“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Acts 7:51-60

51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! 52 Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him— 53 you who have received the law that was given through angels but have not obeyed it.”
54 When the members of the Sanhedrin heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. 55 But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. 56 “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, 58 dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul.
59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

Today’s title is “Jesus standing Right Hand of God”

One of the most foolish things people do is repeat the same mistakes again and again. But alas, that’s the most popular mistake we make. How unfortunate! Bible warns against it. Bible describes it in different ways such as stubbornness, stiff-neck, and hardened heart. But people still would not change the foolish behavior. Bible even uses an unusually scathing expression such as “As a dog returns to its vomit, so fools repeat their folly (Proverbs 26:11). But someone still would not learn from previous mistakes and repeat the same folly. Redemptive history shows such foolish acts of people more than enough. Whoever reads through the bible can’t help finding the anger and frustration of the Lord at such stubbornness of people. They even denied, rejected, and killed the Son of God who came to save them. Now they were denying the clear manifestation of God’s power and glory through the spirit-filled church and through Stephen. They were attacking the church of Christ and Stephen with false testimonies. Even at his earnest appeal with through reflections of the whole redemptive history, they wouldn’t budge at all. Stephen was frustrated and filled with righteous anger against the rebellious heart of the people against such loving God. He couldn’t hold it anymore and said, “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always resist the Holy Spirit! Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him”. At such outburst of the righteous anger of Stephen, the people responded with murderous spirit. They were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. Stephen got himself ready for the final moment looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Why was Jesus who is normally seated at the right hand of God standing now? Was He getting ready to receive Stephen the faithful and courageous servant? We may never know. But Stephen knew it. And he gladly yields his spirit to the Lord. He kept praying never taking off his eyes from the Lord while they were stoning him. As I am getting older, I am getting more and more concerned about how I would die as much as how I would live the rest of my life? How about you? Stephen showed us a good example. Live like Christ and die like Him too. Are we following such a path?