In another article, entitled The Gospel according to John the Baptist, I showed how the Spirit of God used John the Baptist to identify Jesus the Messiah’s three central roles in God’s great salvation, which are three vital aspects of the Gospel.
- He died as the Lamb of God for our sins.
- He rose as the Lord of lords for our justification, and
- He ascended into heaven as the glorious Baptizer in the Holy Spirit, the Lord of the ongoing harvest of people into God’s kingdom, as the church fulfills the Great Commission.
In this article, I will show how the revelation of Christ in the last book of the Bible identifies Jesus with the glorious Son of Man prophesied by Daniel and confirms that knowing and acknowledging that Christ is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings is the proper response to the gospel message.
The Lamb of God Ministry
Through his first coming, Jesus the Messiah fulfilled the role of the Lamb of God. He came to die for our sins in order to open the way for us to come back into relationship with Father God.
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! John 1:29 (NLT)
The forgiveness of sins was not God’s end game, however, because Jesus had a much greater goal to accomplish – the restoration of all creation under his Lordship. Nevertheless, a central component of the gospel message is that when we place our trust in Christ and his death on the cross, we will receive forgiveness for our sins.
He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” Acts 10:43 (NLT)
The Resurrected Lord of Lords
Jesus’ resurrection three days after his crucifixion proved that his sacrifice for our sins was accepted by Father God. It also proved and served to announce Jesus’ role as the glorious Lord of all, the risen Jewish Messianic King.
The Good News is about his Son, Jesus. In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 1:3-4 (NLT)
Those who believe that God raised Jesus from the dead and confess that he is Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:9-10) Jesus now reigns over his church and the entire universe, sitting at God’s right hand, waiting for his enemies to be completely subjected to him in due time.
“God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand 35 until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”’ 36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” Acts 2:32-36 (NLT)
The Baptizer in the Holy Spirit
When Jesus ascended into heaven to take his place at God’s right hand, he poured out the Spirit as he promised he would, launching the church into her mission to preach the gospel and make disciples prior to Christ’s return.
Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” … 8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Acts 1:4-8 (NASB)
During the present church age, Jesus functions as the Baptizer in the Holy Spirit. The baptism in the Spirit is given to equip and empower Christ’s followers to be bold and fearless witnesses (literally, martyrs) and fishers of men. We are in the harvest period of church history. The church has been tasked to fulfill the Great Commission by preaching the gospel and making disciples who will go and do the same. Receiving the baptism in the Spirit is an important and necessary part of being faithful to Christ and fulfilling the Great Commission.
The Second Coming: Jesus, the Glorious Son of Man
Even though Jesus’ death as God’s Lamb is crucial to our salvation, acknowledging his lordship is the criteria Paul gives for obtaining it. (Romans 10:9-10) When we confess that Jesus is Lord, we acknowledge and voluntarily come under his rule and obtain all the benefits of his Lamb of God ministry, too. For the last two thousand years or so, we have been in the Great Commission phase of God’s plan, which the Bible calls the “last days.” As this epoch draws to a close, we anticipate the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophesy that he gave the night of his betrayal and the miscarriage of justice called his trial.
But Jesus remained silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64 Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:63-64 (NLT) Jesus’ words referenced Daniel’s prophesy about a glorious heavenly being who will sit in judgment of the all the earth. (Daniel 7:13-14) At this future point in history, which is surely coming, there will no longer be any doubt at all for anyone as to Jesus’ true identity. No longer will naysayers claim that he was merely a prophet or a fine teacher. No more will anyone be able to say that he was a mythical person. None will declare that his resurrection was a fable concocted by his misguided followers. At that time, everyone will see him in his terrifying glory.
Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”Revelation 1:7-8 (ESV)
Before his return, God has given us the opportunity to clearly hear the gospel call to bow the knee to Jesus, the Lord of Lords. What we do in response to this call is on us. One day it will be too late. On that glorious day when Jesus returns as promised, every knee will bow and every tongue confess who he is. There will be no option.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:9-11 (NLT)
Although Jesus is merciful to those who seek mercy and ask for forgiveness, do not think for a moment that he is too weak to enforce God’s justice at the proper time. Though he is patient, God the Father does not wink at sin or coddle rebellion against his Son’s rule. There is coming a day of judgment. Those who do not tap into the river of God’s mercy by declaring allegiance to the risen Messiah King, the Lamb who was slain, will rue their mistake at the Second Coming.
We who hear, believe, and respond properly to the gospel before Christ’s Second Coming have the privilege of willingly bowing the knee to him before it is no longer an option.
At the Second Coming all, even the openly rebellious, will be forced to acknowledge his glorious sovereignty.
Prayer
Perhaps your heart has been touched by what you just read and you are ready to become part of the throng who chooses to willingly acknowledge Jesus lordship before the great and terrible Day of the Lord. If so, you may wish to pray something like the following. Let it be from your heart. God will hear you and answer your petition. He never rejects anyone who comes to him.
Father God, thank you for graciously sending your Son to die for me. I accept the forgiveness of sins he provided for me by shedding his blood on the cross. I believe that Jesus rose from the dead as the Lord. Thank you for making me right with you and part of your family through his glorious resurrection. Thank you for setting me free from the power of sin and death. Thank you for sending your Holy Spirit to live inside of me to give me all the help I need to be a follower of Christ. Jesus, I ask you to baptize me in the Holy Spirit and power so that I can be one of your Great Commission-aries. Thank you for giving me eternal life. I declare my allegiance to you, and I depend on your Spirit to help me live this out. I look forward to the day when you come again in great glory. Amen.
