SPEAKER_00: 0:06

Hello, friends, and welcome to the Rooted and Grounded Podcast from 109 Church of Christ. As always, joined by two of my friends, Mr. Wayne Miller on the left.

SPEAKER_02: 0:16

How are you doing, brother?

SPEAKER_00: 0:16

Mr. Matt Miller on the right. What up? And I'm Matt Brown in the middle. And and guys, uh especially as guys, I think we're all taught from a pretty early age that fire and gasoline do not mitts. Yes. Yeah. And we have got some cans of gasoline to play with today.

SPEAKER_03: 0:35

Oh man, bro. Yes.

SPEAKER_00: 0:36

Yeah. So i if you listen, so excited. If you listen to the last episode, thank you. If you haven't listened to the last episode, don't listen to this one until you do. So as we think about the ascension, I I think we just were doing that as kind of part of the natural order of progression of death, burial, resurrection, Christ return. But for all three of us, I think I can speak and say we never realized how many layers there are with the ascension.

SPEAKER_02: 1:09

Exactly.

SPEAKER_00: 1:10

And so what we're going to do today and for the next episode is really look at the significance of what this is, look at what really where Jesus is. I mean, obviously he's in heaven, but there's more specifics to it. And then in the next episode, really look at what Jesus is doing while he's there until he returns. And so, with all of that being said, let's start in Psalm 110. And I'll read the first couple of verses. And then Matt, after I read that, if you would, tell us more about the significance and symbolism of these passages. So Psalm 110, 1 and 2, um, from David, the Lord says to my Lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. The Lord sends forth from Zion your more your mighty scepter, rule in the midst of your enemies.

SPEAKER_03: 2:03

Here we go, boys. I mean, I mean Wayne were talking, we were just all talking together, and this is this is truly meaty. I mean, and you know, Matt, you had talked about this. Um I appreciate us being able to think about this a little bit more because like the ascension is really um so crucial to the life of the Christian and why why we can have and should have such confidence. Um and it really starts like with this proclamation in Psalm 110 from David. Um the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. You know, it is quoted, what'd you say, 26 times in some way, shape, or form in the New Testament? Like it is something that is on the hearts of the apostles, it's on the heart of, and it should be on the heart of Christians. The idea that, and I think the the the term the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand. And everybody knows this idea of Jesus being exalted at the right hand, and and you know, in the ancient times, the idea of being exalted to the right hand or sitting on the right hand is is not uh it's not taken lightly. It's like a victory, like it's accomplished, and Jesus accomplished something that nobody else could do. Like he's stepping to the Almighty God, and we'll we'll talk about this a little bit more, but I think that first layer that just stands out to me is the Lord says to the Lord, sit at my right hand, you know, in absolute reverence with each other. And I think that um it's not partial, but it's total. Um, I put on here the enemies are not just defeated, but placed under his feet because he is the man. Um, and that's our guy. Right.

SPEAKER_02: 4:30

And seated at the right hand, you know, when you go back and look, that was always a a place, or even we might even call it a position. We still say the right-hand man. Exactly right. Yeah, the right hand man. Exactly right. Yep. Because it's a place of power, it's a place of authority, and even like you say, my right hand man, it's a place of honor.

SPEAKER_00: 4:48

Yeah. Well, when you think about it, you think about John 17 when Jesus has his prayer, what does he say? He says, I have finished the things that you have given me to do. Right. And then you fast forward to that's one, and where does he go? He gets to go home, he gets to go to the right hand. Exactly.

SPEAKER_03: 5:02

He gets to do the thing that he wanted to do. Um, and you know, we're we're gonna talk about this too. And my mind is just like racing and chasing all these spiritual rabbits, man, because in Philippians chapter two, it talks specifically about that idea that the Lord places him above all names. Like he is above all authority. And in the world, and we were talking about this the shows that you watch, these supreme leaders and the supreme being, and those kind of phrases, and everybody respects that, they're scared of it, they're intimidated by that, and rightly so, because Proverbs 1 says, the beginning of wisdom and understanding is the fear God. That's right.

SPEAKER_02: 5:53

And David, I mean, he, you know, from the physical standpoint, he would be that man, you know, that everybody be looking to the right-hand man because he was he was king, the the king of Israel. I mean, he was their guy.

