Much of our focus on the life and ministry of our Lord centers on what He has already done in the past. On His marvelous and magnificent work of redemption accomplished for us in His perfect, sinless, obedient life, sacrificial death as our substitute, and victorious resurrection. And we definitely should spend our time meditating on and being reminded of such. We can’t do so enough. But have you ever given much thought to Jesus’ work presently? What He currently is doing right now in heaven? When I was in school, the WWJD bracelets were very popular. Everyone was wearing them. WWJD stood for “What Would Jesus Do?” Well, in my newsletter article this month, I want to look with you at WIJD. “What Is Jesus Doing?”
One of the things Jesus is doing this very moment as I type and as you read is SITTING. Hebrews 1:3 tells us that after Jesus “having accomplished cleansing for sins,” He “sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.” This is often referred to as Jesus’ “session”. A fancy Latin word that basically means “the act of sitting.” Of course, this is a metaphor as other places Jesus is spoken of as standing at the Father’s right hand (Acts 7:56) or walking among His churches (Revelation 2:1). It is a symbol of something important concerning His ongoing work on His people’s behalf. It dramatically pictures the completion of His work of salvation.
Imagine someone coming home after a long day’s work, having finished all of their assigned tasks at their job, and then sitting in their chair. The person was on his feet all day but can finally sit down now that he was done with his work. That’s what this sitting down of Jesus communicates to us. That He has finished what He had come to do. The author of Hebrews compares Jesus’ work to that of the Old Testament high priests when he writes, “And every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God” (10:11-12). Do you know what one piece of furniture was missing from the tabernacle and temple? A chair. There was nothing for the priest to sit down on or any place for them to. Because their work was never done or completed. They always had another sacrifice to offer up on behalf of the people. Then that would be followed by another sacrifice and yet another sacrifice and so on. But, after Jesus offered up Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of His people, He was able to sit down because no other sacrifice ever needed to be made. His was, at long last, sufficient to cover the sins of those who would trust in Him. No other sacrifice ever needs to be made. Jesus’ was enough! That’s why He can be sitting down right now.
Also, this sitting at the right hand of the Father says something about Jesus’ present reign and authority over all of creation. Sitting at a king’s right hand is an expression that means the person in such a position shares the same power and royal status as the king. Ephesians 1:20 tells us that God the Father seated Christ “at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” Likewise, 1 Peter 3:22 says that Jesus “is at the right hand of God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had been subjected to Him.” This is exactly what the Father promised to do as Psalm 110:1 prophetically predicted. How good it is to know that in a world where things often appear to be spiraling out of control and resulting more and more into chaos, that Jesus is still sitting at the Father’s right hand ruling and reigning over everything that takes place down here below. He is not pacing back and forth worried or not sure of what to do. But sits having everything in control.
Now, don’t think that this must mean that Jesus is just passively sitting up in heaven presently at the Father’s right hand doing nothing. That’s not the case at all. He is very active at the moment in PRAYING for us. According to Isaiah 53:12, Jesus would “bear the sin of many, and intercede for the transgressors.” Interestingly, the word for “bear” in the Hebrew is in what is called a perfect tense indicating a completed action. Something that was done in the past never to be repeated. That refers to Jesus bearing the guilt of our sins in His death. However, “intercede” is in the imperfect tense, which means that the action is ongoing and not done yet. Jesus’ sacrifice is finished but not this work of intercession or praying. It continues on in this time of His session or sitting. The author of Hebrews picks up on this saying, “Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them” (7:25).
What an encouragement it is to know that Jesus is praying for us at this very moment. Let this blessed truth sink in! The perfect sinless Savior whose prayers the Father surely will answer, and which certainly will be according to the Father’s will, is praying for you. Scottish pastor Robert Murray McCheyne once said, “"If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet the distance makes no difference; he is praying for me." As to what specifically Jesus might be praying for us right now, I think we find some clues to that by paying attention to what He did pray for His people during His time on earth. Things like forgiveness for them on the basis of His atoning death (Luke 23:34; 1 John 2:1-2). What Moses’ intercession for the people of Israel and the Angel of Yahweh/the LORD for Joshua the High Priest (Zechariah 3:1-5) pointed forward to. The sustaining of our faith as He had prayed for Peter (Luke 22:31-32) is another prayer He must be praying for us today as well. I am convinced that had Jesus not prayed for Peter’s faith not to fail that it surely would have. The same is true for us. Left on our own, in our own strength, without Jesus’ continual fervent prayers on our behalf, we all would easily abandon the faith and walk away from it. The only reason we can have confidence that such will not be the case with us is due to Jesus’ present prayers. He more likely is still praying for the unity of believers in the church as He did in what is known as His “high priestly prayer” in John 17. Also, in that same chapter as part of the same prayer asking the Father for protection from the devil for His people (v. 15) and for their sanctification or being made holy (v. 17). All of these things are still very much needs for us today so I see no reason why He would not be continuing such prayers now in heaven.
We really don’t need any departed saints or Mary to be praying for us in heaven right now because we have Jesus and His prayers are so much better anyway. It would make no sense to pray to them or put our trust in them praying for us. The comfort comes in Christ and His prayers being brought up to the Father on our behalf continually.
And the final thing we know that Jesus is doing right this very minute is WAITING. Waiting in particular for His enemies to be put under His feet as Psalm 110:1 and Hebrews 10:13 tells us. Since this will occur at Jesus’ return (Revelation 19:11-21), this waiting really is for that appointed time when He comes to earth in full and final victory over those enemies and they are nothing more than a footstool His feet would rest on. So, Jesus is sitting and praying in heaven in anticipation of that time to come.
As we look back to what Christ has done for us during His time on this earth in the past, let’s not forget what He is presently doing for us now in heaven. His sitting, praying, and waiting. Without which we would all be lost and have no hope of the completion of our salvation. Praise God for our Savior’s session and its significance!
Love in Christ,
Pastor Lee
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