Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God.

• Mark 16:19

In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee.

• Luke 24:5-6

After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”

• Acts 1:9-11

Beyond all question, the mystery from which true godliness springs is great:
He appeared in the flesh,
    was vindicated by the Spirit,
was seen by angels,
    was preached among the nations,
was believed on in the world,
    was taken up in glory.

• 1 Timothy 3:16

“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

• Mark 14:62

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

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 8:32

who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

• 1 Peter 3:22

Mark 14:62 ” Unable to find testimony that agreed on any charges, the Sanhedrin finally used Jesus’ own confession to find him guilty of blasphemy.”

• Dorothy Kelley Patterson, General Editor, NIV Woman’s Study Bible (Ann L. Bowman, Gospels and Acts contributor)

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary,
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.

• Apostle’s Creed

The Message

While some scholars question Mark 16:19, in that the earliest manuscript does not have those verses, Mark 14:62 clearly states that Jesus is in heaven at the right hand of God.  Acts 1 states Jesus was taken up, and 1 Timothy 3 states He was taken up in glory.

While being at God’s right hand is mentioned in several of these Scriptures, and more, does God the Father have a right hand?

God is a spirit and He does not have a body like man.  But the concept at the time of writing these Scriptures is that Jesus was that trusted advisor who proverbially sat at the right hand of the supreme ruler.  In kingdoms on earth, this person had the ear of the ruler. Thus, if Jesus is that person to the right hand of God, it means Jesus has the most influence of anyone on the Father and His decisions.

And what is Jesus doing there, at the “ear” of God the Father?  He intercedes for us.

And now let us sing.

The following song is God’s Hand.  This is sung by Matthew West.  Jesus sits at God’s Right Hand to intercede for us, but what happens as a result?  God is sovereign.  He can heal.  He can perform miracles.  He can prevent something that might do us harm.  It’s all in God’s Hand.

 

Closing Prayer

Dear Lord,
We believe in You.  We trust You.  You died for our sins roughly 2000 years ago, but ever since Your ascension about 40 days later, You have been looking out for us.  You have set things in motion that cause us to trust in You and You keep us safe, although the messes that we get ourselves into at times seem dire.  Yet, You and the Father and the Holy Spirit love us and You have a plan for us.  Help us be fruitful while here on this earth.  And my greatest Hope of the future is to be in Your arms, thanking You for everything You have done.  Praise Your Holy Name.
In Thy name we pray,
Amen

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.