“The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’ “ (Psalm 110:1, NIV). “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way.” (Ephesians 1:18-23. NIV).
With His mission on earth completed, the redemption for mankind’s salvation paid, disciples taught and commissioned to go forth and tell the wonderful story, Jesus was caught up into heaven and seated at the right hand of God in exaltation and glory. I could have chosen many New Testament references to show the fulfillment of this prophecy made by David centuries before Messiah’s coming to earth. Jesus Himself quoted from Psalm 110:1 in His teachings. See Matthew 22:44, Mark 12:36 and Luke 20:42-43. The writer of Hebrews, whose major intention was presenting Jesus both as the sacrifice for sins and as the Great High Priest, has many references to Christ’s exaltation. “The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind: You are a priest forever” (Hebrews 7:21. NIV). “Because Jesus lives forever, He has a permanent priesthood. Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7; 24-25. NIV).
Paul, writing in Ephesians 1:18-23 seemed, even with his ability with words and explaining intricate spiritual truths, especially burdened to let the church know what a tremendous gift we have in the exalted Christ and His work now as He is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. He intercedes and prays for us! Can you imagine Christ Himself praying for us to the Father? It is a concept beyond our human understanding, but it is a fact of His strength, power and dominion. And of His love for us! He came to earth and identified with us. Now in heaven, He knows our human frailties, our tendencies to stray, our inabilities to stand on our own without His strength. Because of Christ’s position at the right hand of God, we can have confidence as we approach God. Read about that confidence in Hebrews 10:18-25. A good summary of what we should do is in Hebrews 10:22-23 (NIV): “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” He is faithful to us; let us be faithful to Him! Amen!
c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Wednesday, December 29, 2010
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