No doubt original readers of the New Testament who knew their Old Testament would have quickly understood the rich background signified by being at a sovereign’s right hand. It was common in the Ancient Near East for rulers to reserve the seat to the right of their throne as a place of honor.
The title of this post may seem a bit unfamiliar, so I’m glad you’ve decided to keep reading because this is an important theological truth with significant implications for our daily lives. You may be asking, “What does Christ have to do with a ‘session’?” The word is from the Latin for “sitting” and describes a person who is seated authoritatively in an assembly, like a court or legislative body. We hear it used of a session of Congress or a court that is in session.
So when we use the term, “Christ’s session,” think, “seated,” as in the line from the Apostles’ Creed, “…and is seated on the right hand of God the Father Almighty….” This clause takes its cue from a number of important biblical passages. Let’s consider some of Scripture’s main points regarding Jesus’ session, especially his location and position.
At His Right Hand
The location of Jesus at the right hand of the Father (see Ephesians 1 along with Hebrews 1, 8, 10, and 12) is an important image that conveys both honor and power. It’s easy to see where this image comes from. For most people, the right hand is the favored hand because it is the dominant one with the greatest strength and the finest dexterity.
No doubt original readers of the New Testament who knew their Old Testament would have quickly understood the rich background signified by being at a sovereign’s right hand. It was common in the Ancient Near East for rulers to reserve the seat to the right of their throne as a place of honor. Recall 1 Kings 2 where the newly enthroned Solomon honored his mother by having a throne for her placed to the right of his. And the image of power is seen in the victory chant of Moses (Exodus 15), where he extols God’s triumph over Egypt with the lyric, “Your right hand, O LORD, is majestic in power, Your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.”
