Monday, January 4, 2021

Heb. 7:23-28, The Glorious Son: At the Right Hand (2)

Let us consider three questions concerning Jesus at the right hand of the Father.

·       Why is Jesus at the right hand of the Majesty on high?

We can say He is there because this is the Father’s will; The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand” (Ps. 110:1).  But the verse continues: Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.  The Son is awaiting the submission of all His enemies.  Then He will leave the right hand and return to earth to rule from His throne in Zion (Ps. 2:6-9).  This is the Father’s plan, to give the nations to the Son as His inheritance.  At the moment, Christ is head over the Church.  Angels and powers are subject to Him.  But, as Heb. 2:9 says, now we do not see all things put under Him.  So He is there, awaiting the Father’s time.  Jesus said it clearly in the parable of Luke 19:12: He has gone into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.

·       What is He doing?  Is He just sitting, doing nothing?

To begin with, “sitting” is not an indication of inactivity.  Rather, it speaks of His resting from the work of redemption.  Remember, in Acts 7:56, how He stood to welcome Stephen to His eternal reward and rest.  But the work of redemption is finished.  Remember: when He had by Himself purged our sins, (He) sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hb. 1:3).

Further, Scripture teaches He is doing the word of our High Priest.  We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens (Heb. 8:1).  What work is involved in this?  Redemption is complete; but now, our High Priest, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood (Heb. 7:24).  He is no longer engaged in offering sacrifices, having offered one perfect sacrifice.  But He appears before God to apply the redemptive work continuously.  This does not require physical effort, because just by His presence at the right hand of the Majesty He is a constant reminder that the price has been paid for those who have received Him.  He, the resurrected and eternal Lord, giver of eternal life, always lives to make intercession for believers (Heb. 7:25).  Who can condemn the believer, since, it is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us (Rom. 8:34).  Hallelujah!  Amen!

·       What must I take from this?

o   We must maintain the preeminent excellence of the glorious Son (Heb. 1:1-4).

o   We must remember He is interceding now, on our behalf (Rom. 8:34).

o   We must set our affection on Him (Col. 3:1; Heb. 12:1-2).

o   We must, by faith, be overcomers (Rev. 3:21).

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