SPEAKER_03: 6:06

Yep.

SPEAKER_02: 6:07

You know, and for him to say that there's another Lord, okay, and speaking of another Lord, and he recognized he's greater than me. I mean, you know, I I'm not talking about myself here, because really David never ascended. Right? David never ascended. He he was speaking of someone greater than himself when he said in Psalm 110, verse 1.

SPEAKER_03: 6:35

Well, we were talking about Matthew 22, um, where I just want to read this in verse 41, Matthew 22, 41. While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?

SPEAKER_02: 6:54

Right.

SPEAKER_03: 6:55

I mean, throwing them uh into a thought.

SPEAKER_02: 6:58

Yeah, because think about it, up to this point, what did they have been doing? I mean, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, I mean, the scribes, you know, all those that were supposed to be highly intelligent and all that. I mean, all they were doing was trying to trick Jesus. You know, we would say today, paint him in, you know, paint himself into a corner where he couldn't get out. Okay? And they'd been doing that. It's an amazing thing to me, Matt, that you bring it up because what Jesus does in his wisdom is he flips or he turns the table on those guys.

SPEAKER_01: 7:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 7:29

Because right now, what he's doing, he's posing them a question that you know what? Really nothing to be answered. I don't really know if it was to be answered as much as to reveal.

SPEAKER_01: 7:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 7:43

Reveal the truth to them.

SPEAKER_00: 7:44

Well, let's read the rest of that. Yeah. And so Jesus asked him, What do you think about the Christ, whose son is he? They said to him, the son of David. He said to them, How is it then that David and the Spirit calls him Lord? saying, The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son? And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

SPEAKER_02: 8:14

I'm done, he said.

SPEAKER_03: 8:16

They say Well, the hey, you know, and even in this text, one of the things that stands out to me is they say they knew the Messiah was gonna come from the son of David. Like they knew, so he they're tracking, they're they're tracking with exactly what he's saying, and he's meeting them right where they're at. And that's why I appreciate about Jesus. Like, it doesn't matter if you're the woman at the well, the Pharisee, the scribe, or the Sadducee, he's gonna meet you where you're at, and he's gonna try and point you to him. And I mean, I think kind of on a side street, just real quick, I think the the emphasis of preaching that good news and and following Jesus' lead is finding where people are at and then taking them to the king. You know, he does this. I mean, they said to him, the son of David, and then what does he say? How then does David in the spirit call him Lord? Like if he's the son, like and they're like uh well, their answer was true, for sure it wasn't complete, it wasn't complete, that's right.

SPEAKER_02: 9:26

It wasn't complete because that's where he was trying to veal the truth to them so they could grasp this and understand that David is really talking about something far greater than who David is. He's more than the son of David, he's David's Lord.

SPEAKER_03: 9:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 9:43

And the same thing is what we try to do today is make him our Lord. And David recognized that even then because there's something greater that he's looking at and pointing to.

SPEAKER_03: 9:55

Well, and I mean, you even the one thing that just really gets me, and uh we hadn't talked about it yet, but till I make your enemies your footstool. Right. So there's this elevation of of who Jesus is, and but then there's this idea of enemies just being put under him. And it it is kind of a twofold idea, like that that first idea of where it's happening right now, but then there will be a completion of all enemies are put under his feet, which to me just that also tracks with just how the scripture does in prophecy stuff, you know, like it it was relevant for David in that moment, this idea of speaking in the spirit about this future Lord that you know would come and would sit at the right hand. And I think even in verse 2 of Psalm 110, the Lord shall send the rod of your strength out of Zion, rule in the midst of your enemies. So it's kind of Jesus is kind of elevating that idea too. They all know who people are saying that he is. They're all they all understand, like that he's so is he trying to say that he is the Messiah? Like, so what is he actually trying to say? Like, he's gonna actually sit at the right hand of God.

SPEAKER_02: 11:30

I mean, you know, it's the same challenge I think, and and so many people miss it today. I think they they they they saw his humanity.

SPEAKER_03: 11:37

Yep.

