#DailyDevotion Jesus, Exalted To The Father’s Place With The Father’s Name

Heb. ³He…sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven, ⁴and is as much superior than angels as the name He has is better than theirs.

In Matt. 26 we hear this exchange, “⁶³But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to Him, ‘Swear by the living God, and tell us, are you the Christ, the Son of God?’ ⁶⁴‘I am,’ Jesus answered him. ‘But I tell you, from now on you will all see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven.’” Indeed what Jesus predicted here has come to pass. It is one of the strongest claims to divinity Jesus has made. Only someone equal to the Father can sit next to the Father at His right hand. It is interesting the different euphemisms used for God. In our text today, “Majesty in heaven” and in Jesus’ mouth, “of power.” They are giving deference to the name of God, which we also discuss in a minute.

So we see in Peter’s first sermon this claim as see clearly in ch. 2, “³³Lifted up to God’s right hand and receiving from the Father the promised Holy Spirit, He has poured out what you see and hear.” In Acts 5 in their trial Peter says, “³⁰You hanged Jesus on a cross and murdered Him. But the God of our fathers raised Him ³¹and took Him up to His right hand as Leader and Savior in order to give the people of Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins.” In Romans 8:34 Paul claims, “Christ died, more than that, He rose, He is at the right hand of God, and He prays for us.” In Eph. 1 he says, “²⁰[He] raised Him from the dead, and made Him sit at His right in heaven, ²¹ above all rulers, authorities, powers, lords, and any name that can be mentioned, not only in this world but also in the next. ²² And He put everything under His feet, and gave Him as the Head of everything to the church,…”

From these we can see Jesus, having been seated at the right hand of God in Majesty and Power pours the Holy Spirit upon us so we may repent and believe in Him and receive eternal life. At the right hand He gives us repentance and the forgiveness of sins. How great it is for us who put our trust in Him, Jesus at the right hand intercedes for us, for the preservation of our faith and our every need. He exercises power, authority and dominion over all things on behalf of His Church at the right hand of God. As the God-Man, He is placed over everything, everyone, all powers that exist in creation. He has a name that is above every name at the right hand of the Father.

He is superior to the angels because He has a name that is better than theirs. Dr. Charles Grieschen, of Concordia Seminary Ft. Wayne, has a number of articles on the Name. One can be found in the Annotated Large Catechism. That name which Jesus has is YHWH. It is the name God gave the Israelites to call Him that expresses His nature. God told the Israelites to honor the Angel of the LORD (YHWH) because His name was in Him. It made Him equal to God. In John 17 Jesus says, “¹¹I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You gave Me, so that they will be one as We are one.” We have two claims to divinity and equality to the Father; the Father gave Jesus His name and they are One. Indeed, no other name in heaven above, earth below or in the depths has a greater name than the name Jesus possesses. So He is superior, greater than anything or anyone else in all creation. That name He puts upon us in baptism as we are made His holy temple.

Gracious Father, You exalted Jesus to Your right hand and gave Him Your name. May we all trust in His name, live in it unto eternal life, and praise it forever. In Jesus’ name we pray.