Christ - The Ladder
Genesis 28:10-13 Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place, and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. He took one of the stones of the place, and put it under his head, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 He dreamed. Behold, a stairway[or ladder] set upon the earth, and its top reached to heaven. Behold, the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 Behold, Jehovah stood above it, and said, "I am Jehovah, the God of Abraham your father, and the God of Isaac. The land whereon you lie, to you will I give it, and to your seed.
- Humans on Earth are at the bottom of the ladder.
- Father Jehovah is at the top of the ladder in Heaven(Mt5.16,45,48;6:1,9;7:11,21; and many more...)
- Angels are traversing the ladder.
- But, what or who is represented by the "ladder", that stretches from Earth to Heaven?
John 1:47-51 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these!" 51 He said to him, "Most certainly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."
- Jesus said that He is the ladder: "the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man"
- Who is our intercessor with Father Jehovah?
Romans 8:34 ... It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore he[Jesus(vs 22)] is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
- Christ is our intercessor.
- Who is our advocate with Father Jehovah?
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you that ye may not sin. And if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
- Jesus Christ is our Advocate.
- Who is our mediator with Father Jehovah?
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
- We have only "one mediator" - "Christ Jesus"
- In addition to Jesus, could there be any other intercessor/advocate/mediator with Jehovah?
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.
BTW, Jesus said that we are judged by His words - see John12:48-50
Figuratively speaking: As the Son of man, our Messiah holds the hands of each of us human sinners. As the Son of God, Jesus holds the hand of His Father(Jn17:1,3) -- His God(Jn20:17;Heb1:8-9;). He "lives forever to make intercession for" you and me. That is grace and that is a view into the infinite love that Father Jehovah and His "beloved" Son have for sinful human beings like you and like me.
Desiring to live by every word that comes from the mouth of Jehovah (Deut8:3; Matt4:4)
-Sid Nash: 01/20/2024. Latest version: http://sidnash.org/docs/ChristTheLadder.html