FLESH AND BLOOD

Flesh & Blood

 

Matt 16:20 "Tell no one that He is the Christ."

 

 The disciples had been proclaiming Jesus as the Christ, therefore the covenanted King of the Kingdom promised to the Jews and at hand. The Church, on the contrary, must be built upon testimony to Him as:

1. Crucified

2. Risen from the dead
3. Ascended, and thereby made "head over everything for the Church" (Eph. 1:20 -23).

The former testimony was ended; the new testimony was not yet ready because the blood of the new covenant had not yet been shed at Calvary, but our Lord began to speak of His death and resurrection (vs. 21). It is a turning point of immense significance.

He was to be declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

The resurrection is the Divine seal upon the perfect work of Jesus (Rom 1:4) (See the question raised in Mark 12:35-36) and a revelation of the exceeding power. This plan worked through the laying down of a perfect Life and the raising again of that Life to the right hand of the Father, the place of intimate, sovereign communion, so that that Life might again lay down His life to inhabit creatures predetermined for the outworking of His plan (See John 10:15-18 for this plan). This habitation makes them fully useful (Vs. 23) for God's purposes (Eph. 4:10). By His presence and sovereignty, He helps to realize the original purpose of His creation.  This act by the Father reveals Him as the Lord mentioned in Psalm 110. The Lord <JEHOVAH> said to My Lord <ADONAI>. David calls Him Lord Jehovah and Jesus quotes this passage in Mark 12:35-36 to prove His Messianic claim.