Where Is Jesus Now & What Is He Doing?

Well, we've entered Advent season.

I love Christmas time.

I love the food.

Do I have an amen?

I love the traditions.

I do love the singing.

You know, last night, we sang 10 songs last night

at the Christmas sing,

and they were just all full of Advent glory.

Hark the herald angels sing,

joy to the world, what child is this?

Theologically rich,

melodically satisfying,

and it was just good to be together.

I mean, we're singing about this miracle

of the second person of the Trinity

who has eternally existed,

took on human flesh,

and has remained incarnate since.

Man!

Every December, we ponder anew this miracle,

this wonder,

the miracle of the incarnation.

So, have you heard the word Advent?

That word Advent may be new to your ears,

and that word Advent simply comes from a Latin word

that means arrival or coming.

And so, we have entered the Advent season of Jesus,

and what we typically are talking about

is His first Advent,

when Christ became a man.

Humble, helpless, infant,

lying in a feeding trough.

The second person of the Trinity

who became incarnate,

and what we respond is,

we respond with,

oh, come, let us adore Him

for what a miracle that is.

But,

this Advent season, 224,

I want to help you think about

Christ's second Advent,

the second coming of Jesus,

His second arrival.

When Jesus talks about Himself in Matthew 24,

as the Son of Man will come on the clouds.

So, this Christmas time,

I want you to help,

I want to help you think about

the second Advent of Jesus.

And so,

we're going to be living in between

the Advents this Christmas time.

The first Advent,

oh, come, let us adore Him.

And the second Advent,

where we say,

amen, come Lord Jesus.

So, think of these next several sermons,

as Christmas meditations

on the second Advent of Jesus Christ.

And so, this morning,

I'm going to tackle,

well, if Jesus is no longer in the manger,

where is He and what is He doing?

And then next Sunday,

I'm going to tackle,

when is He coming back?

And then the following Sunday,

I'm going to tackle,

what is He going to do when He comes back?

And then on Christmas Eve,

we're just going to kind of

drill into this promise

Jesus makes at the end of Revelation 22,

where He says,

surely I'm coming soon.

And we say, amen,

come Lord Jesus.

So, the question this morning,

I want to ask is,

where is Jesus now,

and what is He doing?

He's not a helpless infant in a manger,

nor has He come on the clouds.

So, where is Jesus now,

and what is He doing,

and how should we respond to this?

So, let's ask this question

and answer, where is Jesus now?

Now,

if He's not in the manger,

and He hasn't yet returned to the clouds,

where is He?

What I'd like to do for you now

is not my typical approach.

Typically, I'll pick one passage

and exposit it.

But for your edification this morning,

I thought we would do

a New Testament survey

of what a number of New Testament writers

have to say,

how they answer that question,

where is Jesus now?

So, we're going to start off

with Luke.

Luke was one of the disciples of Jesus,

and he wrote the Gospel of Luke,

and he wrote the Acts of the Apostles.

It was a two-volume set

written to this guy named Theophilus,

and in Acts chapter 1,

Acts 1 · chapter mention

we learn this.

In verse 6,

Jesus is with His disciples in Jerusalem.

They ask Him,

Lord, will you at this time

restore the kingdom to Israel?

And He says to them,

it's not for you to know

the times or seasons

that the Father has fixed

by His own authority,

but you will receive power

when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,

and you will be my witnesses

in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria,

and to the end of the earth.

And when He said these things,

as they were looking on,

He was lifted up,

and a cloud took Him

out of their sight.

And while they were gazing into heaven

as He went,

behold, two men,

angels, stood by them in white robes,

and He said,

and they said,

men of Galilee,

why do you stand looking into heaven?

This Jesus,

who was taken up from you

into heaven,

will He come in the same way

as you saw Him go into heaven?

He'll come back on a cloud.

What Luke does is here,

he relays this historic event,

and he locates Jesus in heaven.

And if you'd flip to Acts chapter 7,

Acts 7 · chapter mention

this is the account of when

Stephen was martyred,

and in verses 54 and 55,

we read this.

Now, when they heard these things,

the Jews,

they were enraged,

and they ground their teeth

at Stephen.

But he, Stephen,

full of the Spirit,

gazed into heaven

and saw the glory of God

and Jesus standing

at the right hand of God.

Now, that little phrase,

the right hand of God,

is what I want you to hear.

Because at least Luke

has located the risen,

ascended Jesus Christ

at the right hand of God in heaven.

