See Him Now In Glory Seated

by Harold S. Paisley

The line of this hymn written by the late brother Denham Smith should fill our hearts with joy and expectation, as we enter upon another year. The consideration of our Glorious Lord who has entered into His Glory, and is soon returning for His blood-bought people, is substance for sweet meditation.

This was one of the great themes discussed on the road to Emmaus. The risen Christ spoke of His sufferings and glory. His question to the two downcast disciples was startling: “Ought not Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26). Then, “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” What a Bible reading that was! How we would ponder His words and their wonder. The testimony of the Old Testament prophets was not expounded fully by the Lord. They had testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories after these (1 Peter 1:11, R. V.).

Our blessed Lord Jesus showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs during the wonderful forty days between His victorious resurrection and His visible ascension to the Father. He was finally seen ascending on high by His disciples, and two angel witnesses on earth. Beyond the cloud He was seen of other angelic beings as He entered Heaven fully glorified, where He was called by His Father to sit down with Him upon the throne, “until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Hebrews 1:13). The little group of men that had continued with Him in the days of His flesh stood upon the mountainside of Olivet gazing with wonder as He left them, and with uplifted hands in priestly blessing, passed into the home from which He had once descended in lowly grace. We cannot imagine the glorious reception He must have had as angels saw the first Man in a body enter the Father’s House. His hands, feet and side bearing the wounds of Calvary, marked Him as the Victor over death. Once the Man of Sorrows but now the Man of Glory.

The one who received the greatest joy in beholding Him as He arrived in Heaven was God Himself. The words of David by the Spirit were then fulfilled: “The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at my right hand” (Psalm 110:1). God gave to Him the highest place above. “Who has gone into Heaven, and is on the right hand of God, angels and authorities and power being made subject unto Him” (1 Peter 3:22). By faith we look upward and see a Man with glory crowned. His reception by means of His ascension was his vindication by the Father of the acceptance of His atoning work upon the cross. Here also was divine compensation for the many sorrows which He patiently endured. God has given Him the highest place in glory for He is the One whom He delighteth to honor. The answer to the lowest room given by men is the honored seat beside His Father upon the throne (Rev. 3:21). “Give this Man place” can be applied to the direction of the Father. It is ours to give Him the highest place in our hearts, homes, the harvest field, and above all in the House of God.

Peter made this grand point when he fearlessly testified to the great Sanhedrin: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree, Him hath God exalted at His right hand” (Acts 5:31). The lowest point of His humiliation was the Tree; the highest point of His exaltation is the Throne.

Gazing on Thee, Lord in glory,

While our hearts in worship bow,

There we read the wondrous story

Of the cross, its shame and woe.

Every mark of dark dishonor,

Heaped upon Thy thorn-crowned brow,

All the depths of Thy heart’s sorrow,

Told in answering glory now.

On the cross He made atonement for our sins. On the throne He waits the moment when He will return to remove His Church and then come to this sad earth occupy the throne of His glory. Presently He sits upon the Father’s throne, from henceforth expecting until His enemies are made His footstool. Soon He will return to Olivet to reign over all Israel sitting upon what He Himself describes as “My throne” (Rev. 3:21). He, the Lamb, is Lord of lords and King of kings (Rev. 17:4). What wondrous days lie ahead for this poor world of violence and apostasy–Jesus is coming to reign as the Prince of Peace.

Today faith views Him in the glory as our Great High Priest. Each child of God can be assured of His personal interest. He sympathizes with each one in every affliction, trial and sorrow. He bears our names upon His heart and carries our burdens. His watchful eye looks down with tenderness upon the weakest and feeblest of the flock. “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (lit. “sin apart”) (Hebrews 4:15). The Lord above is a merciful and faithful High Priest who has compassion on the ignorant and those who are out of the way. In times of deep distress, problems, sorrow and difficulty, He understands and cares.

Sir Edward Denny’s hymn has touched a chord in many a sad heart to look upward to the One who now in glory seated is His people’s friend.

Past suffering now, the tender heart,

Of Jesus on His Father’s throne,

Still in our sorrows bears a part,

And feels them as He felt His own.

The consideration of Him and His Shepherd care should comfort us and bring peace and assurance in this troubled world of the last days.

May we be able to enjoy the great prospect of His possible return which is imminent, at any moment of the day. As we enter the new ear, it should be our constant expectation, thus we join with John and say, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen” (Rev. 22:20-21).

from the January 1996 issue of Words in Season, Vol. 88