I believe Jesus is actually seated at the right hand of God; for Scripture says it and I believe it. I will quote two scriptures that state this and they will both tell us WHY He is indeed SITTING DOWN. In Hebrews 1:3 we read that “when He (Jesus) had by Himself purged our sins, SAT DOWN at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (NKJV). Later, in Hebrews 10:12, we read, “But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, SAT DOWN at the right hand of God.” Jesus “sat down at the right hand of God” because His work, to purge (i.e. cleanse) our sins, was finished! He didn’t sit down because He was tired; He sat down because He had completed the work that the Father had given Him to do. In John 17:4, Jesus prayed these words as He anticipated going to the cross to offer Himself as a sacrifice for sins, “I have glorified You on the earth. I have FINISHED THE WORK which You gave Me to do.” After Jesus had suffered the wrath of God for our sins on the cross, He cried out in victory, “It is FINISHED” (John 19:30)! This “finished work” entitled Jesus to SIT DOWN at the right hand of God.

Now let’s address the meaning of the “RIGHT HAND of God.” Why was Jesus seated at the “right hand” and not the “left?” I believe there are two meanings connected with the “right hand.”

1) The “right hand” symbolizes POWER (as you were told). This is borne out in Exodus 15:6, “Your RIGHT HAND, O LORD, has become glorious in POWER; Your RIGHT HAND, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.” Another scripture which speaks of this is Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous RIGHT HAND.” Most people are “right-handed” which means it is STRONGER than the left hand, and thus God used the “right hand” to teach us of His power. Because He does it is fitting that God raised His Son from the dead and seated Him at His right hand. We read of this in Ephesians 1:19-21, “And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His might power which He worked in Christs when He raised Him from the dead and SEATED HIM AT HIS RIGHT HAND in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion.” This passage shows us that the place Jesus occupied is one of POWER, a power that is greater than any other power, and that power is beautifully expressed in those two words “right hand.”

2) The “right hand” also speaks of AUTHORITY. We see illustrated in Genesis 48:14 where “Israel (Jacob) stretched out his RIGHT HAND and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was younger, and his “left hand” on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly.” In this passage Jacob was blessing his grandsons and by placing his “right hand” on Ephraim he was giving him a “greater position of AUTHORITY” than his older brother Manasseh. No doubt God guided Jacob’s hands for it was His will to give Ephraim the greater position over his brother. It is instructive that Jacob used his “right hand of authority” to confer this authority to him. Likewise, God had seen fit to give His Son the GREATEST POSITION OF AUTHORITY by seating Him at His RIGHT HAND. Just before Jesus ascended to heaven He said, “All AUTHORITY has been given to Me in heaven and earth” (Matthew 28:18). Mark 16:19 tells us what happened next: “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD.”  (402.3)  (DO)