Talk Together

Family conversations with God’s Word.

Jesus came to Earth to save sinners. When He died on the cross, took the payment for our sin and rose back to life, He finished His work on Earth. When it was time for Jesus to return to heaven, He was lifted into the sky right in front of His disciples! Let’s read what the disciples saw in the book of Acts. Can you help me find Acts chapter 1, verses 9-11? Acts is the fifth book in the New Testament, right after the four Gospels.

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.”

Jesus had a special job of loving and serving God’s people while He was on Earth. But that didn’t stop when He went to heaven. The Bible says He is sitting at God’s right hand, and it even tells us some of the things He is doing!

Have you ever imagined what your future home will be like? Maybe you would love a big yard, a place for your favorite pet or even a huge bedroom. Our homes can be many different sizes and in many different places, but these homes are only temporary. While Jesus was still on Earth, He told His disciples He was preparing a forever home in heaven for His followers! Let’s read about it in John 14, verses 2-6. John is in the New Testament and is one of the four Gospels.

ESV

“In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

We don’t know exactly what our home in heaven will look like, but we do know Jesus is there, preparing it for us. But that’s not all Jesus is doing!

Before Jesus went to heaven, He gave His disciples special instructions. He told them to go to every nation, teach God’s Word and baptize new believers. The new believers started worshiping God and serving together, and soon they formed a group of believers called a Church. Even though He is in heaven, Jesus is the head, or leader, of churches everywhere. He lovingly leads His followers by helping us understand what God’s Word says about knowing, loving and serving the Lord. The Bible tells us about this in Colossians. Can you help me find Colossians 1:17-18?

ESV

And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Jesus is in heaven preparing a place for us and leading the Church. He is also interceding for us. Intercession is a big word! When someone intercedes for you, it means they help you by going between you and someone else. Let’s read about it in Romans. Can you help me find Romans 8:34? Romans is the sixth book in the New Testament. 

ESV

… 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.

Wow! Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God, interceding for us! Because Jesus is our intercessor, we can trust that our perfect heavenly Father hears our prayers. Jesus is taking our prayers to God, and God will answer them according to His perfect will.

One day, those who follow Christ will see Jesus and worship Him as our Good Shepherd, King and Messiah. Until then, we can trust that Jesus is in heaven preparing a home for us and leading His church. We may not know exactly what tomorrow will bring, but we do know that Jesus, our Advocate, is at the right hand of God, interceding for us.