Let's see what else

some of these New Testament writers

have to say.

Let's turn to the Apostle Paul.

In Romans chapter 8,

Romans 8 · chapter mention

one of the all-time favorite chapters

in the Bible.

Chapter 8, verse 31,

Paul writes,

What then shall we say

to these things?

If God is for us,

who can be against us?

That in and of itself

is a beauty.

He who did not spare his own son,

but gave him up for us all,

how will he not also with him

graciously give us all things?

Who shall bring any charge

against God's elect?

You being condemned, Christian?

It is God who justifies.

Who is it to condemn?

Christ Jesus is the one who died.

More than that,

he was raised.

Who is at the right hand of God.

Who indeed is interceding for us.

So Luke places Jesus,

the risen Christ,

at the right hand of God in heaven.

And now Paul does.

And if you flip over to Ephesians chapter 1,

Ephesians 1 · chapter mention

in verses 15 through 23,

Paul's praying this triune prayer

for the Ephesian church.

And in verse 19,

he's praying that they would know

the immeasurable greatness

of his power towards them

who believe,

according to the working

of his great might,

that he worked,

verse 20,

in Christ,

when he raised him from the dead

and seated him at the right hand

in the heavenly places,

far above all rule and authority

and power and dominion

and above every name that is named,

not only in this age,

but also in the one to come.

And he put all things under his feet.

Where is Christ Jesus right now?

At the right hand of God.

All things have been put under his feet.

Okay, so we've got two New Testament writers.

How about the writer of Hebrews?

Hebrews chapter 8, verse 1.

Hebrews 8:1

Now the point in what we are saying is this.

We have such a high priest.

One who is seated at the right hand

of the throne of the majesty in heaven.

And then if you flip over to Hebrews chapter 10,

Hebrews 10:11–14

verses 11 through 14,

we read this.

And every priest stands daily at his service,

offering repeatedly the same sacrifices,

which can never take away sins.

But when Christ had suffered for all time,

a single sacrifice for sins,

he sat down at the right hand of God,

waiting from that time until his enemy

should be made a footstool for his feet.

For by a single offering,

he has perfected for all time

those who are being sanctified.

Do you know what that means?

Jesus died on the cross,

paid for our sin,

and made obsolete for all time

the Old Testament sacrificial system.

And he sat down, done,

paid for.

Where does the writer of Hebrews locate Jesus

following his resurrection?

At the right hand of God in heaven.

How about 1 Peter?

Peter, where do you place Jesus?

1 Peter 3, verses 18 through 22.

1 Peter 3:18–22

2 Peter 3, verses 18 through 22.

Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ,

who has gone into heaven

and is at the right hand of God

with angels, authorities, and powers

having been subjected to him.

Where does Peter put Jesus?

Having been crucified and raised from the dead,

he is at the right hand of God

and all things have been subjected to him.

And then there's John the Revelator.

In Revelation chapter 5,

Revelation 5 · chapter mention

instead of John kind of writing something

to instruct us,

he shares a vision with us.

Chapter 5, verse 1.

Then I, John, saw at the right,

the right hand of him who's seated on the throne.

That's God the Father.

A scroll written within it

and on the back sealed with seven seals.

That scroll, my best understanding,

is God's unfolding purposes

for the fullness of time.

And each seal represents an advancement

in God's fullness of his plan.

And so God is on his throne

holding up a sealed scroll

with his right hand.

John says in verse 2,

I saw a mighty angel

proclaim with a loud voice,

Who is worthy to open the scroll

and break its seals?

No one in heaven or earth

or under the earth

was able to open the scroll

or to look into it.

No one was qualified.

John begins to weep loudly, verse 4,

because no one was found worthy

to open the scroll.

Verse 5,

And one of the elders said to me,

Weep no more.

Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah,

the root of David,

has conquered,

so that he can open the scroll

and its seven seals.

And between the throne

and the four living creatures

and among the elders,

I saw a lamb standing

as though it had been slain

with seven horns

and with seven eyes,

which are the seven spirits of God

sent out into all the earth.

And he went

and he took the scroll

from the right hand

of him who was seated

on the throne.

And then he starts opening it.

What John does

is he pictures for us

Jesus,

the risen Christ,

the lamb that was slain,

but is alive

at the right hand of God

in the throne room in heaven.

And he grabs the scroll

that no one else could grab

and says,

Now it's for me

to execute this plan.

The right hand of God

is the place

of royal executive power

and authority.

It's the place of the king.

