Where is Jesus now?
After His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father: reigning, interceding for His people, preparing a place for them, and waiting to return. He is Lord of all right now.
This question arose from studying Did Jesus really rise from the dead?.
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What the Scripture says
He ascended and is seated at God's right hand
After His resurrection, Jesus was taken up into heaven, and Scripture places Him 'at the right hand of the Majesty on high.' The right hand is the place of honor, authority, and rule. He did not vanish into retirement; He was exalted to the throne.
When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purified us of our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
So then the Lord, after he had spoken to them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
He reigns as Lord now
'He must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet,' Peter preaching: 'God exalted him at his right hand… and made him both Lord and Christ.' Raised 'far above all rule and authority,' He is head over all things, for the benefit of His church.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.
which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
He intercedes for His people
'He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.' The risen Christ is at the Father's right hand pleading for you, and He is our advocate when we sin.
Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
My little children, I write these things to you so that you may not sin. If anyone sins, we have a Counselor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the righteous.
He is preparing a place
Jesus told His disciples not to be troubled: 'In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.' His absence from our sight is not His absence from our story; He is making ready for us.
In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.
He will return for His own
The angels at the ascension promised: 'This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in like manner as you saw him going into heaven.' At His return the dead in Christ will rise and he will gather His people, and so we wait for Him with hope.
who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever.
He who testifies these things says, “Yes, I come quickly.” Amen! Yes, come, Lord Jesus.
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Verses to meditate on
When he had said these things, as they were looking, he was taken up, and a cloud received him out of their sight. While they were looking steadfastly into the sky as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white clothing, who also said, “You men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who was received up from you into the sky will come back in the same way as you saw him going into the sky.”
Therefore he is also able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, seeing that he lives forever to make intercession for them.
In my Father’s house are many homes. If it weren’t so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.
Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, yes rather, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
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