Paul the
apostle shared with the Ephesians church members how Jesus gave
“grace” to “every one of us” “according to the
measure of the gift of Christ”. And because of this, when Jesus
“ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts
unto men”. In chapter four and verse nine of his letter, Paul
continued parenthetically with information about Jesus “descending
before ascending” where we read:
(Now that
he ascended, what is it but that
he also
descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
The verse begins, “(Now
that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first...”
Paul began
with the words, “(Now that he
ascended”
which means “moreover, and, in addition Jesus rose, mounted, was
borne or sprung up”, “what is it
but that” or
“because, as though and how” “he
also descended”
which is the Greek phrase “katabainō
kai katabainō” which
means “go or come down from the upper regions of the air”
“first”
which means “at the first in succession, influence, honor, chief
and principal of things and persons”. Before Jesus “rose and was
borne up”, He “came down from the upper regions of the air”.
The
verse continues, “...into the lower parts of the earth?”
Paul added, “into the lower” or “the inferior and
lesser” “parts” which means “a lot, destiny,
particular, portion, behalf and course” “of the earth”
or “the arable land, main land as opposed to the sea or water,
country, boundaries, territory and region”. Jesus “came down”
from the heavens to the “inferior and lesser portion” of “the
earth” before he “rose up” to the “heavens” again.
When
we consider these words of Paul, we note Paul's emphasis that Jesus
first came “to the earth” before he “rose” to heaven.
This speaks of Jesus rather than “God the Father” as Jesus
came to be among men in person. We have the advantage of Jesus
leaving His position in “heaven” that we might be in fellowship
and communion with Him. May we realize the effect that Jesus'
“descending” had upon mankind, and when we realize He did
this for us, may we bow before Him in praise.
Next
time Paul shares more about how Jesus “ascended up on
high”, so read ahead, and we
shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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