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Introduction

This thesis details the position of Christ Jesus in heaven as revealed in the book of Psalms. The Psalmist testifies that “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psa 110:1). Here, it is explained that the “Lord” as mentioned in the scripture, speaks of the Christ.

Christ´s Exalted Position

Jesus Christ, after His resurrection from the dead, ascended into heaven where He intercedes for believers (Rom 8:34). It has been recorded that the Lord Jesus, after having spoken to His disciples, was received into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God (Mk 16:19). It is further read that:

“After saying this, Jesus was taken up while those who had gathered together were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, two men in white robes stood right beside them. They asked, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand, looking up toward heaven? This same Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you saw him go up into heaven” (Acts 1:9-11).

Christ has been exalted to sit with God in the Heavens (Acts 2:33). So we have a High Priest who is seated on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens (Heb 8:1). Paul admonishes believers to seek those things that are above if they have risen with Christ (Col 3:1-2).

Jesus has many times been referred to as the “the Son of David” (Mat 1:1, Mat 9:27, Mat 15:22, Mk 10:47), Jesus, in referring to the scripture in Psalms, argues that if David himself said that “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Till I make thine enemies thy footstool. David, therefore, calleth him Lord, how is he then his son?” (Luk 20:42-44). Therefore, the “Lord” that David spoke about is nobody but the Christ Himself. This implies that Jesus is greater than David.

Stephen had a personal revelation about Jesus in Heaven. When he was being killed, he also testified that he saw heavens opened and Jesus Christ was standing on the right hand of God (Acts 7:56).

While Christ is seated on the right hand of God, angels, authority, and powers have been made subject unto Him (1Pet 3:22). Jesus assured His accusers that after His death, they shall see Him sitting on the right hand of power (Mar 26:64).

Why is Christ Seated

From the preceding paragraph, Stephen narrates that Jesus was standing but other authors say that  Jesus is seated. This does not mean that the scriptures contradict themselves because Jesus is not an idol. He moves and He may stand before God to intercede for His children as already mentioned above in Rom 8:34.

Christ was not made to sit on the right hand of His majesty when His mission on earth was not accomplished. Paul, therefore, writes that “But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down on the right hand of God (Heb 10:12). He sat down after having endured the cross through much suffering, shame, and pain (Heb 12:2). A place of honor awaits all who through endurance complete their God-given mission.

Conclusion

David, being a prophet of God, foresaw that the right hand of God was reserved for Jesus Christ after He has offered Himself for the remission of the sins of the world. The Lord who was made to sit on the right hand of God was Christ Jesus. Jesus, therefore, speaks that the Psalms also testifies about Him.

Prayer: Lord God Almighty, help us to complete our mission on earth and give us rest in a place of honor, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.

Introduction

Jesus said unto His disciples: “These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me” (Luk 24:44). Here, the testimony of the Psalms about the Messiah is presented.

His Resurrection in Psalms

“Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand, there are pleasures for evermore” (Psa 16:9-11).

The Psalmist mentioned that God would not cause his body to decay in the grave, but it should be understood that he was speaking prophetically about the Messiah and not about himself. In his sermon, on the day of Pentecost, Peter made reference to the above scripture and said that David is both dead and buried and his body remains in the grave until now. David, being a Prophet, knew that God had sworn an oath to him that out of his descendant shall the Messiah be raised to sit on his throne. David, therefore, spoke of the resurrection of Christ (Psa 2:23-32).

Paul also cited the same Psalms and preached that David fell asleep and having been laid unto his fathers, decayed but the One God raised again, that is the Christ, did not decay. It is through this man that forgiveness of sin is received (Acts 13:38).

Prophecy Fulfilled

It is recorded in the scriptures, that, Christ died and rose again as prophesied in the Old Testament. It is read that on the first day of the week, it was found that the stone covering the tomb where Christ was laid, was rolled away from the sepulchre. When they entered in, the body of Christ was not found in the tomb. The disciples were much perplexed at the scene as they saw the angels of God in shining garments. It was found out that Christ had risen and that the tomb was empty. This was the affirmation of the scripture that the Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinners, be crucified and rose again on the third day  (Luk 24:1-7, Mk 16:1-7, Joh 20:1-15). The resurrection of Christ is linked to that of the believers. As Paul contends,” if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection” (Rom 6:5).

Resurrection of Saints

Daniel prophesied about the resurrection of the dead and said:

“And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased” (Dan 12:2-4).

Paul quizzes: if Christ is preached that He rose from the dead, why do some say that there is no resurrection of the dead? Again, if Christ was not raised from the dead, then our preaching is vain, and that our faith is also useless and we remain sinners (1Co 15:12-17). He adds that if our hope ends only in this world, then we are of all men the most miserable (1Co 15:19).

Conclusion

The resurrection of Christ offers hope for Christians, that, their bodies would not be left in the grave forever. They would resurrect to see Christ when He appears the second time. That would be a day of joy for those who truly believed in Christ but a moment of sorrow for those who vehemently rejected His grace.

Prayer: May the Lord God be gracious to us and cause us to live lives that are worthy of His Children. In the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord. AMEN!