Why did Jesus sit down?

He sat down...

Have you ever wondered why Jesus sitting down is such a big deal? Hebrews 1:3 says, "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high," (ESV) Notice the second part of that verse; it's there we discover the reason Jesus sat down. You'll be blessed by this if you've never thought about it. 

Jesus sat down because His work was done and His work was approved. Isn't that awesome? 

Jesus Himself knew His work was complete; He said, "It is finished!" (see John 19:30). His finished work is why fear of God has no place in the heart of one who has come to Jesus in faith. The Spirit of God teaches us through the Apostle John, "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love." (1 John 4:18 ESV) 

Do you understand that, friend? "Perfect love" means something that has been fully completed. You see, when John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that He gave...", it means God expressed His love by giving a solution to our debt, and that solution was completed on the cross, so God's love, in Jesus's finished work, crosses out God's wrath. If you believe on the Lord Jesus, and receive Him, you become a child of God, your sins are forgiven, you have fellowship with the Father and you have no need to fear punishment from God. Fear has to do with punishment, as John said, but we have nothing to fear if Christ has settled the issue for us and if we believe on Him. 

How can I know Jesus's work is enough? To answer that is to unfold the second reason Jesus sat down. Yes, He sat down because He was finished, but He also sat down because God the Father was satisfied with the work of God the Son! 

He stood (read: worked) till He was done and sat down at the right hand of God, and now He waits until "And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." (Hebrews 10:11-14 ESV)

We who come by faith know God has approved of the work that paid for our sin and Jesus has completed. Because He sat down, we can be confident and without fear when we cling to Jesus by faith. 

I rejoice that Jesus sat down!