The Pulpit Commentary — Ephesians — Section 33

nscension, Yet he was in reality King as well as Priest before his incarnation. If he eiivcr.l men from the beginning, he was King from the beginning. 'fhe dominion of the Media.tor wo.s conferred upon him in consequence of his obedience unto death, and was yet enjoyed and exercised by him long before his death ; just as he saved men from the beginning by the blood oC the cross, as being the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world." The exaltation he received after death was not an accession of new glory or power, but the mo.nifesto.tion under new conditions of a glory he had from the begin- ning. This was the position assigned to him in the hundred and tenth psalm, '' The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand." Its fulfilment is manifest in such sentences as the following:-" Him bath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and Saviour" (Acts v. 31); "He was made higher than the heavens" (Heb. vii. 26); he "sits on the right hand of power" (Mark xiv. 62); he is "now set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Heb. xii. 2). Thus, though" crucified in weakness," he" liveth by the power of God" (2 Cor, xiii. 14). II. KINGLY AUTHORITY. Over all the principalities and powers, evil and good, in two worlds; for not only is he far above all these, but God "bath put all things under his feet." He had himself declared immediately before his ascension, " All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth" (Matt. xxviii. 18). There is nothing excepted from the vast sweep of his power. All things whatsoever are his footstool. The brow that was once crowned with thorns wears the crown of universal dominion. 'l'be pierced hand holds the sceptre of the universe. Herein lies the sublime guarantee for the preservation and completion of his Church on earth. He will ultimately triumph over all his enemies (Heb. x. 13). III. BLESSEDNESS. This points to "the joy set before him" (Heb. xii. 2), the joy of holy love, because "he ha.s received of the travail of his soul a.nd is satisfied" (Isa. liii. 11). It was in allusion to himself that the bright words are used," Thou wilt show me the path of life: in thy presence_is fulness of joy; at thy right hand are pleasures for evermore" (Ps. xvi. 11). IV. PERPETUITY. He liveth ever to God without dying again (Rom. vL 10). We have to do with a risen Christ who dieth no more, and therefore can be ever helpful, unlike our friends of earth, whose death ends all their relations to us. V. INTERCESSORY WORK. He is our heavenly Advocate (1 John ii. 1). He has entered heaven "for us," now "to appear in the presence of God for us" (Heb. ix. 24). It is this presence of our High Priest which is so helpful to us in our many infirmities, and is the guarantee of ~ur daily pardon in virtue of the great sacrifice on Calvary. Thm, being reconciled to God by his death, we are saved by his life, in comeque1,ce of the power which is unceasingly passing forth from the Head to the members (Rom. v. 10). 'l'he salvation of Christ on earth and in heaven is one inseparable whole. Thus ibe session of Christ is connected with the peace, the sanctification, the security, the hope of all believers. VI. LESSONS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS TO BELIEVERS. Our Saviour assumes and exercises e. lordship over the lives and over the deaths of all his disciples; " for whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's" (Rom. xiv. 8); o.nd in the case of two eminent disciples, Peter aud John, he claimed this lonlship, "And if I will that be tarry till I come, what is that to thee?" (John xxi. 18, 22). Therefore all the energy and devotion of our lives are to be given to him. He demands of us a heavenly direction of mind (Col. iii. 2), with a sense of our heavenly citizenship to keep us apart from the sins and vanities of life. We ought to cherish a sentiment of holy fear, on account of our relation to e. Redeemer so highly exalted in glory; and yet e. sentiment of holy boldness, knowing that our High Priest is on the throne of glory and of gro.ce.-T. C. Vers. 22, 23.-0hrist's headship. The Resurrection was the point of conjunction between his crucifixion and his coronation. 'l'he headship to which he was exalted had e. twofold relationship: he was me.de "Hend over all things to the Church," nnd he was ma.de Head of the Church itself. • I. Hrs HEADSHIP OVEB ALL THINGS, It is no new thought that our Lord is at the head of the natural order of things; for" without him was not anything made that was made;" "By him o.11 things consist;" he upholds "all things by the word of his Fower," far "the government is upon his shoulders." But by virtue of his mediatorship 30 THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS. [ OH, I. 1-2$.