The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Colossians 3:1,
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God."
What does it mean when Paul says that Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of God? Clearly, this refers to the position God the Father was pleased to place his one and only Son, Jesus Christ in. It reflects the position, the power and the authority Jesus Christ has in heaven and on earth. He is supreme next to the Father.
The writer of Hebrews makes much of this point in Hebrews 1:3b-4, "After he [Jesus Christ] had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs." Also Hebrews 1:8-9, "About the Son [Jesus Christ] he says, 'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.'" In this quote of Psalm 45:6-7, the writer of Hebrews uses the language of the Sons of Korah to express the lofty position of Jesus Christ.
Jesus is there - in heaven with this stature God the Father has placed on him. Having paid the penalty for all mankind's sins for all time, satisfying God's sense of Justice and making available the opportunity for the Father to bring us into his family, God has shown his approval and his delight in Jesus Christ for what he did to redeem us. Since we belong to Jesus Christ, since we will never be separated from the love of Jesus Christ, how nice it is to know he holds this lofty position?! We read the question in Romans 8:35, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" The answer: nothing. Nothing in all creation! "... nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:39.
Some theologies have attempted to define who Jesus Christ is, but have failed to recognize the full meaning of Colossians 3:1 in their formulations. Some have thought that Jesus Christ was a good man, a wonderful spiritual leader in the mold of Mohammed, or Buddha or some other spiritual leader. Others feel that Jesus Christ is only one of many paths to God.
There is only one position at the right hand of God. That position is held by Jesus Christ who is seated there. He and he alone occupies that position!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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