Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Mark 16:19-20 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
WHO IS YOUR RIGHT HAND MAN?
"God's right hand and holy arm has won the victory ..." is a choir hymn that sounds in my mind whenever I read or hear of God's "right hand." But is the Bible contradicting itself? After all, Jesus Himself said as recorded in John 4:24 that "God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth." If God is a Spirit, then how can He have a right arm? This is a commonly asked question.
Answer? "An-thro-po-morph-ism." That's a fancy term for how God describes Himself with terms in which we "anthropoids" (humans) can understand. The same would be true of Psalm 33:18 which says, "Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him, On those who hope in His mercy." God's "eye" sees all. Our finite minds cannot comprehend our All-mighty God, and all things are possible with Him.
So when we think of our God flexing His "right arm" of power we know He's not one to cross. But God's "right hand" as described in these last two verses of the Gospel of Mark reveals something else extraordinary. "The right hand of God" is the place where our Lord Jesus Christ sat down. After Jesus rose from the dead that Easter morning and ascended into heaven 40 days later, He has taken His position as the Father's "right hand man." It's quite a picture for us because that position is historically known among mankind to be the "position of power." Jesus has been given "all authority in heaven and earth" (Matthew 28:18) to carry out the rule of His kingdom.
The result of Christ's rule has eternal benefits beyond comprehension. Jesus Christ, true God and true man, has given the command to share His Word of authority and power to all people. In His almighty power He comforts you and me with His mercy, forgiveness, and with His promise that He intercedes now ... as our "right hand man" also!