SPEAKER_02: 11:38

Okay, they got that, but I think they missed, and that's what Jesus revealing the truth they missed his divinity, they missed the fact that he's deity, you know, and I think that's the same challenge for people today. You know, a lot of folks want to talk about Jesus, but they're not sure they want him to be Lord. Yeah, you know, and I think that's the same mistake that that they made and they missed, and same thing is true, even well it in Acts chapter 2, he I mean, well, here's the deal.

SPEAKER_03: 12:08

You just said that they don't want to accept the deity of who he is, so Jesus drops this hint, and then what happens? Peter just boom.

SPEAKER_02: 12:18

Yeah, and and when did he do that?

SPEAKER_03: 12:21

On the day of Pentecost, man.

SPEAKER_02: 12:22

And what was the day of Pentecost? The first what?

SPEAKER_03: 12:24

The first gospel sermon, man. The first time.

SPEAKER_00: 12:27

Right. Yeah, let me read that. I mean, yeah, that's 232. Uh, this Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.

SPEAKER_03: 13:10

There it is. I mean, it's not just he was a good guy.

SPEAKER_02: 13:14

Exactly.

SPEAKER_03: 13:15

It's not that he was a prophet, exactly, but he's more than that. It's more than that, right? Like, it's not that he was just this prophet sent from God to proclaim a message, he is making a declaration, and I think Wayne hit on a strong thought. People still today are missing the point of who Jesus is, and it says it right there. He is both Lord and Christ, he's Messiah, Jews, and Lord, everybody, right? I mean, he he is setting the stage for for Jew and Gentile to understand like it he is supreme. Um, and I everybody understood that idea of making enemies your footstool. They understood like bowing down to um to the king. And I think that when you talk about this this till that that word till it implies waiting, but there's a certain fulfillment. Right.

SPEAKER_02: 14:19

So go ahead, man. No, no. Oh, I was just gonna say, the verse 36, guys, to me is just, you know, we we see the word therefore, we all know that's kind of like, well, hey, based on what's been said or drawing a conclusion or summing this up, however your terminology is, let everyone understand something. And I know I love that word and that thought. Know for certain.

SPEAKER_03: 14:41

Yep.

SPEAKER_02: 14:42

We're not having to guess about this. That's right. We got this, and it's with all assurance. When he says both Lord and Christ, I mean he's the supreme, he's the sovereign ruler. Again, that's the emphasis or significance of being on the right hand, right? Power, authority, honor, yeah. But then he comes back and says, Oh, but also more than he's he's the Christ, the Messiah, yeah, the anointed savior that has been promised, all the way back to your guy, David.

SPEAKER_00: 15:17

Yep, right? Well, well, and I think Matt, building off what you said a minute ago, if you look at the future aspect of this, uh, until the enemies are made a footstool, that's end of times. Yeah. And talking about everyone who either is actively opposed to Christ, but also those that refuse Christ, even if they're not in active opposition, but those that willingly say Jesus is the good guy, but he's not my guy, he's not the Lord, he's not the Christ. Whereas the evidence says repeatedly throughout scripture and even beyond scripture that says he was the one who came from God. He was the one who did all these things that no one else could do, who taught in a way that no one else could teach. And the day will come when everybody will bow, everybody will be under subjection, whether willingly or through defeat.

SPEAKER_03: 16:11

The my mind right now is racing to like king, like when kings ruled, like Nebuchadnezzar and Rome, and you know, like they were scared of those kings because they have power. The king is coming, you know, like you watch those shows like Braveheart or something, like and when they heard about the king coming, there was always this like, you know, they were they were intimidated by that, just that phrase. And I think what's happening right here in this moment is Peter at the very beginning, at the first sermon ever, is trying to strike confidence into the Christian to know your guy is the supreme leader over everything. Like, do not forget who your guy is and have confidence in that. But I think Wayne, and I we're gonna talk about it in the next episode, is not only that, he's Messiah, like he's savior. But but I think so many times we don't appreciate, I think, maybe not intentionally, we forget just how powerful the king is. Like he's making people footstools. Like it that I had this written down. The victory is already secured, it already was secured on the cross when he died, and then when he was resurrected, and then when he ascended. But the full defeat of Christ is still unfolding. So every sin, uh, it says, even when enemies sin, Satan, worldly powers seem strong, their downfall, man, this will preach, boys, is only a matter of time. It's only a matter of time. And we allow all these big things sometimes to intimidate us, and I get it, but it's only a matter of time. How many of those kingdoms have fallen? And you see that that idea and that talk about it in Daniel 2 when he says there's gonna be this stone that's gonna crush all kinds of things, and it will never end. And this is it. We're a part of it.

