Connecting Point: Seated on the Job

Seems today that we sit more and more. Our jobs, of course, are the culprits; and for youth, particularly boys (but increasingly girls too) gaming occupies us. Then, there is office administration, taxi services, computer programing. In the past generation, schooling has become longer and longer, increasing sitting. Then there are occupations that require

physical exertion and strength, such as the construction arts, athletics, delivery services and much more. For those in the later style of work it would be frowned upon to constantly sit on the job or to be slothful. Back in my 20s I worked for a roofing company. It was normal to take a coffee break. However, the boss didn’t let us slouch at all; shingles needed to be stripped off the roof and new shingles nailed down. “Time is money,” he would say. A lazy employee would quickly be unemployed.

The Epistle of Hebrews makes a sharp contrast between the Jewish priests and Jesus, the everlasting high priest. “Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy,” (Hebrews 10:11-14). Only Jesus has the right to “sit down on the job” simply due his graceful action of bearing all the sin of the world; past, present, and future coupled with his (and our) resurrection.

Prior to Christ’s resurrection, he made multiple claims of his nature and purpose: this, of course, ruffled the ceremonial robes of the religious elitists. Mark 14 records a high priest chiding Jesus, “‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed one?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus. ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ The high priest tore his clothes. ‘Why do we need any more witnesses?’ he asked. ‘You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’” (Mark 14:61-63). This was just one of the epic battles between Jesus and the local priests; they despised Jesus because he spoke with authority and was not of the “proper” Levitical lineage to be a priest (they claimed).

In both the Old and New Testament there are at least one hundred references that speak about Jesus sitting at the right hand of God. “If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us,” (Romans 8:31-35).

The fact that Jesus completed his “work” gives the Christian great hope. Just like the Hebrew Christians, we too can persevere in confidence knowing that our sins are cleansed, Furthermore, our consciences are clean because Jesus is faithful. In fact, we can encourage each other daily with these assurances. On the day, our salvation will be fully realized, and we will be in the presence of Jesus giving him praise face to face.

We trust that Jesus will return for us all.