At the beginning of history, when God had finished all of his creating work, what did he do? He rested (Genesis 2:2). Does this mean God sat back and did nothing? No, it means that God had accomplished all he had set out to do, and that he now reigns over it all.

We get the same picture here of Jesus. We have learned a lot about Jesus in these few verses at the beginning of Hebrews. “After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” Jesus had accomplished everything he had set out to do, and now he sits at God the Father’s right hand.

This does not mean, of course, that Jesus is sitting around doing nothing. To be seated at God’s right hand is to reign, actively ruling over all the work and development of God’s eternal, universal kingdom.

Jesus became human, one of us, for a purpose: to provide purification for our sins. And when he accomplished that, the Father restored him to his rightful place on the throne in heaven. From there he reigns and rules with the Father now and till he comes again (Revelation 4-5; 21:1-7).

What does this mean for us? Jesus accomplished purification and salvation for us; we do not have to earn our salvation. And now Jesus sits and reigns at the Father’s right hand, holding all things together.