So what we see here

in these five examples

of New Testament writers,

they are all pointing

to the risen Christ

at the right hand of God

in heaven.

And I want to let you know

is that's fulfillment.

Hear the word,

brothers and sisters.

Hear this

from 2 Samuel.

God's speaking to David.

When your days are fulfilled

and you lie down

with your fathers,

I will raise up

your offspring after you

who shall come

from your body,

the root of David,

and I will establish

his kingdom.

We all know this one.

To us,

a child is born.

To us,

a son is given.

And the government

shall be upon his shoulder

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace,

of the increase

of his government

and of peace.

There will be no end

on the throne of David

and over his kingdom

to establish it

and to uphold it

with justice

and with righteousness

from this time forth

and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord

of hosts

will do this.

Fulfillment.

Psalm 110.1,

The Lord said to my Lord,

Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies

your footstool.

Luke chapter 1,

Luke 1 · chapter mention

The angel Gabriel

speaks to the virgin Mary,

And behold,

you will conceive

in your womb

and bear a son

and you shall call

his name Jesus.

He will be great

and will be called

the son of the most high

and the Lord God

will give to him

the throne of his father,

David,

and he will reign

over the house of Jacob

forever

and of his kingdom

there will be no end.

Where is Jesus right now?

At the right hand

of God the father

in heaven

seated on David's throne.

He's not in a manger

and he hasn't returned

on the clouds.

In the manger,

he was an incarnate,

helpless babe.

At his second advent,

he is going to be

the incarnate,

glorious,

conquering king.

And right now,

our Jesus

is the incarnate king

seated on the throne.

And he's living

between his advents.

Just as we're living

between his advents.

He is the royal executor

with all power

and authority

to accomplish

the father's will

in full.

that's where he is

right now.

When you woke up,

when you're stressed

out this week,

that's where he is

right now.

In the Apostles' Creed

section says this,

on the third day

he rose again,

he ascended into heaven,

he is seated

at the right hand

of the father

and he will come again

to judge the living

and the dead.

Where is Jesus

right now?

He's not in a manger,

he's not in the clouds,

he's at the right hand

of God in heaven.

Now,

I realize

we're 18 minutes

into this sermon

and I have just

dropped a lot

of information on you.

And you might want

to check out,

like you check out

after Thanksgiving,

like whoa.

You can check out.

But,

if you're in the room

and there's this question

that's been raised

with you now,

okay,

he's in heaven,

I see that.

And it begs the question,

so what is he doing?

What is he doing

in heaven now?

If you want

the answer

to that question,

you just go on

with me?

Because he's doing

four things,

at least,

this is not exhaustive,

he's about

four activities

right now

at the right hand

of God

on David's throne

accomplishing his purposes.

You ready for him?

Number one,

he's upholding

his creation.

We read that already

from Colossians 1,

but I want to point you

to Hebrews 1.

Long ago,

at many times

and in many ways,

God spoke to our fathers

by the prophets,

but in these last days

he has spoken to us

by his Son,

whom he appointed

the heir of all things,

through whom also

he created the world.

He is the radiance

of the glory of God

in the exact imprint

of his nature,

and he upholds

the universe

by the word

of his power.

After making purification

for sins,

he sat down

at the right hand

of the majesty

on high.

Amen.

What is Jesus

doing right now?

He's upholding

everything

by the word

of his power.

There are over

eight billion people

on the planet

as I speak.

Everyone has

a next breath.

Every next breath

comes from the throne.

All eight billion people

on the planet

are dependent

on this risen

and reigning Christ,

whether they are willing

to acknowledge it

or not.

They all depend on him.

The first thing

he is doing

right now

is upholding

his creation,

and he's not

breaking a sweat.

The second thing

that he's doing

in addition

to upholding

his creation

is he's expanding

his kingdom.

We learned

how Jesus

is the fulfillment

of 2 Samuel 7.

He's the descendant

of David

who will sit

on his throne.

He is the Isaiah 9,

6, and 7,

this wonderful counselor,

this mighty God,

everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace,

whose government

is on his shoulders,

and it's increasing

by the zeal of God.

He's the guy.

He's the one.

His kingdom

has come.

It's the saving reign

of God

in the person

of Jesus Christ,

and right now

our Lord Jesus

on the throne.

He is expanding

his kingdom.

He is delivering

people from the

domain of darkness

and bringing them

into his kingdom,

the kingdom of light,

the kingdom of his

beloved son.

And so,

Matthew 16, 18,

Jesus is speaking

to Peter.

