And Jesus said, I am and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power and coming in the clouds of heaven. Mark 14:62 KJV
Jesus had been arrested and was brought to the high priest to stand accused. Many gave testimony accusing him of various offenses, but their statements were false. When the high priest Caiaphas asked if Jesus was going to answer these accusers, Jesus stayed silent.
This verse concerning Jesus “sitting on the right hand of power” was the Lord’s answer to the priest’s question, “Are you the Messiah?” When Jesus answered that he was the Messiah, the high priest tore his clothes and asked, “Why do we need more witnesses?” saying, “You have heard the blasphemy.” The assembled men agreed that Jesus was guilty and should be put to death.
In Leviticus 24:15-16, the scriptures read, “And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, whosoever curseth his God shall bear his sin. And he that blasphemeth the name of the Lord, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. KJV” This is the Hebrew law that Jesus was said to have violated.
Caiaphas took Jesus’ words as blasphemy because the priest did not believe Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus’ statement, “sitting on the right hand of power,” claimed similar glory and authority to God. In the high priest’s judgment this made Jesus Christ worthy of death.
Power and Authority
To the outside observer it may not look like Jesus had any power or authority, but he was in total control. For example, when Christ had released Judas to betray him, Jesus was allowing this event to take place because it was God’s will and fulfilled the scriptures. As Christ said in John 10:17-18, “Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father. WEB”
Jesus chose to follow the will of God. He chose to go to Jerusalem. He allowed the greed filled Judas to arrange his arrest. Christ chose to stay on the Mount of Olives that night rather than leave the area. Everything went in accordance with God’s will and God’s plan. Praise God for that. The end result is a risen Savior sitting on the right hand of power with God. Jesus cleanses true believers from sin and gives eternal life.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the gift of salvation. As Jesus forgave those who condemned him, forgive me for my offenses as I forgive those who have offended me. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: Set Your House in Order
