It is a common belief among many Christians that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven. This belief comes from several verses in the Bible that reference someone sitting at God’s right hand. But who exactly sits at God’s right hand, and what does this position signify? In this article, we will examine the biblical evidence to answer the question, “Who sits on God’s right hand?”
What does it mean to sit at God’s right hand?
In ancient times, the right hand position was seen as a place of honor, authority, and power. To sit at the right hand was to have a privileged position next to a ruler or king. Therefore, when the Bible speaks of someone sitting at God’s right hand, it is depicting a position of great honor, authority, and divine power in Heaven.
Some of the key implications of sitting at God’s right hand include:
- Being exalted to the highest place of honor in Heaven
- Sharing authority and power with God the Father
- Having victory and triumph over enemies
- Being able to intercede directly before God on behalf of others
So in summary, sitting at the Father’s right hand denotes being in the most exalted position next to God, participating in divine authority, being victorious, and having special access to intercede directly before God.
Jesus sits at God’s right hand
The New Testament unambiguously declares that Jesus Christ sits at the right hand of God. Some of the key verses that state this include:
- “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet'” (Psalm 110:1)
- “But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God” (Luke 22:69)
- “And he sat down at the right hand of God” (Mark 16:19)
- “After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3)
These verses affirm that after his sacrificial death and resurrection, Jesus took his place of supreme honor and authority at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven. From this exalted position, Christ intercedes for believers, reigns over creation, and lives to save forever all those who draw near to God through him (Hebrews 7:25).
Jesus at God’s right hand fulfills Psalm 110
Psalm 110 is one of the most frequently cited Old Testament passages applied to Christ in the New Testament. It opens with “The Lord [God] says to my Lord [the Messiah]: ‘Sit at my right hand…'” (Psalm 110:1). Jesus affirmed that he is the Lord referred to in this Psalm when he quoted it in Luke 20:42. So Jesus sitting at God’s right hand is the ultimate fulfillment of what Psalm 110 prophetically spoke of.
From his honored position, the exalted Christ reigns victorious over all his enemies until they are finally subdued under his feet when he returns. Then, once all his foes are vanquished, Christ will rule over a kingdom that will never end.
Jesus as the victorious King-Priest
The book of Hebrews expands on Jesus sitting victoriously at God’s right hand as the great King-Priest:
“But when this priest [Jesus] had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool” (Hebrews 10:12-13).
Jesus offered himself as the atoning sacrifice for sins once for all time and then sat down in his rightful place. The enemies still to be defeated are death, Satan, and all the powers of evil. But Jesus reigns even now as King and intercedes as Priest until finally subduing all enemies in the age to come at his second coming.
Jesus interceding before the Father
An important aspect of Jesus sitting at God’s right hand is that he intercedes for believers before the Father:
“Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died – more than that, who was raised to life – is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).
Because Jesus has experienced life as a man and atoned for sin, he is the perfect mediator between God and humanity. Jesus’ intercession for the saints before the Father assures that God hears and answers the prayers of His people according to His will.
Biblical figures at God’s right hand
While Scripture clearly teaches that Jesus sits at God’s right hand, there are a few other biblical figures who are depicted as having this position in visions or prophetic utterances:
Stephen sees Jesus standing at God’s right hand
When Stephen was being stoned to death, he gazed into heaven and saw a vision of Jesus standing at God’s right hand:
“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. ‘Look,’ he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God'” (Acts 7:55-56).
This vision confirmed that Jesus was indeed now in this supreme position in heaven, and that he was waiting to receive Stephen as one of his faithful martyrs.
Angels, authorities, and powers subject to Jesus
The apostle Peter proclaimed that angels, authorities and powers had been made subject to Christ Jesus, who was now exalted at God’s right hand:
“…angels, authorities and powers having been subjected to him. Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God” (1 Peter 3:22, 4:1-2).
This indicates that Jesus’ position at God’s right hand places him over every spiritual power and authority, whether good or evil.
God’s right hand strengthened the Messiah
Isaiah prophesied about the Messiah saying “See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm [right hand] establishes his rule. His reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him” (Isaiah 40:10).
This verse describes God’s right hand or power upholding and strengthening the promised Messiah in his mission to establish God’s reign on earth. Jesus fulfilled this prophecy by sitting down at God’s right hand after completing his mission.
David’s plea to be at God’s right hand
In Psalm 80, David pleads for God’s favor and requests “Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself” (Psalm 80:17).
Many scholars believe this Messianic prophecy about being seated at God’s right hand was ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ, the one raised up by God to save.
Conclusion
In summary, Scripture consistently presents Jesus Christ as the one who sits at the right hand of God’s throne in heaven. This supreme position indicates that Jesus shares authority, honor, and power with the Father as the victorious King and interceding High Priest over God’s kingdom. While a few other biblical figures are envisioned at God’s right hand in prophetic passages, the ultimate fulfillment is in the Messiah Jesus alone, who reigns and intercedes forever as the exalted Lord of all.
