The Sitting Son | The Institute for Creation Research

The Sitting Son

“…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.” (Hebrews 1:3)

“He…sat down,” Hebrews says. Just a few verses later the text quotes Psalm 110:1, saying, “Sit on [at] my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Hebrews 1:13). Whose right hand? The author of Hebrews treats this psalm as God the Father addressing God the Son. The Lord Jesus occupies that throne at His Father’s right hand even now. How could He simply sit there while the world churns in sin’s turmoil?

Jesus had perfect faith and thus perfect obedience. “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). During His earthly ministry, the Lord Jesus trusted His Father’s plan. He said, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42). He surely trusts His Father still. His obedience all the way to the cross earned Him the highest seat of authority over all—seen and unseen. “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name” (Philippians 2:9). So, He sits.

How long will Jesus stay seated? “Until I [the Father] make thine [the Son’s] enemies thy footstool.” Jesus knows His Father will end this turmoil right on time. We can trust our Father, too. In fact, when we refuse or fail to trust Him we commit idolatry! But when we sit within His will, then no matter what comes our way, we can always say, “I’m forgiven. I’m free. My Father is taking care of me.” BDT