He says,

on this rock,

I will build

my church

and the gates

of Hades,

hell,

will not prevail

against it.

Right now,

Jesus from the throne

is building his church.

And when you hear church,

don't think

physical structures.

Think of

all of God's people

from all around

the world,

from every tribe,

tongue, and nation

who are flipped

by his grace

and become his

worshipers.

The church.

He's expanding

his kingdom.

In Matthew 28,

he's sending out

his disciples

to make more

of his disciples

who will

treasure him

above all else

and obey him

and all that

he commands

and magnify him

among all people

and belong

to King Jesus

with all of his

blood bought.

He is doing this

right now

from the throne.

He's expanding

his kingdom.

Book of Acts.

The risen Christ

directs his servants

to share the gospel,

start and establish

churches,

and multiply churches.

It's in the book

of Acts.

That's what he's doing.

He's doing that now

around the world.

Ephesians chapter 4,

Ephesians 4 · chapter mention

11 through 12.

The risen Christ

is giving gifts

to the church.

Gifts of people,

gifts of leaders,

under shepherds

to bring health,

to protect,

and direct God's people.

He's giving gifts

to the church.

Revelation chapter 1,

Revelation 1:12–13

verses 12 through 13.

Revelation chapter 2

Revelation 2 · chapter mention

and 3.

John the revelator

pictures the risen Christ

walking among the churches.

And what is he doing?

He's inspecting.

He's speaking words

of corrections

and purification

to his church

because he loves

his church.

He's building his church.

He's expanding

his kingdom.

Romans 8, 34.

Hebrews 7, 23 through 25.

1 John 2, 1.

Jesus enthroned

at the right hand

of God and the Father.

Brothers and sisters,

he is interceding

for you

right now.

You're not nameless

to him.

You're not faceless

to him.

He knows you.

He knows

what burdens you.

He knows

the sins

you've committed.

And he is

interceding

for you right now

by name.

He's your advocate

even when you sin,

even when you blow it

for the 27th time.

He's your propitiation.

He bore God's wrath

for you.

And he is advocating

for you

at the throne.

That's what he's doing.

He's expanding

his kingdom.

Interceding for you.

And then

2 Corinthians 12,

8 through 10,

John 15, 5.

He's pouring out grace.

We run

to the throne

of grace

in time of need

and he's pouring

out grace.

He's expanding

his kingdom,

the kingdom of grace.

Grace upon grace,

we bring our weakness.

He brings

the strength

of his grace.

That's what he's doing

right now.

He's not in a manger.

He's not come

in the clouds.

He's seated

on his throne.

Expanding

his kingdom.

So he's upholding

his creation.

He's expanding

his kingdom.

He's receiving

his praise.

One of the things

I didn't point you

to when we were

in Revelation 5

is the response

of all of heaven

to him.

Worthy are you

to take the scroll

and to open its seals

for you were slain

and by your blood

you ransomed

people for God

from every tribe

and language

and people

and nation

and you have made

them a kingdom

and priests

to our God

and they shall reign

on the earth.

Worthy is the Lamb

who was slain

to receive power

and wealth

and wisdom

and might

and honor

and glory

and blessing.

Seven perfect

praises

of Jesus

the risen Lamb.

To him who sits

on the throne

and to the Lamb

be blessing

and honor

and glory

and might

forever and ever.

He is upholding

his creation.

He's expanding

his kingdom.

He's receiving

his praise.

Do you remember

Matthew 1?

The magi come.

They find the baby Jesus.

Do you remember

what they do?

They fall down

before him

and they worship him.

Worship.

He's receiving

his praise

and we

get to join

all of the

angelic host

around the throne

and the saints

that have gone

before us

and every time

we gather

we are singing

his praises

with everybody else.

He's receiving

his praise.

And finally

he's awaiting

his return.

He's looking

at his watch.

He's on his throne.

He's upholding

his creation.

He's expanding

his kingdom.

He is receiving

his praise

and he's looking

at his watch.

Oh, you've got to

see this passage.

Matthew chapter 24.

Matthew 24 · chapter mention

Jesus has just

told the son of man

is going to be

coming on the clouds

and his disciples

want to know

when and where.

And in verse 36

Jesus says,

but concerning

that day and hour

when the son of God

returns on the clouds

no one knows.

Not even the angels

of heaven

nor the son

but the father only.

Not even the son

knows that day

or hour.

And you might be like

how is that possible?

