Title : Where is Jesus and what is He doing now?

[남인도_윤]

Title: Where is Jesus and what is he doing now?

Scripture : Acts 7: 55~56

1. My father went to heaven on November 14, 2006.

2. So he is no longer in this world.

3. Sometimes I think about my father. But I don't think he's alive anymore and can't do anything.

4. The reason is that once a person dies and is separated, he can no longer meet or talk.

5. We who believe in Jesus and attend church also tend to think of Jesus in this way.

6. Because we cannot see Jesus with our own eyes, we tend to think of Him as not being in this world and having nothing to do with us.

7. Because the Bible testifies that Jesus ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God's throne.

8. So we think that in this world Jesus is no longer with us and he cannot do anything for us.

9. We think that Jesus ascended to heaven and is just sitting at the right hand of God’s throne.

10. Therefore, many people in this world who do not believe in Jesus naturally think so, but there are also people who go to church who think that Jesus has absolutely nothing to do with us in this world.

11. Some among us think that Jesus is someone who does nothing for this world and just watches from heaven.

12. Even some Christians who claim to believe in Jesus think that way.

13. Is Jesus truly someone who has no relationship with us or other people living in this world?

14. That's not true.

15. Jesus, who ascended to heaven, is still involved with us and doing something for us every day.

16. Today we need to find out where Jesus is and what he is currently doing for us there.

17. Where is Jesus now?

18. After Jesus was crucified and died, he was buried in a tomb.

19. What happened to Jesus after he was buried in the tomb?

20. After he was buried, he came back to life on the third day.

21. Let’s look at Matthew 28:5-7.

22. But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. "He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. "And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you."

23. According to this Bible verse, we can see that Jesus rose from the dead.

24. Let’s look at the testimony of Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8.

25. “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received： that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,  and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.  After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”

26. Apostle Paul testifies that after his resurrection, Jesus appeared to more than 500 brothers at once and even to himself.

27. From this it is very clear that Jesus was raised from the dead.

28. Jesus remained on earth for 40 days after his resurrection from the dead.

29. The Passover is when Jesus was crucified and died.

30. And the time when He ascended into heaven was during Lent, which is the 40th day after Passover.

31. So we know from the Bible that Jesus was on this earth for 40 days after he conquered his death and was resurrected.

32. What did Jesus do after being on earth for 40 days?

33. He ascended to heaven.

34. Let’s look at Acts 1:9.

35. “Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

36. Let’s look at Mark 16:19.

37. “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.”

38. Let’s look at Luke 24:50-51.

39. “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.”

40. These three verses make it very clear that Jesus ascended to heaven during Lent on the Mount of Olives.

41. We can know very clearly, as the Bible testifies, that Jesus ascended to heaven.

42. So where is Jesus now after he ascended to heaven?

43. We can confirm‎ it through the Bible.

44. Let’s look at Mark 16:19.

45. “So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.”

46. Yes, according to this four verse, Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God the Father.

47. We can think like this when looking at the Bible verse that Jesus sits at the right hand of God.

48. Jesus is just sitting at the right hand of God the Father and doing nothing.

49. But Jesus, having ascended into heaven, made a promise to his disciples and to those who believed in him:

50. What is it?

51. Let’s look at John 14:3.

52. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

53. let’s look at Acts 1:11.

54. “who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

55. From these verses, we can see that Jesus promised that he would return to this earth.

56. That's right. Jesus said that at the end of this world he will come again.

57. Jesus, who ascended to heaven in this way, promised to come back to this earth.

58. Jesus, who promised so, is now at the right hand of God’s throne in heaven.

59. What is Jesus currently doing in heaven after ascending to heaven?

60. First, He is interceding for us.

61. Let’s look at the following Bible verses.

62. 1 Timothy 2:5.

63. “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,”

64. Let’s look at Hebrews 8:6.

65. “But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises.”

66. Let’s look at Hebrews 9:15.

67. “And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.”

68. Let’s look at Hebrews 12:24.

69. “to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.”

70. 70. According to these four verses, Jesus is our mediator and is currently interceding for us in heaven.

