The ages before the birth of Christ are called BC, before Christ. The years after are called AD, which does not mean after death. Rather, it stands for a Latin phrase: anno Domini (the year of the Lord). We are now counting years since the arrival of Christ. And though He died, He did not stay dead. It was no spiritual or metaphorical resurrection. Christ rose in a glorified body because death could not hold Him. Thus, each year since is the year of our Lord, who is even now alive and reigning.

After His resurrection, Christ ascended into heaven, where He sits at the right hand of the Father. The fact that He is seated is significant. In the Old Testament, priests never sat down while ministering in the temple. Their work was never done. But Christ is the once-for-all sacrifice, and His atoning work is entirely sufficient to cleanse our sin. When Christ sat at the right hand of the Father, He was displaying that redemption has been fully accomplished. Nothing more needs to be added.

Of course, Christ’s sitting does not mean inactivity entirely. The catechism rightly notes that he is doing two things in particular: he rules his kingdom and intercedes for us.

Christ is seated as the King upon His divine throne. Hebrews tells us that we do not yet see all things visibly subjected to Him. But one day we will. One day He will return to judge the living and the dead and renew the whole world. On that day, His reign will be visible and unmistakable.

But even now, Christ truly reigns. His kingdom is advancing throughout the world, one soul at a time. No matter how pressed the church becomes, no matter how persecuted, no matter how weak or corrupt she may appear, Christ remains King. He rules over all affairs of this world.

Christ also intercedes. He is actively praying for His people. The perseverance of Christ’s people does not ultimately rest in our grip on Christ but in Christ’s grip on us. Recall when Jesus told Peter that Satan demanded to sift him like wheat, but Jesus prayed that Peter’s faith would not fail. That is not true of Peter alone. Left to ourselves, no one’s faith is beyond failing. But Christ intercedes for us too. He builds His church through us, and the gates of hell will not stand against it.

We should, therefore, take great confidence in our seated Lord.

He is alive.

He is reigning.

He is praying for us.

And one day, He will return to judge the world in righteousness and make all things new.