Well, this is an example

of God the son

submitting himself

to the will of God

his father

and so you can

imagine it

in the throne room

of heaven.

Jesus is upholding

his creation

with the word

of his power.

He is expanding

his kingdom of grace.

He is receiving

the praise

due his name

and he is

every once in a while

fathers today

the day.

Am I going back today?

Am I going back today

on the clouds

to make all wrongs right

to judge the world

to bring full

and forever peace

to the blood

but you have given me

is today the day.

He's awaiting his return.

And so do we.

we wait with him.

Jesus is at the right

hand of God.

Where is he?

Right hand of God

seated on the throne.

What is he doing?

Upholding his creation

expanding his kingdom

receiving his praise

and he is looking

at his watch

awaiting his return.

So what

does that

mean for us

today?

Why does that

matter

now?

It broadens

your perspective.

Jesus is bigger

than a plastic

manger seen

in a front yard.

Way bigger.

He's no longer

an incarnate

helpless baby

in a manger

and he's yet

to be the

glorious

incarnate king

coming on the clouds.

No,

this wonderfully

complicates

our Christmas.

Perspective.

This one

in the manger

is amazing.

But he's not

in a manger

anymore.

He's all grown up.

He's sitting

at the right

hand of God.

He's sitting

on G,

waiting on O.

Go!

He's waiting

to be sent.

It really does

broaden your

perspective,

doesn't it?

It also

deepens

your awe.

When you

consider

who Jesus

is,

what he's

done,

incarnate

birth,

what a

humble act,

wonderful,

perfect life,

died in the

place of you

and me,

sinners,

was raised

from the dead,

ascended on

high.

When you

consider what

he's done

and what

he's doing

right now,

what he's

doing on

the throne,

and when you

consider what

he's going

to do when

he comes

back,

we'll get

to that

in a couple

weeks.

It should

make you

awestruck.

It should

make you

wonder.

It should

cause you

to treasure

Jesus above

all else.

He is

that wonderful.

It should

deepen your

awe.

It should

gladden

your

worship.

This

Christology

of Jesus

that unfolds

in our

Bibles

is so

much

bigger

than the

incarnation

itself.

It is

that,

but so

much more,

which means

it has this

additional

effect.

It

loosens

your grip

on the

things of

this world.

world.

It's not

about what

you give

this

Christmas.

It's not

about what

you get

this

Christmas.

It's

about who

God has

given and

who he

will give

again.

First

Advent and

second

Advent,

and it's

about this

incarnate king

on his

throne that

is giving

grace upon

grace upon

grace.

grace upon

grace upon

grace upon

grace upon

grace upon

what this

world has

to offer

because there

is absolutely

nothing that

this world

offers that

can come

close to

satisfying your

soul.

Nothing.

But the

one on the

throne can.

what

difference does

this make

now?

It

broadens your

perspective,

it deepens

your awe,

it loosens

your grip,

and it

builds your

anticipation.

If we're

living between

the Advents,

the first

coming,

come let us

adore him,

and the

second coming,

come Lord

Jesus,

amen.

if we're

living between

the Advents,

do you know

what time it

is,

church?

It's Christ

time.

We're all

living on

Christ time.

Synchronize

your watches

because we're

one day closer

to the second

Advent where we

will say,

glory,

glory,

glory to

you.

we're

living between

the Advents,

and when we

think about

him being

one day

closer,

it should

build your

anticipation.

This Advent

season,

we're not

just going to

delight in

the fact that

the second

person of

the Trinity

has become

a man,

and he

remains a

man,

first Advent

glory,

come let

us adore

him.

No,

we're also

going to

delight that

this risen

king,

he's coming

again,

and we're

one day

closer to

that glorious

appearing of

the risen

Jesus.

But where

is he now?

He's seated

on his throne

at the right

hand of God

in heaven.

God's

God's

love.

He's about

his business,

and we get

to be a part

of what he

is doing.

So we will

be singing

both,

come let us

adore him,

and amen.

Come,

Lord Jesus.

Will you pray

with me?

Lord Jesus,

we are just

delighted that

you would

humble yourself

in order to

rescue us,

and we

worship you

for not just

your death,

and your

resurrection,

and your

ascension,

but your

present reign,

and what

you are

doing.

Oh,

all glory,

praise,

and honor

be to

your name,

King Jesus.

And would

you,

this Advent

season of

2024,

would you

get something

done in

our hearts

anticipating

your second

Advent?

It's your name

we pray.

Amen.

Amen.