On The Right Hand of God

Written By: Bishop G.T. Haywood

Published By: The Christian Outlook (Dec - 1923)

There are many who are anxious to be enlightened, or to get an explanation of the scriptures concerning Jesus being "on the right hand" of God, since this present great message has come forth, we hereby set forth the meaning of the "right hand" according to the word.

When Rachel brought forth her last son, Jacob, his father, called him Benjamin, that is, "Son of my Right Hand." Benjamin was Jacob's "favorite" son, and became the head warrior tribe (Genesis 49:27), and he was the most "favored" among his brethren by Pharoah. (Genesis 45:22).

Of the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim received the "right hand" blessing, Jacob guiding his hand wittingly, and when it displeased Joseph and prompted him to remove his right hand to the head of Manasseh, Jacob refused and said, "truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and he set Ephraim before Manasseh, power and authority being given unto him. (Genesis 48:13-20).

It was at the Red Sea that God's "right hand" was made "glorious in power," and being favored God in this trying hour the children of Israel recognized themselves as being on the right hand of the Most High. Power and authority had been given unto them, and as a nation they were destined to show forth, in a measure, the future glory of the Coming Kingdom of Christ. (Exodus 15:6).

In the Law it was understood that he who received the Right hand blessing was eligible to exercise all authority over the possessions to which he has fallen heir. All things are given into his hands. In all cases it was the "firstborn" who became his father's right hand child, with the exceptions of the cases of Ephraim and Manasseh, Esau and Jacob, Joseph and Benjamin, and such like wherein God endeavored to show the transferring of his favor from the Jews (the first) to the gentiles (the last.)

When David was in trouble, he cried, "Will the Lord cast off forever and will he be favorable no more? Is his mercy clean gone forever? Doth his promise fail forevermore?" Then he said, "This is my infirmity: I will remember the years of the "right hand" of the Most High." Psalms 77:7-11. Here it can be plainly seen that the "right hand" of God is the "favor" of God. Hw would remember the years when he was favored of God; when he was in power and authority, and all his enemies had been subdued unto him. So it is with christ.

He was God in the "likeness of men;" the Lord and Master in the form of a servant: The Everlasting father "as a son:" The eternal Spirit "manifest in flesh;" Divinity robed in "humanity;" the High and Lofty One in "humility;" and in his humiliation His judgment was taken away. He was misjudged. They judged him to be a man, speaking blasphemy against the Most high. Though they judged him cursed of God, yet He said, "Ye shall see the Son of man (his human form) sitting on the RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and coming in the clouds of heaven." (Mark 14:62.) On the resurrection morning he arose from the earth as Almighty God, favored with "all power given unto Him both in heaven and in earth." Matthew 28:18.

It is this truth that sent conviction to the hearts of Israel on the day of Pentecost, "Therefore being bythe right hand of God, God has made this Jesus, both Lord and Christ." Acts 2:32-36. When Stephen saw Jesus "standing in the favor of god, in defence of whom the Jews had put to death, it was more than his enemies could bear, and they dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death. Acts 7:55-59.

To say that Christ is on the right hand of God does not mean that there is another human form like unto that of Jesus seated in heaven, but instead, it showed that the humanity of Jesus Christ (Son of Man) had been highly favored by God against whom he was accused of speaking blasphemy. What a rebuke! What a sting? Jesus of Nazareth, the deceiver, the blasphemer,the desecrater of the Sabbath, sitting on the right hand of God!! Could it be possible? These are the things that confronted the Jews after the resurrection, and those who testified to the truth of these things only enflamed the Jews with bitter hatred. Acts 7:55-60

In reading the following scriptures, you will find that Jesus did not use the term "right hand of God" but instead, "the right hand of POWER." Matthew 26:64; Mark 14:62; Luke 22:69. Moreover, it will be noticed that He also uses the term "Son of Man" (humanity, instead of "Son of God." He was the Eternal Spirit's right hand Man. (Jehovah's fellow. Zechariah 13:7.)

Bishop G.T. Haywood