Where is Jesus Now? Hebrews 7:24-27
24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
The Nicene Creed AD381 says of Jesus: Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
The Baptist Faith and Message AD2000 says of Jesus: He honored the divine law by His personal obedience, and in His substitutionary death on the cross He made provision for the redemption of men from sin. He was raised from the dead with a glorified body and appeared to His disciples as the person who was with them before His crucifixion. He ascended into heaven and is now exalted at the right hand of God where He is the One Mediator, fully God, fully man, in whose Person is effected the reconciliation between God and man. He will return in power and glory to judge the world and to consummate His redemptive mission. He now dwells in all believers as the living and ever present Lord.
The Baha’is and Jehovah’s Witnesses say Jesus’ spirit is alive somewhere but His body is dead.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that Jesus’ spirit returned to earth in 1914 and in 1919 proclaimed the Watchtower Society as his only channel of communication with man.
Some Muslims believe Jesus did not die but went to heaven by special means such as with Enoch and Elijah.
Mormons teach that Jesus is on his own planet with his entourage of wives.
And the DaVinci Code novel has convinced some that Jesus died in France (probably of embarrassment) after being married and having a passel of kids.
Let’s see what the Bible says about Jesus and what He is doing today.
ASCENDED TO HEAVEN IN A BODY – Acts 1:9-11 9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
Greek thinking: material = evil; immaterial/spiritual = good
Biblical thinking: Heaven = redeemed creation, free of sin, death, and the curse where the believers live together with Jesus in physical bodies in God’s physical creation. See 1Corinthians 15
Ø Seated at the Right Hand of the Father Mark 16:19; Acts 2:34; 34 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Ephesians 1:2020 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places ; Colossians 3:11 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ; Matthew 26:64 64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
o Occasionally Standing (could be interpreted continuing or abiding) Acts 7:56
> Reigning and Holding All Things Together Isaiah 6:1b-5; Hebrews 1:3,83 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. ; Colossians 1:17-1817 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
; Revelation 4
HEAD OVER THE CHURCH Ephesians 1:22;
Ø Giving Authority to Believers Ephesians 2:6; 1Corinthians 6:3; Ephesians 6:10-13; James 4:7;
1Peter 5:8
Ø Guiding Believers
o Through the Spirit John 16:12-15 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
o Through His Abiding Presence 1John4:4 greater is He who is in you; Matthew28:20 I will never leave you; 1John3:16-17truth of God is not in him(1John4:9)
o Through His Working Presence Romans 12:4-8 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one ;
1Corinthians 6:1515 Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the
members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.
o Through His Sanctifying Presence Ephesians 5:25-2725 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
o Through His Chastening Presence Revelation 3:18-20 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
MAKING INTERCESSION Hebrews 7:25
Ø Introducing to the Father John 14:6 6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me
Ø Mediating 1Timothy 2:5 5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
Ø Setting Free John 8:32,34 32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
WHERE JESUS IN NOT RIGHT NOW
Ø Not on the Cross or otherwise Being Crucified –
o Mass The Roman Catholic Mass, which includes the Eucharist (the Lord’s Supper), is seen by the Roman church as re-crucifying the Lord. Hebrews 7:27 says that Jesus accomplished the substitutionary atonement once which was sufficient for all and all time. 27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.
Ø Not in some Holy Closet
o Transubstantiated - The Romish doctrine of transubstantiation (that the elements of the Lord’s Supper actually become the flesh and the blood of Jesus) requires special handling of the elements not used in a service since they are only transformed into the flesh and blood of Jesus when prepared for the communion mass. So this requires the leftover “parts of Jesus” be stored in special holy places. The scriptures tell us that Jesus is seated, bodily, at the right side of the Father, not scattered around the world in holy giblets.
HE IS WITH THOSE WHO ARE “APART FROM THE BODY” 2Corinthians 5:8 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.
Ø He Led Some When He Ascended Ephesians 4:8 8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. , Luke 23:43 43 And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Ø He Has Met Others At the Earthly Death 2Corinthians 5:8; Philippians 1:23 23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
Ø He Is the Resurrection John 11:23-27 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
HE IS IN THE CITY* Hebrews 11:10 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
; 12:22-24 22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
; Revelation21
Ø He is The Corner Stone 1Peter 2:6 6 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.
, Ephesians 2:20-22 20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.