unknown: 18:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_02: 18:30

You know, it's like Jesus. You you said a statement there a while ago, your guy. You just brought the thought. What Peter was saying is your guy is the guy. I mean, he is the guy. He's the guy. No, no other. I mean, you know? And that's I mean, that's exactly I mean, he's already seated, guys. We can't miss this for folks. Jesus is already seated at the right hand of God. Right? I mean, it's not something that's gonna happen sometime, maybe, could, possibly. He's already there. He's already seated in that position. And that's the reason I think Matthew chapter 28, all Jesus said, all authority. You're looking at it, the guy has already been given to me. So I, you know, it's now you you hit on a word there a few minutes ago about teal. You know? And I think, you know, that time kindly takes me to and takes all of us to 1 Corinthians chapter 15, doesn't it? Yeah. Till until so read that, man.

SPEAKER_00: 19:29

Yeah, uh 1 Corinthians 15, 24. Then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power, for he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it's it says all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is accepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son Himself will also be subjected to Him who put all things in subjection under Him, that God may be all in all.

SPEAKER_02: 20:14

You know, when you think about those last enemies, the final defeat.

SPEAKER_03: 20:20

I'm just ready to run through a brick wall right now, boys.

SPEAKER_02: 20:22

I'm just saying, like I could probably do a paper.

SPEAKER_03: 20:27

I'm ready to attempt it. I'm just ready to attempt it. You could probably do a brick wall. I'm just ready. You know, I can think of it. I know Mac could, for sure.

SPEAKER_02: 20:34

You two could do that, but you know what I do? You know, when these high school teams come out on Friday night and they have a man repair of paper, that's my wall. Didn't trip and they're running all over me.

SPEAKER_03: 20:47

Yeah, it wouldn't last long, but man, I'd be so excited about trying it. I'm sorry.

SPEAKER_02: 20:53

This is great, guys. This is powerful to think about the guy, you know, being the son of the living God and being God and Lord, and but then he's the Messiah or Savior.

SPEAKER_03: 21:06

Yeah. The we're we were also talking about this footstool idea. Um and the proud enemies of Christ will either bow willingly in repentance or unwillingly in judgment. You remember Da Daniel's like vision of those men trying to step to the throne and they just weren't worthy enough. They they could say all these big words and they could do all these big things. And then the one like the Son of Man came, and it's like, oh, I'm giving you a kingdom, I'm giving you glory, I'm giving you honor, I'm giving you dominion, all of those things. And it's just like every every sin or every kingdom or every person that tries to raise itself up above God, it's only a matter of time before they get put under, nope, can't do it. Nope, can't do it. And it's just like he's just I think that that if if if I can live my life with that understanding, when temptation, when struggle, when Satan tries to put it in my face, when these kingdoms, it gets so scary in the world. If I if I am stuck with the word in my heart, what I understand it's till. Yeah. It's till. What's a great yeah, it's only a matter of time. Like, because one day it's all gonna be over and the kingdom's gonna get delivered to the Father, and we're gonna be there forever.

SPEAKER_00: 22:40

Well, and I think one of the good things about this passage of Psalm 110, and even uh all of our discussion has been the past, present, and the future. Yes. Because I mean, obviously, yes, Jesus did the cross on the uh in the past, he ascended in the past, he is at the right hand currently, right, and all things will be made under him in the time to come.

SPEAKER_01: 23:00

Right.

SPEAKER_00: 23:01

And so it encompasses past, present, and future and is a good reminder for us of kind of the Alpha Omega, just all the omni-descriptions of God and Christ are summarized in Psalm 110. Right.

