal God to people better than God-incarnate Himself, who often preached and taught.

A priest is someone who represents man before God — no one could represent man to God better than Jesus, who took on humanity and the sinfulness of man onto Himself. A king is someone who rules — Jesus is God’s ultimate appointed ruler, who was promised, predicted, proffered, rejected, and realized. [22]

The Resurrection

The Event

After Jesus died, He was buried in a rich man’s tomb. The tomb was guarded by Roman soldiers, who were placed there by paranoid religious leaders who wanted to make sure that nobody came to steal away the body and claim a resurrection. Three days after His crucifixion, the tomb was divinely opened. Two angels sat in His place, and told the women who came to anoint His body:

“Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen.” [23]

Jesus had resurrected.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is essential to the gospel message of Christianity because this message is based on two facts: a Savior died, and that same Savior lives.

Jesus died and was buried; Jesus rose and was seen alive. Jesus was delivered for the offenses of sinners and was raised for the justification of believers.[24] With His resurrection, Christ promises several blessings:

1. Believers will one day also be resurrected when God raises them from the dead.
2. The resurrected Christ will one day return for a second time.
3. The resurrection brings an everlasting comfort to seekers of Jesus.
4. The grace of Christ is given to believers through faith in Christ’s resurrection. [25]

The Evidence

What evidence is there of Jesus’ resurrection? Apostle Paul appealed to the authority of five hundred eyewitnesses in his letter to the Corinthians, stating that most of those same eyewitnesses were still alive.[26] The order of appearance between Christ’s resurrection and His ascension is as follows:

1. Mary Magdalene and the other woman.
2. Peter.
3. The disciples on Emmaus road.
4. All the disciples except Thomas.
5. All the disciples including Thomas.
6. To seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee.
7. To the apostles.
8. To more than 500 brethren.
9. To James.
10. To all those who witnessed the ascension. [27]

New Humanity

The resurrection of Christ marks the beginning of a newly created human nature. “Every part of human existence — both spiritual and physical — undergoes a radical transformation… The old creation of sin and death was buried with Christ in the tomb. The new creation then emerged three days later in the person of Christ.”[28] Writing about this new creation, Watchman Nee says:

“When therefore the Lord Jesus was crucified on the cross, He was crucified as the last Adam. All that was in the first Adam was gathered up and done away in Him. We were included there. As the last Adam He wiped out the old race; as the second Man He brings in the new race… We died in Him as the last Adam; we live in Him as the second Man. The cross is thus the mighty act of God which translates us from Adam to Christ.” [29]

Christ’s resurrection does not only create new spiritual life, however; Jesus received a resurrected physical body as well. His disciples had touched Jesus and eaten with Him. Though transformed, Jesus’ body was still recognizable to His disciples. Although still a material body, Jesus’ resurrected body was no longer subject to weakness, suffering, and death.[30]

Present and Coming Ministry

Even though Jesus resurrected and ascended, that does not mean He is gone forever. Scriptures promise a second return of Christ. His present ministry includes (1) being the Head of His Body, the church, (2) being a faithful priest who sympathizes and gives grace to His people, and (3) preparing a place for believers, where He will take all believers once He returned — in other words, Jesus is preparing permanent residence for His own. His future ministry will consist of (1) raising the dead, (2) judging sinners and rewarding believers, and (3) ruling over the world. [31]

On ascension day, Jesus went to sit at the right hand of God the Father; Scriptures show that once Christ returns, He will set up a literal kingdom here on earth where He will be king that will last for a millennium.[32] The book of Revelation says that at the seventh trumpet, there will be loud voices in heaven saying:

“The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” [33]

It is at this point that Christ’s millennium kingship will commence on earth; once the millennium is over, Christ will continue His kingship into eternity.

Conclusion

Both the Person of Jesus and His ministry work have been explored. Indeed, Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life; He is the only key to the Father and into heaven. The only way to come to know God the Father is to believe in His Son Jesus Christ, for it is only in Him that eternal life is found. All of creation ultimately revolves around the Jesus Christ. If Christ is to truly be one’s Messiah, it is essential that His Gospel is accepted by faith.

Works Cited:

[1] Kevin Collins, The Life of Christ (Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2019), 72.

[2] ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016), 1827.

[3] C.I Scofield, “The Sermon on the Mount,” essay, in The Scofield Study Bible III (New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2002), 1307.

[4] Matthew 5:2–16

[5] Matthew 5:17–48

[6] Matthew 6:1–7:12

[7] Matthew 7:13–29

[8] ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2016), 1827.

[9] Kevin Collins, The Life of Christ (Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2019), 134.

[10] Ibid., 136–155.

[11] Matthew 13

[12] Matthew 21:9

[13] Kevin Collins, The Life of Christ (Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2019), 255.

[14] Luke 22:42 KJV

[15] Kevin Collins, The Life of Christ (Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2019), 255.

[16] Luke 22:44

[17] Kevin Collins, The Life of Christ (Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2019), 263.

[18] Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 713–730.

[19] Millard Erickson, Christian Theology, 3rd ed. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013), 741.

[20] Kevin Collins, Bible Doctrines (Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2022), 187.

[21] Ibid., 189.

[22] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Moody Publishers, 1999), 298.

[23] Luke 24:5–6 KJV

[24] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Moody Publishers, 1999), 308.

[25] Kevin Collins, The Life of Christ (Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2019), 269–271.

[26] 1 Corinthians 15:6

[27] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Moody Publishers, 1999), 309.

[28] Kevin Collins, Bible Doctrines (Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2022), 202.

[29] Watchman Nee, The Normal Christian Life (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1977), 38.

[30] Kevin Collins, Bible Doctrines (Greenville, SC: BJU Press, 2022), 203.

[31] Charles Caldwell Ryrie, Basic Theology: A Popular Systematic Guide to Understanding Biblical Truth (Moody Publishers, 1999), 313–316.

[32] Rene Pache, The Return of Jesus Christ (Moody Press, 1955), 371.

[33] Revelations 11:15 KJV