Throughout much of the New Testament, Jesus is described as sitting at the right hand of God. At Jesus’ trial, He told the Jewish leaders that He would be seated at the right hand of God (Lk. 22:66-69). Mark recorded that after His ascension into heaven that Christ sat down at the right hand of God (Mk. 16:19). Paul expressed that Jesus was sitting at the right hand of God (Col. 3:1). Those who complete a detailed study of the book of Hebrews cannot help but notice the writers continued remembrance of Jesus sitting on the right hand of God (Heb. 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2). There is deep meaning in the fact Christ is now, and forever, seated at God’s right hand.

The highest place of honor was given to those who sat to the right hand of a king in ancient history. When Solomon became king of Israel, he prepared a seat for his mother on his right (1 Kgs. 2:19). Furthermore, we see the importance of the right hand when Jacob blessed Ephraim and Manasseh. Manasseh should have been blessed with Jacob’s right hand as was his birthright. Jacob instead put his right hand on Ephraim. Joseph assumed that this was a mistake from his father because of his dim eyes, but Jacob made it clear that it was no minor mishap. God would bless the tribe of Ephraim greater than Manasseh (Gen. 48:10-20). As was stated previously, the greatest seat of honor in ancient times was the right. Those who sat on the right hand of a king had equal honor, dignity, and power as the one that sat them there. Jesus sitting on God’s right hand does not mean He is lesser than God in any degree; but that they are equal in all aspects (Eph. 1:19-23). Jesus Christ is God and let us never forget this truth (John 1:1-4)!

Emphasis of Christ sitting on His throne demands us to recognize two things; Jesus has completed His task and is ruling now. Jesus came to this earth to complete a task; that task was redeeming mankind from their sins (1 Cor. 15:1-3). Jesus’ death on the cross achieved total victory and the task was complete. The continued remembrance that Jesus is sitting shows that He finished what He set out to do. Is there time to sit for someone who has work to do? May we thank Christ each day that He bore our sins and completed His task! For now, He sits down; waiting for the Judgment Day when He will arise from His throne and return for His faithful Church (1 Cor. 15:22-26). Be thankful that Jesus completed redemption and sits on His throne, but also be ready for His return for we do not know when that shall be (Matt. 24:42-44). Do not lose sight that Jesus sitting on His throne also expresses that He rules now! The person that sits on the throne is the one who rules. Christ’s kingdom is His Church (Matt. 16:16-18). Jesus is the head of the Church (Eph. 1:22). His kingdom was established on the day of Pentecost when Peter first preached the Gospel (Acts 2). His Church is an eternal kingdom that will never be destroyed and shall stand forever (Dan. 2:44-46). He is king now; His title is “King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:11-16). Jesus is sitting on His throne, watching and ruling His Church as a mighty king ought (Rev. 1:17-20).

Jesus has all honor, dignity, and power. He has completed the task He set out to do; redeeming mankind of their sins. He sits on His throne to the right of God ruling His kingdom now and forever. If you are not a part of His Church you have no part in His kingdom. One day, every knee will bow to the King and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. Why not take care of this while on earth and receive a reward, instead of waiting for the Judgment Day when it will be too late.

The bulletin article next month will be a study of Jesus STANDING on the right hand of God when Stephen was being stoned (Acts 7:56).

– Brandon Foresha

The Bible is God’s message revealed by the Holy Spirit through inspired men (2 Tim. 3:16-17; 1 Cor. 2:13; 14:37). David referred to the work of the Holy Spirit in explaining the origin of the portions of Scripture he wrote. In 2 Samuel 23:1-2, he wrote, “Now these are the last words of David. Thus says David the son of Jesse; Thus says the man raised up on high, The anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel: ‘The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.’” David claimed that the Holy Spirit spoke through him, putting the very words on his tongue. In Mark 12:36, Jesus corroborated this claim by His statement concerning the words of David found in Psalm 110, saying, “For David himself said by the Holy Spirit: “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” The process of the Holy Spirit using men, such as David, to write the Old Testament was described by Peter in 2 Peter 1:20-21, “knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit moved men to write the New Testament as well. While various means were employed by God to communicate His will in the Old Testament, in the New Testament He has spoken by His Son Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-2). Inspired men, such as the apostles who heard Jesus themselves, were used by the Holy Spirit to produce the New Testament. We are not left with merely the claim that these individuals were speaking the message of God, but with authentication from God Himself that this message was from Him. This authentication is found in miracles which the Holy Spirit worked. In Hebrews 2:3-4, this question is asked: “how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?”  The salvation God provides to us now through His Son was first spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself while He was here on earth and was confirmed by those who heard Him. These were the apostles who accompanied Jesus from the baptism of John to the time of the resurrection, of which they were witnesses (Acts 1:22). Jesus did not reveal all that was to be included in the New Covenant while He was here on earth; there were more truths that the apostles could not yet bear, but they would be guided by the Holy Spirit who would remind them of what Jesus taught them and teach them the remaining portions of the saving truth God desired to reveal. Jesus promised His apostles in John 14:25-26, “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.” Later, in John 16:13, Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would guide the apostles into all truth. God bore witness to the veracity of their message that it was indeed from Him, “both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit” (Heb. 2:4).

Thus, while around forty individuals were used in writing the Bible, there is really one author: God. He has revealed His will for us in the Bible and we can understand it (Eph. 3:4). This coming weekend, Eric Lyons will be here to speak on the abundant evidence for why we can trust the Bible as a reliable guide from God. Will you come?

-Mark Day