On Saturday, May 6, 2023, the world will get to see something that does not happen very often: the coronation of a new king of England. Charles will be crowned king of England and Camilla will be crowned queen. There will be a great deal of pomp and circumstance and symbolism on May 6, but what strikes me as most interesting is how many of the elements of the upcoming will involve the king’s right hand.
- A ring will be placed on his right hand.
- One of the two scepters will be placed in his right hand.
- An orb will be placed in his right hand.
These will be handed back to the Archbishop of Canterbury after their placement. Then, traditionally, a host of significant people come forward and kiss the ring on the king’s right hand.
The giving of these items to the right hand of the king is intended to communicate different things, but all of them have to do with the new king of England’s rule, over both the state and the Church of England.
It is, to say the least, interesting to watch all of this. In light of the history of our nations, there is, of course, a unique historical angle to an American observing this. Most of us will watch it with a sense of interest and even respect but also with an awareness of our own story. But, more so, it is most interesting to watch this as a Christian. We are aware, of course, that there is only one King who reigns forever and that His throne is above all other thrones. This is Jesus. But what is really fascinating is thinking about how Jesus is the great treasure at the Father’s right hand.
The New Testament is filled with references to the right hand of the Father, and they all involve His Son, King Jesus, God with us. We have seen how “the session” of Jesus—the sitting of Jesus at the Father’s right hand—communicates the completion of Jesus’ earthly saving work, the exaltation of Jesus and His unparalleled power and authority, and the continuation of His priestly role of intercession and advocacy. But there is yet more to the session of Christ, and to this we turn now.
Jesus being seated at the right hand of the Father gives focus to the lives of the children of God.
We have spoken of the session of Christ in terms of what it says about Jesus. That is, we have viewed the session from the perspective of Heaven. But what does it mean from the perspective of earth, from our perspective as the people of God. The New Testament depicts the session of Christ is of supreme importance to us.
First, it depicts the session as an orienting reality for us, a fit object for our focus and our striving. Paul articulates this, as does the writer of Hebrews. First, Paul, in Colossians 3, writes:
1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
The “if” there is important. It means that this truth is conditional. It is for the believer, the one who has “been raised with Christ.” If this has happened, if you are Christ, then you are to “seek the things that are above.” But Paul does not leave it there. Had he done so, this would have been nothing more than a vague encouragement to strive toward the higher life or to seek some kind of nebulous greater or more noble truth. But, no, the “above” of which Paul speaks is very specific: “seek the things that are above, where Christ is.”
In other words, let the seated, enthroned, interceding Christ be the dominant focus of your daily gaze. See Him there! More than that, “set your minds” on Him and these “things,” these realities. Why? Because “you have died.” Your old life of sin is gone. You have something more beautiful to look at now! And “your life is hidden with Christ in God.” Meaning, positionally, in terms of your salvation and your allegiance and your identity, you are there with Him!
Christ at the right hand of the Father becomes then a powerful object for our focus! Let Him fill the horizon of your site! See Him there, and worship!
The writer of Hebrews, in Hebrews 12, says the same thing in a different way.
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
As we run this race we “look to Jesus.” And where is this Jesus to whom we look? He is “seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Once again, the session of Christ becomes the orienting reality of our lives! Our King is enthroned and interceding for us! Our King has all power and glory! Consider the core truths of these two passages:
“seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God”
(Col. 3:1)
“looking to Jesus…seated at the right hand of the throne of God”
(Heb. 12:2)
I do so love the song “Behold Our God” that we sing on occasion. It captures this reality so well.
Who has held the oceans in his hands?
Who has numbered every grain of sand?
Kings and nations tremble at his voice
All creation rises to rejoice
Behold our God, seated on his throne
Come, let us adore him
Behold our king, nothing can compare
Come, let us adore him
Who has given counsel to the Lord?
Who can question any of his words?
Who can teach, the one who knows all things?
Who can fathom all his wondrous deeds?
Behold our God, seated on his throne
Come, let us adore him
Behold our king, nothing can compare
Come, let us adore him
Who has felt the nails upon his hands?
Bearing all the guilt of sinful man
God eternal, humbled to the grave
Jesus, Savior, risen now to reign
Behold our God, seated on his throne
Come, let us adore him
Behold our king, nothing can compare
Come, let us adore him
You will reign forever (let Your glory fill the Earth)
repeat
Behold our God, seated on his throne
Come, let us adore him
Behold our king, nothing can compare
Come, let us adore
Behold our God, seated on his throne
Come, let us adore him
Behold our king, nothing can compare
Come, let us adore him[1]
Yes! Behold Him! Adore Him! Let your focus be transfixed upon Him!
