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,
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,
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,
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,
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.
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,
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.
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,
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,
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,
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,
verses 12 through 13.
Revelation chapter 2
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.
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.
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 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
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.