There is one who has the right to be so honored to sit at the right hand of the Almighty God! He is the one who came from eternity only to return in a different role. He is one of three who are in the Old Testament, who is spoken of in the Hebrew word, “el-o-heem’,” as in Genesis 1:1, which reads: “In the beginning God (“el-o-heem’) created the heaven and the earth.” From eternity he came and to eternity he returned!
It is often said, that his birth was miraculous, but this is not the case. His birth was just like other births! It was the conception that was miraculous and not his birth. Matthew wrote of the conception: “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 1:20). Why people speak about the miraculous birth, I do not know! Is it just a misreading of the text, or is it a deliberate teaching that is false? Of course, it may be that we have heard it so often that it is just taken as truth? Nevertheless, it in an important truth that needs to be understood, as it is speaking “Where the Bible speaks!”
The text which is to serve as the starting place for this article, is: “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Heb. 1:3). Let’s break the text down into points: 1) “Who being the brightness of his glory,” 2) “the express image of his person,” 3) “upholding all things by the word of his power,” 4) “when he had by himself purged our sins,” and 5) “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” No being, of earth or heaven, had ever been so honored to “sit down on the right hand of the Majesty on high!” Hold onto the last phrase, “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Only after the work had been completed did this “honored One” take his seat “on the right hand of the Majesty on high.” Here recall the words of Jesus which go “hand in hand” with the last phrase: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work” (John 9:4). As we think on these words, let us ask the question: “Can we do any less?” True, we will not do the works required of us as complete as did Jesus, but it must be our aim!
At “the right hand of the Majesty on high,” reminds us of an Old Testament prophecy: “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14). These words are a conclusion, as Jesus had completed his work on earth and he is returning to heaven; let us once more look at the points in the text: 1) “behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven,” 2) “came to the Ancient of days: (This is the honored one returning to heaven), 3) “they brought him near before him” (The “they” of this text would appear to refer to angels, as I know of no other in heaven that the pronoun “they” can refer and the “him” referring to God the Father.) 4) “And there was given him dominion,” 5) “glory;” before continuing, notice a change in the wording, from what Jesus and what he would receive to those who would “serve” him; and now continuing what was given to Jesus: 6) “a kingdom,” 7) “that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him.” Now think on these things, which Jesus would receive and the nature of it: 1) “his dominion is an everlasting dominion,” 2) “which shall not pass away,” and 3) “his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.” These are the things that would take place as Jesus “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high!” He had finished his work and he received his reward and was so honored!
Look up and see that one who took his seat at “the right hand of the Majesty on high!” (In faith, of course.) On second thought, go back to the eleven apostles who were allowed to see, in part, what we have studied in the above words: as they heard the words of Jesus: “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight” (Acts 1:9). The words of Daniel were being fulfilled before their eyes!
Never was there, nor ever will there be, another one who “sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high” but that one who came from heaven and who returned to heaven! Therefore, what does it mean to you?
Frank R. Williams