71. Then what is mediation and what is a mediator?

72. Mediation is the Greek word μεσίτηs, which means ‘centre’ or ‘middle.’ It means resolving the cause of conflict or arranging for reconciliation between hostile people.

73. And the person who fulfills this role of mediation can be said to be a mediator.

74. In other words, Jesus stood between us and God, who were in a hostile relationship due to our sins, and played the role of solving the problem of our sins and restoring our relationship with God to a good one.

75. Likewise, Jesus is still mediating between God and us today, serving as a mediator so that we can become children of God and have a loving relationship with God and one another.

76. We must know that Jesus is now interceding for us at the right hand of God's throne.

77. And as a result of that intercession, we must know that we have become children of God through faith in Jesus.

78. We must believe this fact: that through the mediation of Jesus we have become children of God.

79. Second, he is praying for us to God the Father at the right hand of God’s throne.

80. Let’s look at Romans 8:34.

81. “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

82. Jesus ascended into heaven and is at the right hand of God’s throne interceding for us with God the Father.

83. Jesus knows all our situations.

84. He knows our troubles and even knows the deepest parts of our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

85. Therefore, we must believe that Jesus is praying for us now.

86. Jesus still cares about each of us and knows all of our situations.

87. He loves us and is still praying for us.

88.We must always remember this.

89. We must remember and believe that Jesus is praying to God the Father for each of us.

90. Third, Jesus is sending the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, for us.

91. Jesus is not just interceding and praying for us in heaven.

92. Let’s look at the following Bible verse:

93. Let’s look at John 16:7.

94. "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.”

95. When Jesus was on earth, he served as a Comforter.

96. But when Jesus ascended into heaven, we no longer have a Comforter.

97. So Jesus promised that after his ascension to heaven he would send us the Comforter.

98. Who is the Comforter? Yes, it is the Holy Spirit.

99. In John 16:7, Jesus said that his ascension to heaven was beneficial to his disciples (God's people).

100. The reason is that if Jesus does not leave for heaven, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, cannot come to us on earth.

101. But Jesus, who ascended to heaven, can send the Holy Spirit to us.

102. What benefit can the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, give us when he comes?

103. In John 16:13-14, Jesus said:

104. "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.”

105. According to this passage, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, plays several important roles for us.

106. First, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, guides us into all truth.

107. Second, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, tells us what will happen in the future.

108. Third, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, reveals the glory of Jesus and makes it known to us.

109. In this way, the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, plays a very important role for us.

110. This important role of the Holy Spirit can only be played when Jesus ascends to heaven and sits at the right hand of God's throne.

111. In this way, Jesus sent us the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, from heaven.

112. We can be with the Holy Spirit through faith and prayer and live in this world with the power of the Holy Spirit.

113. What is Jesus doing in heaven now?

114. Fourth, He is preparing a place for us who believe.

115. Jesus told his disciples that it would be beneficial for him to ascend to heaven.

116. Jesus said in John 14:2-3 like this:

117. "In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

118. In other words, the reason Jesus ascended to heaven was to prepare a place for us who believe in Him.

119. Jesus has ascended to heaven and is now preparing a place for us.

120. We have no place of our own in this world.

121. Many of you have left Chin or Kachin states and come to live in Malaysia.

122. Where you live temporarily is not your permanent home.

123. One day you will have to leave your home and live somewhere else.

124. But we Christians have an eternal home.

125. That is our eternal home in heaven, which Jesus has prepared for us.

126. This house in heaven will be our eternal home.

127. We must live in this world as people who believe in Jesus and obey God with hope, looking forward to the home in heaven that Jesus has prepared for us.

128. I will end my sermon with this conclusion.

129. Jesus ascended to heaven and sits at the right hand of God’s throne.

130. He is not just sitting at the right hand of God's throne doing nothing in heaven.

131. First, he intercedes for us.

132. Second, he is praying to God the Father for us.

133. Third, He is sending the Holy Spirit from heaven for us.

134. Fourth, He is preparing a place for us in heaven.

135. Jesus will return to this earth in the future and lead us to heaven and allow us to live forever in our place prepared in heaven.

136. We will have to live with this hope.