34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ – Acts 2:34-35
A Mother’s Request
Matthew chapter twenty records the incident of the mother of James and John asking of Jesus the honor that her sons may sit one at His right hand and the other at His left in the kingdom. But what exactly was she asking on behalf of her sons? And why? Apparently, even she did not comprehend the magnitude of her own question as Jesus responded,“You do not know what you are asking” (v. 22).
With her motherly bias, Salome wanted assurance that her two sons would have prominent positions in Jesus’ kingdom. This question, prompted by pride, became an object lesson in humility. Jesus could assure James and John that they would share in His suffering, but “seating arrangements” in the kingdom belong to the Father. He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father” (v. 23).
As Jesus would go on to teach His disciples, if you really want to be great, you must serve. If you want to be first, you must become a slave: like Me, “even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (v. 28).
Musical Chairs
In Luke chapter fourteen, Jesus also used “seating arrangements” as a lesson on humility. In this chapter, He gives us the parable of the wedding feast. Jesus commented on the tendency of human nature (i.e. – pride) being displayed by the guests wanting the seats of highest honor.
Jesus’ recommendation for His audience was to choose the lowest seats as opposed to the seats of honor. After all, after you have taken a seat of honor, someone more distinguished may arrive after you, causing you to be demoted to a lower seat by your host. Jesus wants to spare you such shame.
Instead, Jesus recommends that you humbly choose for yourself the lowest seat. In doing so it is more likely the host will come to you and invite you to move up, therefore, bringing you honor at your “new” table.
Jesus concluded His parable with this famous line, “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (v. 11). But Jesus didn’t just teach about humility, He lived it.
True Humility
While I am thankful for Jesus’ teachings on humility, I know of nothing more powerful than His example as so masterfully portrayed in Philippians chapter two. Accordingly, I want to share a few verses of it and let it “speak” for itself.
3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. – Philippians 2:3-8
Who is more worthy to teach about humility than our Savior? Who is more deserving of exaltation than our Lord?
The Father’s Command
In stark contrast to Salome’s request of Jesus on behalf of her two sons, is the Father’s command to Jesus on behalf of mankind.
“The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.” – Psalm 110:1
In the incarnation, Jesus left His Heavenly throne and took on flesh and blood. When He did so, He “emptied Himself” and took on the form of a servant. In perfect obedience to the Father, He went to the cross on our behalf. His work in the “flesh” accomplished, the Father gave Him the seat at His right Hand.
While it is tempting to think of this truth literally we might be better served to understand it metaphorically. The Father’s command to the Son to sit at His right hand isn’t so much about “space” as it is honor and authority.
When David penned this Psalm in the original it says that Yahweh commanded Adonai. In other words, this is the Great I Am, Israel’s covenant-keeping, omnipotent God speaking to the promised Messiah. The long-awaited Christ.
Israel’s long-awaited Messiah left His Heavenly throne, lived a perfect life in human flesh, died for our sins on a Roman cross and ascended back to the right hand of the Father. But His work is far from done.
Interceding In Between
What did David comprehend about the promised Messiah when he penned the 110th Psalm? Even with the completed Scriptures what do we truly comprehend about our Savior’s current and future work?
We often speak of Jesus sitting at the Father’s right hand because the Father was satisfied with Jesus’ completed work and therefore Jesus can now rest. But as I have already mentioned, we have to be careful about taking passages too literally.
His work on earth completed (for a season), Jesus has ascended back to Heaven. We know from the pages of scriptures that He will be returning back to earth in what we refer to as the parousia. But in between His ascension and the parousia, Jesus isn’t resting.
As our great High Priest Jesus has made a sufficient one time sacrifice for our sins, but as our faithful High Priest, He knows that we still battle satan and sin, and therefore we need His continued intercession.
Prayer Support
I don’t believe that on this side of heaven we will ever understand the importance of prayer. Without a doubt, it is the most neglected power source in the world. How different would the world be if Christians took prayer more seriously?
I still vividly recall the immediate effect the loss of my mother-in-law back in 2000 had on my ministry as an Associate Pastor. I knew she faithfully prayed for me as well as the other pastors on staff on the time, but I didn’t realize how dependent I was on her faithful prayers.
It takes a very special person to serve in the Pastorate. The spiritual warfare is very draining on a person, at least it was for me. In addition to all of the things that need to be done to make sure the services and ministries are effectively carried out, there are a lot of people to visit and many others in need of counseling. These things must never be done “in the flesh”.
After losing the prayer support of my mother-in-law, handling these spiritual responsibilities became more difficult. Thinking perhaps I was oversimplifying the situation I patiently waited for things to return to the way that had been before her passing. But it never happened. In fact, I found with the passing of time that treading water only became more difficult.
As difficult as it was, in fairness to my church family I knew I had to step down from the Pastorate. Perhaps I was never “special” enough to be a Pastor, but I know for sure that fighting spiritual battles requires prayer support. Without it, we are no match for the enemy. To believe otherwise is not only foolish, it is downright dangerous.
Current Ministry
While I am thankful for the “finished” work of Christ on Calvary’s cross, I am just as thankful that His active concern for His church was not exhausted by His death on our behalf. Just as we needed His “intervention” at the cross, we need His intercession from the Father’s right hand.
As mentioned above, even though we are washed by the blood of Christ, we will still struggle with sin as long as we are in the flesh. While we do not need to be “saved” each time we sin, we do know our sins can affect our fellowship with the Father who is too pure to look on sin.
As part of His current ministry of intercession, John tells us that Jesus serves as our advocate (1 John 2:1). He acts as our lawyer before the Father. When John refers to Jesus as our advocate in this passage, he refers to Him as, “Jesus Christ the righteous”. This is important because when the Father looks at us, He sees the righteousness of our Advocate. With Jesus as our advocate, we will never be condemned (Romans 8:1).
Although we may still sin, we will always have the perfect righteousness of Christ.
On the night of His betrayal, Christ offered what is known as the High Priestly prayer (John 17). In this prayer, He made a lot of petitions for His followers including their unity and protection. Luke further records Jesus’ words to Peter that Satan desired to sift him like wheat but Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail (Luke 22:21-32). I believe in His current role of making intercession, Jesus is doing the same for us.
Satan will “sift” us, but our Intercessor will always sustain us.
It is comforting to know that as long as we are fighting spiritual battles, we will always have the intercession of the Messiah who alone is worthy to be exalted to the right hand of God, the position of supreme authority.
34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. – Romans 8:34