Christ’s Gifts

Christ’s Gifts

I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come.

Ephesians 1:19-21

Although Jesus had remained silent throughout his trial before the Crucifixion, he did answer one of the high priest’s questions: “ ‘Tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.’ ‘Yes, it is as you say,’ Jesus replied. ‘But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven’ ” (Matthew 26:63-64, NIV).

This declaration of Jesus is a gift to us, holding great meaning for our personal faith. Why? First, there is immense significance in the fact that Jesus is now sitting at the right hand of God the Father. Michael Horton writes, “In the ancient world, the emperor would sometimes seal the treaty between his empire and a lesser kingdom by a regal ceremony in which the local king would take his place at the right hand of the emperor, the place of power and authority. Thus, he would be adopted in a sense by the great king as a son.”^a

Second, we know that Jesus has ascended to sit at the right hand of God, but in the same breath he said he would come “on the clouds of heaven”—a great promise to us that he is coming back!

Finally, God’s Word also assures us that we will reign with him if we have put our faith in him. “For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17, NIV).

Father,

Thank you that your mighty strength that raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at your right hand is the same power you share with us to deal with all the challenges of family life. Amen.