Where is Christ Now?

Intro

Have you ever thought about what happened to some of your friends from your early childhood?

I think about that from time to time. Like the kids I played with in elementary school. Especially since I moved all the way across the country from North Carolina to here.

I remember, back when I had social media, I would look some of them up to see what they were doing. I remember seeing that one of my old childhood friends became a pastor! It was cool to see that we we’re both doing similar type of work and we would not have known that when we were 10 years old.

When you leave or someone else leaves, sometimes it makes you ask the question: Where are they now, what are they doing right now?

Well since Jesus did not remain on the earth forever after his resurrection, it makes us ask the question: Where is he? What is he doing?

New City Catechism Question 49

Where is Christ now?

Christ rose bodily from the grave on the third day after his death and is seated at the right hand of the Father, ruling his kingdom and interceding for us, until he returns to judge and renew the whole world.

Scripture Reading

Hebrews 4:14-16

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Unpack the Catechism Answer

Risen from the grave

He did not stay dead. He’s alive

If he’s alive, then where is he? He’s gotta be somewhere.

And what is he doing?

Aspects

In Heaven in His Physical Body

Luke 24:50–51 ESV

And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven.

Acts 1:9–11 ESV

And when he had 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 stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Christ continues in his physical body

Christ taking on human form was a permanent thing. That means he continues in his physical body, not just as a spiritual form.

So when he comes again, he will be coming in that same body.

At the Right Hand of the Father

Seated, His Work Complete

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

… After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

In the Position of Authority

1 Peter 3:22 ESV

who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.

Functioning as Our Advocate

Interceding for Us

Romans 8:34 ESV

Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

1 John 2:1 ESV

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Giving Us Grace and Strength

Hebrews 4:14–16 ESV

Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

He Will Return from There

1 Thessalonians 4:16 ESV

For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

Acts 1:11 ESV

and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Significance

Present Help

Comfort when we fall into sin, knowing that Jesus is always interceding for us in heaven as our advocate.

His position of authority over all things means that he can give us what we need

Strength to resist temptation

Deliverance from evil

Grace to handle all that is thrown at us

Present Hope

We also know that, because he is at the position of authority, he is in control of all things. When things feel like they are spiraling out of control, or when things feel like they’re going wrong, we can remember that Jesus, our loving savior, is in the position of power. He is still at the wheel, he’s still steering the ship, and he’s still got everything under control.

Future Hope

We can look to the promise that Jesus will come again to give us hope for the future. We know that he’s coming back. And when he comes back, he will make everything right again. That may happen in our lifetimes, or it may not, but it will happen. And that’s good news.

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