When the apostles were placed before the Sanhedrin, who reminded them about the council’s command to not teach anymore in the name of Christ, Peter said, “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:29-31). In his bold preaching to these religious leaders, why didn’t Peter simply say “you crucified him” rather than using the more cumbersome phrase he does about hanging on a tree? Evidently, Peter wanted to conjure up in the minds of these Jewish leaders the connotations of Deuteronomy 21:22-23:  “If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree, his body shall not remain overnight on the tree, but you shall surely bury him that day, so that you do not defile the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance; for he who is hanged is accursed of God.”  His audience, familiar with these words, would draw the inference that Jesus Christ was the Messiah who died under God’s curse. Not only the original audience but all people should reach this conclusion in their hearts: “Jesus took my place on the cross.” It seems Luke maintained Peter’s particular phrasing here so that readers of Acts may draw this inference about the significance of the cross as well.

In his first epistle, Peter again employed the image of a tree in regard to Christ’s crucifixion, “who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1 Pet. 2:24). In addition to the tree language of Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Peter uses phrases from the description of God’s suffering servant in Isaiah 53; on the tree Jesus bore our sins and by his stripes we are healed. Readers of the Hebrew scriptures must understand the Messiah came to save us by His suffering. We were all under the curse of God, but Christ took the curse for us.

In dealing with Judaizing teachers, who were requiring all men to keep the law of Moses to be saved, Paul, recalling the curse of Deuteronomy 27:26, wrote, “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them” (Gal. 3:10). There is no way to get out from under the curse of God on our own. The only way for us to be saved is for Jesus to take the curse for us. We avail ourselves of this blessing in following Him by faith. Paul went on to write: “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’ Yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’” (Gal. 3:11-13).

Thus, while Peter was very bold to point out that the members of the Jewish council before whom he stood had murdered Jesus, he invoked the language about the tree to show that Jesus took even their place that they may be given the opportunity for repentance and remission of sins (Acts 5:30-31). God wants all men to be saved, even those who in their spiritual blindness are vehement enemies of His Son (Jn. 3:16; Rom. 5:8-10; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). Let us be reminded that Christ took the curse for every person and pray that even our enemies would repent and receive forgiveness of sins.

-Mark Day

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