SPEAKER_02: 23:15

Yeah, it's a good thought, especially when you think about, and I think this ideal of a footstool, you got to go back to, you know, the ancient times. I think it probably they understood that maybe better than we do, I would think. I mean, because they would know that when a king went out and they conquered another nation or they conquered another king, it was very normal behavior. And what they would do, they'd make that king come down and bow down to him. Yeah. To let him know who's in charge, who's in command, who has the authority now. And to make someone a footstool, I mean, it was just talking about as total victory, number one, but total domination. There's a humility, I suppose. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01: 24:00

Yeah, you can't.

SPEAKER_03: 24:00

Well, you think about your king who you're scared of and has intimidated you for years, and you thought in your mind, whether good or bad, he was so powerful to sit there and watch that man have to bow down and kiss that boy's feet. What? Yeah, in front of everybody. I mean that imagery is incredible because you see, even in those moments when them demons would see Jesus, they were shook. And then when it's established, I mean, it just begins to elevate even. I mean, he is doing that on purpose. He is just, he has humbled himself to be elevated in Philippians 2. Name above all names. At the name of Jesus, every knee is gonna bow and every tongue will confess Jesus as Lord, willingly, unwillingly. It does not matter.

SPEAKER_01: 25:02

Right.

SPEAKER_03: 25:03

Um, no one stay no one's gonna stay neutral. Like you can say that you don't want to, but you're gonna have no choice. Like that king had no choice but to bow down. And I mean, I I appreciate that thought because that's what those kings in that in that moment, it was so they were so humble, had to be they were humbled.

SPEAKER_02: 25:28

And and the thing about for us today, I mean, just to think about ultimately what assurance it gives us in this temporary world. Because every every force, you know, you you hand it at every knee, every bow, yeah, they will bow. But just to think about the comfort that brings to us as as followers of Christ, there's coming a moment in the time when every force against God and against his people, they'll be brought under Christ's feet. There is no question about that. You know, there's a lot of things people can question, but this one is no question about it. God has established it all the way back from the book of Psalms 110.

SPEAKER_03: 26:08

I mean, no wonder Paul said, I thank Christ Jesus my Lord, who counted me worthy to be a part of this ministry, he got it.

SPEAKER_02: 26:16

He did.

SPEAKER_03: 26:17

He got what he was a part of, and that's what we all should understand too.

SPEAKER_02: 26:22

Right. Man. Because of how what a blessing that is to us to think about that. Because the whole world presses in on us. We know that. Yep. As followers of Christ, the world can press, and you said a while ago, you know, Satan kind of can throw you in so many different directions, but boy, there's one place you know a hook that you can always come back to and hold on to.

SPEAKER_03: 26:43

Yep.

SPEAKER_02: 26:44

And that's exactly what we've been talking about today. Here is that hook that gives us the power to keep our focus where it needs to be.

SPEAKER_01: 26:52

You know?

SPEAKER_00: 26:52

Yeah, well, and I think this has been really good discussion, and we're at a good point to start wrapping up where we've looked at where Jesus is, why he is there, and then getting ready for the next episode where we will look at what he is doing at the right hand. And so I feel like this whole episode has been a make it real, but guys, share your your kind of closing thought, make it real for us in in these last couple of minutes.

SPEAKER_03: 27:15

I got this quote. You got one. The enemies of Christ are not just defeated, they are furniture for his feet, man.

SPEAKER_02: 27:25

Furniture, man. Don't be furniture, man. But now when you think about furniture, what piece of furniture is?

SPEAKER_03: 27:31

It's a footstool, man. Like what?

SPEAKER_02: 27:35

Yeah, furniture comes in various ways. Exactly. Oh, yeah. Okay, I just uh we didn't get to it about Hebrews 1. That I mean, think about this. Just but to which of the angels has God ever said, said at my right hand?

SPEAKER_03: 27:54

Yeah. None of them. None of them.

SPEAKER_02: 27:56

But there's only one.

SPEAKER_03: 27:57

Yep.

SPEAKER_02: 27:58

The guy, as you say, the guy, Jesus the Christ, his son, our savior.

SPEAKER_00: 28:03

Yeah. And I guess for mine is uh bow on your own before you're made to bow against your will.

SPEAKER_02: 28:09

Oh, that's great, man. Great.

SPEAKER_00: 28:11

All right, guys. Well, great discussion. Hopefully, everyone else got as much from this as we do. And uh, we'll carry on this conversation in the next episode. Take care. See you.