(The following is the March 2 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Mark 16 and pay close attention to verses 19-20.)
Have you ever had a job that required you to be on your feet most of the time? Occasional breaks are cherished because we get a moment to sit and rest. We do not have the luxury in such jobs to sit whenever we want, or others will rightly accuse us of sitting down on the job. Sitting when our work is complete is a welcome relief, even if we know that we eventually must get up and start something else.
In today’s passage, Jesus sat down for a different reason. He sat because he forever completed the job he came to Earth to do. Jesus lived a perfect, sinless life in total obedience to the Father. He endured the cruelty and humiliation of the cross. He conquered death, rose again, and appeared to hundreds of people. Then, “the Lord Jesus, after speaking to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God” (v. 19).
Similarly, Hebrews 10:11-12 speaks of Christ sitting down and compares him to other priests of his day: “Every priest stands day after day ministering and offering the same sacrifices time after time, which can never take away sins. But this man, after offering one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God.”
When we sit in exhaustion at the end of a day, we are mindful of our weaknesses. We know it is only a matter of time before our rest will end and new work must begin. But we should rejoice that Jesus sat down at the right hand of God because there was no more sacrificial work to be done. Jesus meant it when he cried from the cross, “It is finished!” (John 19:30).
Oh, how we should look forward to that day when we see Christ seated on his throne. Joy will abound as we praise him for his completed work.
Next Step:
When you are tired and sit down over the next few days, remember you have a Savior who never tires and who sat down only after completing the work needed for your salvation. Praise him every time you think of it.
