The right hand of the Father.

Christ has not only sat down, but he sat down at the right hand of God. This position shows his exaltation for God has exalted him and bestowed on the name above all names (Phil 2:9). Christ came in the form of a servant in his humiliation, but he is no longer in that estate but is now exalted far above all things. We need to realize the beauty that Christ is in heaven, seated and on the right hand of God the Father. His exaltation has given him a position of power and authority. The right hand is the place of honor and power (Ex 15:6; Is 48:13). Christ, the son of David who sits on his throne forever (Acts 2:30). He sits in the position of power and is still our mediator. We approach the throne of grace not to Christ in the estate of humiliation but in the estate of exaltation, which has all power, dominion, any authority over all things (1 Pet 3:22).

Christ seated at the right hand of God the Father will defend his church (Matt 16:18). Christ also subdues his enemies. Christ’s position, preeminence, and place gives his people great comfort because we are not his enemies, but he is our king. We look to him, the founder and perfector of our faith (Heb 12:2). We should have great comfort in this because his promises come from the place of power. He is able to do what he says he will do. There is no risk analysis in the promises of God because he sits in the highest place of honor and power.

The most quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament is Psalm 110:1, “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.” Christ accomplishes this with his ascension when he sits down at the Father’s right side. Thus, Christ has honor and power since his ascension and will have until he returns. Calvin explains in the Institutes of Christian Religion, “Christ was invested with lordship over heaven and earth, and solemnly entered into possession of the government committed to him — and that he not only entered into possession once for all but continues in it, until he shall come down on Judgment Day” (Institutes 2.16.15).

We often think and praise Christ for his death and resurrection, occasionally for his life. We should also glorify Christ as he sits down at the right hand of God. We have tremendous comfort that he as the head of the church gives gifts (Eph 4:10-12), that as the powerful king preserves defends us from all of our enemies and as the great high priest in the order of Melchizedek intercedes for us on our behalf. In the last moments of Stephen’s life, before he was stoned to death, he mentioned Christ sitting at the right hand of God, and it was this truth that he was ultimately stoned for. 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. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55–56). As he was being stoned, he cried out to Christ in this position and place, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit” (Acts 7:59).

Thomas Kelly wrote a beautiful hymn, “The Head that Once Was Crowned with Thorns,”

The head that once was crowned with thorns is crowned with glory now;
a royal diadem adorns the mighty Victor’s brow.

The highest place that heav’n affords is his, is his by right,

the King of kings and Lord of lords, and heav’n’s eternal Light: