(2.) On Christ as the Apostle

(2.) On Christ as the Apostle.

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling, consider that Jesus, the Apostle of our confession, was faithful to the One who appointed Him.” (Hebrews 3:1-2).

APOSTLE: one who is sent on a mission; a messenger; an envoy; an ambassador; a representative; a spokesman.

The writer of Hebrews gave Jesus the title of Apostle, one who was sent out. This title begs a number of questions. Notice the importance of being “sent” in Scripture.

A. Who sent Jesus?

1. “For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God; to Him God gives the Spirit without limit.” (John 3:34).
2. “The very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me.” (John 5:36).
3. “Jesus said to them, ‘If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now am here. I have not come on my own; but He sent me.” (John 8:42).
4. “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under His power, and that He had come from God and was returning to God…” (John 13:3). 

B. From where was Jesus sent?

1. “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of Him who sent me.” (John 6:38).
2. “No one has ever gone into heaven except the One who came from heaven – the Son of Man.” (John 3:13).
3. “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” (John 17:5).

C. What was Jesus’ mission?

1. “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”  (John 3:17).
2. “My food,’ said Jesus, ‘is to do the will of Him who sent me and to finish His work.” (John 4:34).
3. “Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” (John 6:29).
4. “Now this is eternal life: that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3).
5. “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19). 
6. “When the time of fulfillment had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the written law. Yet all of this was so that He would redeem all those held hostage to the written law so that we would receive a full legal adoption as His children.” (Galatians 4:4-5).
7. “God sent us His Son in human form to identify with human weakness. Clothed with humanity, God’s Son gave His body to be the sin-offering so that God could once and for all condemn the guilt and power of sin.”  (Romans 8:3).

D. Was the mission accomplished? 

1. “Jesus….was faithful to the One who appointed Him.” (Hebrews 3:2).
2. “I have brought You glory on earth by completing the work You gave me to do.” (John 17:4).
3. “Jesus said to them, ‘What is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” (Luke 22:37).
4. “Later, knowing that all was now completed… Jesus said, ‘It is finished.’ With that, He bowed His head and gave up His Spirit.” (John 19:28-30).

The bottom line: Jesus Christ, the Apostle sent from God the Father in the heavenly realm, was appointed to accomplish the Father’s mission of salvation and redemption of fallen humanity. He accomplished that mission of being a sin-offering, and was received in glory once the mission was accomplished.