What is the theological meaning of the words, “He ascended to heaven and sat on the right of the Father?” Does God have right and left as we humans have?
By Christ’s ascension to heaven is meant His ascension in the body, because the Godhead does not ascend or descend, for He is present in heaven and earth and in between filling all. What the disciples saw was the ascension in the body (Acts 1:9).
As for sitting on the Father’s right, God has no right nor left.
The words right and left are said only of limited beings, but God is unlimited. Besides there is no space around Him for anyone to sit in; for He is filling all and present in all places. Furthermore, if the Son sat beside Him, they would be beside each other while the Son said, “I am in the Father and the Father in Me.” (John 14:11).
The word “right” in fact, refers to power, greatness and righteousness.
We say in (Ps 118:15-17):
” The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. The right hand of the LORD is exalted; The right hand of the LORD does valiantly. I shall not die, but live.”
Likewise, is the case when the righteous will stand on the right of the Lord and the wicked on His left on the Day of Judgement (Matt 25). So, Christ being on the Father’s right means in His greatness and righteousness. Therefore, the Lord Christ said to the high priest, “Hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power.” (Matt 26:64).
The word “sitting” here means settled … settled in the Power.
Hence, the case of making Himself of no reputation (Philem 2:7) ended by the Ascension. Also the spitting, striking and scourging … etc, ended and He settled in the greatness and when he comes in the second coming He will come in His glory with the holy angels with Him (Matt 25:31), on the clouds of heaven as He ascended (Acts 1:11).
