Over the last few days, the daily posts have been leading up to a very obvious conclusion. But it is today’s post that I hope will finally provide insight about the “seated at the right hand of God” language used about the Son of Man. Is there a second God seated next to the Father or was figurative language used to represent the fulfillment of the Davidic kingdom?

Was God, through coming in flesh, ending the need for the Old Testament way of doing things? Was He changing up the protocols for covenant restoration? Clearly, the Old Testament ways did not keep the people from God’s wrath. Over and over again, God allowed the Israelites to be taken into captivity when they rebelled against God’s heart and failed to repent.

After Jesus’ crucifixion, the covenant restoration protocols changed. We, as covenant followers, no longer need a priest to intercede. Jesus (God in bodily form), through His broken body, was the final priest to offer sacrifice in the priestly line.

We, as covenant followers, no longer need to present a blood sacrifice when we sin. Jesus (God in bodily form) was the final blood sacrifice, a perfect atonement offering. As part of the new covenant, we can now repent in prayer directly to God and hear His words of forgiveness. We can hear His specific instructions for remaining in covenant with Him.

We, as covenant followers, no longer need a (Solomon’s) temple building to meet with God. The human vessel (dressed in King David’s lineage) was the perfect dwelling place for the Shekinah glory of God. The veil in the temple was torn at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion and death signaling individual direct access to God for covenant restoration conversation.

So why all the mentions of the “Son of Man” being seated at the right hand of God? For those who aren’t aware of God’s use of figurative language and the covenant promise made to King David (one thousand years before the Son of Man “temple” was born), that phrase might sound an awful lot like the existence of a second God. The New Testament Scriptures acknowledge this seat of honor more than 10 times.

The Jewish people alive at the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry were expecting a Messiah who would come through King David’s lineage. They were expecting a conquering king. They were expecting an earthly dynasty. They were expecting freedom from tyranny and from the oppressive rule of the Roman empire. They wanted a savior who would deliver them from enslavement.

What they got instead was the same God that had judged their forefathers for their persistently idolatrous behavior. The one and only God chose to make Himself known to His people in a very relatable way. He walked in flesh among them. They got a savior that they could “see with their eyes” and “hear with their ears”. They got much more than they could understand. But the one thing that they could fathom was that Jesus, in bodily form, was in the lineage of King David and was an heir to his throne.

Let’s look at one of the passages about the Son of Man being seated at the right hand of God.

“At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. ‘If you are the Messiah,’ they said, ‘tell us.’ Jesus answered, ‘If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.’ They all asked, ‘Are you then the Son of God?’ He replied, ‘You say that I am.’ Then they said, ‘Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.’ (Luke 22:66-71 NIV)

Jesus’ answers to the chief priests and teachers of the law were intentionally vague. He was announcing the fulfillment of the Davidic promise but with figurative language.

“Though I have been speaking figuratively, a time is coming when I will no longer use this kind of language but will tell you plainly about my Father.” (John 16:25 NIV)

We know that Jesus (God) while wearing mankind flesh often spoke in parables and was often intentionally vague. But for those who understood that His body was the temple of the living God, it makes perfect sense.

“Jesus answered them, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’” (John 2:19)