3. The work of the ascended Christ. — (a) Jesus has ascended to make intercession for us as our Priest, Ro 8^*, He V^ (a perpetual intercession). The High-Priesthood of Christ is one of the great themes of Hebrews, and Ps 110''* is quoted in He 56. 10 717. 2i_ Jesus is High Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek, not of the Aaronic order (see below). He is our 'great priest' (10-^). One of the meanings of 'Paraclete' is 'Advocate' or ' Intercessor,' and Jesus is our Paraclete (1 Jn 2'), as He Himself implies in calling the Holy Ghost 'another Paraclete' {5XKov HapaKK-qrov, Jn H'*"). His very presence in heaven is the intercession which He offers. He 'appears before the face of God for us' (He G-'*). This is the meaning of the references in Hebrews to the high priest entering into the Holy of Holies on the Day of Atonement (414-16 620 7->7 83 97.12.24 etc.). But we must notice two differences between the type and the antitype. The earthly high priest stands to otier (10'^), while Jesus is usually (though not always) depicted as sitting (above, § 2). And the earthly high priest enters into the Holy of Holies alone, leaving the people outside, while Jesus carries the people with Him within the veil and gives them access to the Father (vv. 19-22). Jesus is the Mediator (8« 12-^), and on His mediation all human intercession is based (1 Ti 2i- ''). Mediation and intercession are not, indeed, quite the same thing. A mediator brings the contending parties together. But our ascended Mediator goes further, and otiers inter- cession for all men (see Swete, Asc. Christ, p. 93). In this connexion we must notice that there is no contradiction between the intercession of the Holy Ghost and that of our ascended Lord. St. Paul speaks of both intercessions in the same context (Ro 8-^*- ^). The two are not to be separated ; they are really one act, though the insufficiency of human language makes them seem two. The intercession of our Lord in heaven and that of the Spirit in the hearts of believers are one. Christ in VOL. I. — 7
heaven sends the Holy Ghost to intercede within us. This double conception is parallel with that of the Holy Spirit coming down to us here on earth at the same time that we are taken up to ' the heavenlies' with Jesus (Eph 2®).
It has long been disputed when the High-Priest- hood of Christ began. He was the Priest-Victim on the Cross, and some passages in Hebrews point to a Priesthood on earth, while others point to one in heaven only. Westcott (Hebrev:^, p. 229, Add. Note on 8') says that Christ fulfilled two types, and that there are two aspects of His Priesthood, one as fulfilling the Levitical High-Priesthood on earth before the Session, and the other as fulfilling that of Melchizedek thereafter. The priesthood was thus, as it were, completed by the Ascension. But Milligan (op, cit. p. 72 tf.) denies the two types of priesthood, and says that our Lord's Priesthood began with His glorification, and that the Death was part of this glorification, falling in the sphere of the heavenly Priesthood. There seems to be much truth in both views. The Priesthood of Christ is one, but as the earthly high priest only fulfilled his priesthood when he brought the blood of the victim within the Holy Place, so Christ did not fulfil His Priesthood till the Ascension (see J. H. Bernard, in ERE ii. 157).
(h) Jesus has ascended to rule over and to fill all things ; He is our King. This is specially empha- sized in Rev (P S"*- 11"* 1912- is 20^). Jesus is the ruler of the kings of the earth, and is worthy to receive the power and the might ; the kingdom of the world is become the Kingdom of our Lord [the Father] and of His Christ ; Jesus has many diadems on His head, and is King of kings and Lord of lords ; He reigns with His saints for a thousand years. St. Paul also emphasizes the Kingship of the Ascended Christ. He must (Set) — it is fitting that He should — reign till His enemies are con- quered (1 Co 152-5). He is seated far above all rule, authority, and power, both in this and in the coming age (Eph I'-i) ; He ascended that He might fill all tilings (Eph 41" ; cf. 3'9). His rule is with a view to the restoration of the universe to order, and is not only over Christians, but over all. He was exalted that in His name every knee should bow throughout the whole universe (Ph 29'-), i.e. in the name which the Father gave Him (v.^), namely, the Divine Majesty : to the Divine Jesus all shall do homage (see Lightfoot's note). He is the Head of the Church, and in all things has the pre-eminence (irp(i)Tevuv), for in Him all the fulness dwells (Col jiHf. . fQj. 7r\7jpw/ia, see Robinson, Ephesians, p. 255) ; cf. Eph 41^'- 5-^. So St. Peter speaks of angels and authorities and powers being made subject to the Ascended Christ (1 P 3-2). All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him (Mt 28'**). He is the Priest-King, the ' priest upon his throne ' of Zee 6^^ ; and His Kingship assures us that good will triumph over evil.