Messiah: Sitting at God’s Right Hand

“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

Messiah: A Priest after the Order of Melchizedek

"The Lord has sworn And will not relent, 'You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.' The Lord is at your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations...He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore, He shall lift up the head." (Psalm 110:4-6a, 7, NKJV). "and it is yet far more evident if, in the likeness of Melchizedek, there arises another priest who has come, not according to the law of a fleshly commandment, but according to the power of an endless life. For He testifies: 'You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.' " (Hebrews 7:15-17, NKJV [Read Hebrews 7]

The priest Melchizedek is somewhat of a mystery man in the Old Testament. He appeared after Abraham's defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies (read about this account in Genesis 14:18-20). Abraham recognized him as a priest "of the most High God," and gave him a tenth of his spoils from the battle. This action on Abraham's behalf showed that he recognized God's part in his victory and also that there were others who worshiped El Elyon, the Most High God. Psalm 110 is a Messianic psalm written by David. Jesus referred to this Psalm by asking the Pharisees a question in Matthew 22:42-45 about Himself, "Whose Son is He?" Of course they replied, "The Son of David." Then Jesus continued: "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls Him Lord? For he says, '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 can He be his Son?' No one could say a word in reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions."

The writer of Hebrews considers both Melchizedek and Christ to be kings of righteousness and peace. At the right time, Melchizedek appeared to Abraham to reinforce his faith and to make him aware that victory comes through the Most High God. At the right time, Jesus, Messiah, a new priest, far superior to the old Levitical order of priesthood, appeared and made the once-for-all sacrifice for our sins. And we are taught, moreover, that He now sits at the right hand of God and makes intercession for us. To sit at the 'right hand' of a king is the highest honor. Jesus is in the highest honor at God's right hand, and well He should be! The Melchizedek priesthood (he appeared at the right time to minister to Abraham) is an illustration and forerunner for Christ our High Priest. Jesus' power as priest comes through His sacrifice but also "one who has become a priest not on the basis of a regulation as to his ancestry but on the basis of the power of an indestructible life" (Hebrews 7:16, NIV). The crowning jewel verse of Hebrews aptly sums up the life, work and sacrifice of Jesus, a priest after the order of Melchizedek. "Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him because He always lives to intercede for them." (Hebrews 7:25). Praise be to God!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Tuesday, December 7, 2010