Sitting Is Good News

Hebrews 1 tells us that after making purification for sins, Jesus “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs” (3-4).  It’s striking imagery if you think about it.  Picture an attorney making his closing arguments to the jury, and then after a crescendo of rhetoric he says, “I rest my case” and sits back down next to his notes.  Or think of a mom who has had no time for herself all day.  She’s made meals, cleaned the house, changed diapers, folded clothes, helped with homework, played in the backyard, raced to the grocery store, and now finally has the kids snoozing in their beds.  She walks wearily down the stairs and for the first time since she woke up 14 hours ago, she sits down.  Sitting down, in both examples, is more than an act of rest.  It is representative of completion.  All that was needful has been accomplished.

That’s why it’s thrilling to think that Jesus is seated at the right hand of God.  His work is finished.  He accomplished all that was needful for our salvation.  And having shown himself to be the victor over sin, death, and the devil, it is given to him to sit, not in any old place, but at the place of honor and exaltation at God’s right hand.  All things have been placed under his feet (Eph. 1:20-22).  All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to him (Matt. 28:18).