Acts 7:55, 56

Acts 7:55, 56
In these verses, we are told that JESUS was standing whereas in most places it is indicated that HE is seated at the right hand of the FATHER.

Why is HE standing in these verses?

The scene HE is watching involves Stephen, the first CHRISTIAN martyr. Stephen has made an apology of his faith before unbelievers and they are enraged. Stephen was dragged to the outskirts of the city and there he was martyred.

Have you, as a parent, ever awaited the arrival of your adult children for a visit? Perhaps they were arriving from college during spring break. Perhaps they were coming home for Christmas. Perhaps it was simply a weekend visit when you would help them catch up on their laundry.

At those times, when you were waiting, how did you wait?

Did you busy yourself in the kitchen preparing your child's favorite food? Probably.

Did you occupy yourself by reading the newspaper? Maybe.

Did you dust the unused bedroom so it would be fresh for your child's occupancy? Perhaps.

But whatever you did to keep yourself busy, the one thing that interrupted your activity was your frequent trip to the door to peer out to see if they were arriving yet. You probably looked out the window a dozen times--as many times as you looked at the clock.

JESUS, the SECOND PERSON of the GODHEAD, left HIS home in glory, laid aside HIS deity and took on flesh in order to redeem man, HIS beloved, crowning jewel of creation, from the sin that had allured him from Eden's Garden; it seems most plausible to believe that at the moment of Stephen's stoning, JESUS stood from HIS throne in glory to observe the approach of HIS precious one to his Heavenly home.

With that possibility in mind, does it seem probable then that when one is about to depart the realm of the mortal that the immortal GOD who fashioned him would arise from HIS seat in majesty on high to welcome, to embrace, the new arrival?

The GOD who loves HIS own, the GOD who sacrificed Heaven's crowning jewel that man might be saved, almost certainly would arise to receive to HIMSELF the beloved child for whom HE died.