The Son of Man at the right hand of God

In my reading of Acts chapter 7 today, my attention is drawn to the scene when, at the end of Stephen's preaching and rebuke, the high priest and the council, along with all the accusers were "cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth" (verse 54), but Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit at that time.

Verses 55 and 56 tells us that Stephen looked up to heaven and saw a wonderful scene: Iesus standing at the right hand of God.

55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Acts 7:55 - 56  New King James Version

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, when we encounter people who slander us, who falsely accuse us of heresy, even some who are angry with us and hate us because of our faith in the Lord, let us remember to do what the martyr Stephen did. Let us look up to God our Father in Heaven, and remember that our Lord Iesus, the Son of Man, is at the right hand of our God.

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Twelve years ago, I wrote my thoughts on the teachings of the Apostles regarding Iesus the Mediator between Man and God.

• Jesus Our Mediator (26Apr2010)

If I am lifted up . . .

In New Testament times, the expression to be "lifted up" is an euphemism to refer to being crucified, i.e. to be nailed to a cross and be lifted high up to die.

Our Lord Iesus used this term when talking to Nicodemus in John chapter 3 and again to the Pharisees in John chapter 8, as shown in the verses below:

14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
John 3:14  World English Bible

28 Jesus therefore said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and I do nothing of myself, but as my Father taught me, I say these things.
John 8:28  World English Bible

In John chapter 31, we read an account where our Lord told the multitudes after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem that if he was "lifted up" from the earth, he would draw all people to himself (John 12:32). Verse 33 explains that our Lord said this to signify the kind of death he would die, i.e. by crucifixion.

31 Now is the judgement of this world. Now the prince of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 But he said this, signifying by what kind of death he should die.
34 The multitude answered him, “We have heard out of the law that the Christ remains forever.✡ How do you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up?’ Who is this Son of Man?”
John 12:31 - 34  World English Bible

Today many Christians think that the expression "lifted up" means to praise the Lord Iesus, to lift up his name and to glorify him, particularly during congregational worship in Church on Sunday morning. Eight years ago, I wrote my thoughts and observations on this misconception, link below:

• Lift Jesus higher (16Mar2014)

Not with me, against me - Not against us, with us

In response to some people who, after seeing the Lord Iesus cast out an evil spirit from a dumb man, accused the Lord of using the power of Beelzebul (Luke 11:15), the Lord rebuked them with a discourse on the kingdom of Satan being overcome by "one who is stronger" (Luke 11:22), ending with these words:

He who is not with me is against me . . .

Full text of the passage in Luke 11;17ff

17 Every kingdom in which there is division is made waste; and a house in which there is division comes to destruction.
18 If, then, Satan is at war with himself, how will he keep his kingdom? because you say that I send evil spirits out of men by the help of Beelzebul.
19 And if I, by Beelzebul, send out evil spirits, by whose help do your sons send them out? so let them be your judges.
20 But if I, by the finger of God, send out evil spirits, then the kingdom of God has overtaken you.
21 When the strong man armed keeps watch over his house, then his goods are safe:
22 But when one who is stronger makes an attack on him and overcomes him, he takes away his instruments of war, in which he had put his faith, and makes division of his goods.
23 He who is not with me is against me, and he who will not give me help in getting people together is driving them away.
Luke 11:17 - 23  Bible in Basic English

A parallel passage is found in Matthew chapter 12:

25 Every kingdom having division in itself is made waste, and every town or house having division in itself will come to destruction.
26 And if Satan sends out Satan, he makes war against himself; how then will he keep his kingdom?
27 And if I by Beelzebub send evil spirits out of men, by whom do your sons send them out? So let them be your judges.
28 But if I by the Spirit of God send out evil spirits, then is the kingdom of God come on you.
29 Or how may one go into a strong man's house and take his goods, if he does not first put cords round the strong man? and then he may take his goods.
30 Whoever is not with me is against me; and he who does not take part with me in getting people together, is driving them away.
Matthew 12:25 - 30  Bible in Basic English

When we compare the above passages to earlier accounts of the Lord Iesus' reply to his disciples in Luke 9 and Mark 9, we see that the converse is also true - that he who is not against the Lord is for the Lord:

49 And John, answering, said, Master, we saw a man driving out evil spirits in your name, and we did not let him do it, because he was not one of us.
50 But Jesus said to him, Let him do it, for he who is not against you is for you.
Luke 9:49 - 50  Bible in Basic English

38 John said to him, Master, we saw one driving out evil spirits in your name: and we said that he might not, because he is not one of us.
39 But Jesus said, Say not so: for there is no man who will do a great work in my name, and be able at the same time to say evil of me.
40 He who is not against us is for us.
Mark 9:38 - 40  Bible in Basic English

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus Anointed, are we with the Lord? Let us never be found to be against him.

King David's prophecy: the LORD said to "his Lord"

Today I read Psalm 110 from the King James Version and compared this prophetic psalm of King David with its counterpart, Psalm 109 from the Septuagint (LXX Brenton):

1 The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Psalm 110:1 - 7  King James Version

1 A Psalm of David.
The Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The Lord shall send out a rod of power for thee out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3 With thee is dominion in the day of thy power, in the splendours of thy saints (or holiness): I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning.
4 The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.
5 The Lord at thy right hand has dashed in pieces kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He shall judge among the nations, he shall fill up the number of corpses, he shall crush the heads of many on the earth.
7 He shall drink of the brook in the way; therefore shall he lift up the head.
Psalm 109:1 - 7  LXX Brenton

While the two versions appear mostly similar in general, verse 3 in the LXX differs significantly from verse 3 in KJV, particularly in the second half of the verse.

The KJV renders v3b rather vaguely as,

"in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth."

In contrast, the LXX puts David's prophecy more clearly as

"in the splendours of thy saints (or holiness): I have begotten thee from the womb before the morning . . ."

Eight years ago in February 2014, I wrote my observations in two consecutive posts on this prophecy about the everlasting reign of the Seed of David, links below:

• Questions for Critics of Yeshua the Messiah (03Feb14)
• Peter explains how David understood his prophecy (06Feb14)