Jesus standing at the right hand of the Father means He is welcoming the children of God home.
The session of Christ is usually depicted as Christ sitting, but not always. One exception can be seen in the account of the martyrdom of Stephen in Acts 7.
54 Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him.55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” 57 But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. 58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
This is one of the most powerful passages in the New Testament. Notice, for instance, how Stephen basically quotes two of the last words of Christ from the cross:
- “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”
- “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (i.e., “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
But most telling of all is the posture of Jesus at the Father’s right hand as Stephen is martyred. Acts 7 mentions it twice, first as Luke’s description and then as Stephen’s to angry mob.
- 55 But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.
- 56 And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
“Standing at the right hand of God.” Stephen marveled at this amazing sight! The Lord Jesus stands to receive Stephen home! He is saying by His posture in Acts 7 what He says verbally in Matthew 25:21, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.” He is rising, in other words, to receive Stephen into his reward.
Over the years as a pastor, I have stood in a number of rooms and watched people take their last breaths. It is always a sobering thing to see, and a sacred thing. And I have similarly heard countless accounts from family members of how their loved ones died. It is amazing how often some version of this scene is recounted: that in the loved one’s last moment he or she seemed to look up with a look of peace and joy or verbally said something like “I see Him!” Time and again I have heard this, and I believe it.
Christ will welcome His bride home! He stands to welcome Stephen. His welcoming work is part of His priestly work.
Jesus being at the right hand of the Father gives assurance of His unending love for the people of God.
There is a final thing that the session of Christ does for us, and it is no small thing: it assures us that Jesus’ love is constant and unending.
Everybody loves the end of Romans 8 and its amazing list of things that cannot separate us from the love of God. But before those beautiful words that start in verse 35 we have the theological grounding of them that begins in verse 34.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Ah! Those beautiful words that follow about the certainty and unbreakable nature of the love of Jesus are grounded in the session of Christ, in His being “at the right hand of God” and His “interceding for us.” We know His love is unfailing because He is at the right hand of the Father and because He is interceding for us! And knowing this, Paul can write:
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But if Christ were not at the right hand of the Father we would not have this certainty! If the throne of Christ is empty we have no assurance! Henry Barclay Swete writes, “As the interval between the Ascension and the Return lengthens century by century, the Church takes heart when she remembers the Seated Figure of the expectant Christ.”[2] Yes, we do take heart! It is His abiding presence that strengthens us, reminds us, encourages us, equips us. It is that He is there and that He loves us that enables us to press on, to live.
In an amazing article entitled, “When my Quadriplegia Ends,” Joni Eareckson Tada remembered her wedding day, the day she married her husband Ken.
On the morning of my wedding, my helpers laid me on a couch in the church’s bridal salon to dress me in my gown. They heaved and shifted my paralyzed body this way and that, trying to fit me into it, but when I sat back in my wheelchair, I groaned. In the mirror, I looked like a float in the Rose Parade.
Right before I wheeled up the aisle, my bouquet slid off my lap. That’s when I spotted a greasy tire mark on my hem. My chair was spiffed up, but it was still a big, clunky thing with belts and ball bearings. I was not the picture-perfect bride.
Then I caught a glimpse of Ken at the front. He was craning his neck, looking for me. My face grew hot, and my heart began to pound. Suddenly, my wheelchair and clumpy dress with its smudges faded away. I had seen my beloved, and how I looked no longer mattered. I couldn’t wait to get to the front to be with him.
I may have felt unlovely, but the love in Ken’s face washed it all away. I was the pure and perfect bride. That’s what he saw, and that’s what changed me.[3]
I believe this gets to the heart of the session of Jesus: seeing our Groom Jesus and seeing Him seeing us helps us to see ourselves rightly and helps us to understand that He loves us, broken though we are.
He loves us and He will never stop loving us.
See Him there! Behold our God, seated on His throne.
Come. Let us adore Him.
[1] https://sovereigngracemusic.org/music/songs/behold-our-god-who-has-held-the-oceans/
[2] Quoted in Garrett, James Leo, Jr. Systematic Theology. 2nd edition. (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 1990) Logos edition.
[3] https://decisionmagazine.com/joni-eareckson-tada-when-my-quadriplegia-ends/