THE MINISTRY OF JESUS

Others may do so, but let us not think that the ministry of our Lord spanned a period of only
thirty-three years, some nineteen or twenty centuries ago, and embraced only that section of the
world call “Palestine.” That idea is too far from an accurate conception to be treated seriously.
The Lord’s ministry is threefold: past, present and future and it spans time from before it began
to after it ends--it is from eternity to eternity or from everlasting to everlasting.
# 1--the past: As a part of the eternal Godhead, Jesus was in the beginning with the Father
and the Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:26; John 1:1-3). He was engaged with Them in the creation of all
things and after man sinned, it was He who accepted the responsibility for doing what was
necessary to break the bonds of sin and to set the captives free. Through His death on Calvary,
He paid the full price for transgression and redeemed from death all who will accept His terms.
Forgiveness is ours when we comply with those terms.
# 2--the present: There is a continual pull and tug that Satan exerts on all people--thus, there
is a need for constant help from above. Forgiveness settles past sins, but does not destroy the
devil or his influence. All who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Tim. 3:12);
temptations are the common lot of all people (1 Pet. 5:8) and to withstand is a ceaseless charge
(Eph. 6:11-19). Faithfulness to Him enables us to have a representative at the throne of grace to
make intercession for us (1 John 2:1-2; Heb. 7:25). # 3--the future: When time is over, the earth is burned up, the sky removed and our eternal
destiny is before us, the ministry of Jesus will be to sentence the disobedient to torment (Matt.
25:46) and to present the righteous to the Father (1 Cor. 15:24). Thus at His coming, He will
save His people from the presence of sin, turn the evil into the outer regions of woe and have the
saints to abide in perfect peace with Him forever.
The truth about Jesus’ ministry is this: It embraces all people and spans all time. It is from
everlasting to everlasting--past, present and future!
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Can you remember when family meals were thought out
instead of thawed out?

Love ya,
Jesse

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