What is Jesus doing in heaven?
Question 3022
Jesus has not retired. Far from sitting idle in some distant corner of the cosmos, He is actively engaged in work that touches the life of every believer every single day. Understanding what Jesus is doing right now in heaven is not merely an academic exercise; it is immensely practical and deeply comforting. So what exactly is our Lord doing at this very moment?
Interceding for His People
The ministry that receives the most attention in the New Testament is Christ’s ongoing intercession. Paul writes, “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.” (Romans 8:34) The Greek word for intercession is ἐντυγχάνω (entynchanō), meaning to meet with, to appeal to, to plead on behalf of. Jesus is constantly bringing our case before the Father.
This is not to suggest that the Father is reluctant and needs persuading. The Father and the Son are in complete unity. Rather, the intercession of Christ is the ongoing application of His finished work on the cross. When Satan accuses us, when our own consciences condemn us, Jesus points to His blood shed for us. “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.” (1 John 2:1) The word “advocate” is παράκλητος (paraklētos), the same word Jesus used for the Holy Spirit. It means one who comes alongside to help, a counsellor, a defence attorney.
Think about what this means. At this very moment, Jesus is speaking on your behalf before the throne of God. He knows your struggles, your failures, your temptations, and He presents His own righteousness as the ground of your acceptance. This is why “he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)
Serving as Our High Priest
Closely connected to His intercession is Christ’s ministry as our great High Priest. The book of Hebrews develops this theme extensively. Unlike the Levitical priests who served in the earthly tabernacle and had to offer sacrifices repeatedly, Jesus offered Himself once for all and now serves in the true heavenly sanctuary. “We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man.” (Hebrews 8:1–2)
As our High Priest, Jesus understands our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore we can “with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) Notice the word “confidence.” The Greek is παρρησία (parrēsia), meaning boldness, freedom of speech, the right of access. Because Jesus is our High Priest, we can approach God without fear.
Preparing a Place for Us
On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus told His disciples, “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.” (John 14:2–3) Jesus is actively preparing for our arrival. What exactly this preparation involves, we are not told. But the promise is clear: there is a place being made ready for each of His own.
This language echoes the Jewish wedding customs of the first century. After the betrothal, the bridegroom would return to his father’s house to prepare a dwelling place for his bride. When the preparations were complete, he would return to take his bride to himself. Jesus is the bridegroom, and the Church is His bride. He has gone to prepare a place, and He will return to take us to be with Him forever.
Building His Church
Jesus declared, “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) This building work continues from heaven. Through His Spirit, Jesus adds to the Church daily those who are being saved. (Acts 2:47) He gives gifts to His people for the building up of the body. (Ephesians 4:7–12) He works through His Word proclaimed to bring sinners to faith and saints to maturity.
Paul describes the Church as Christ’s body, “the fullness of him who fills all in all.” (Ephesians 1:23) As the Head, Christ directs the body, supplying what it needs for growth. “From him the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.” (Ephesians 4:16)
Ruling and Reigning
Jesus is not merely waiting in heaven; He is reigning. The Father has “put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.” (Ephesians 1:22) Jesus exercises authority over all creation, sustaining it by the word of His power. (Hebrews 1:3) He rules over nations and overrules the plans of men to accomplish His purposes.
This reign is not yet fully manifest. We do not yet see all things subjected to Him. (Hebrews 2:8) But His rule is real nonetheless. History is moving towards the day when “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:10–11)
Conclusion
Jesus is not idle. At this very moment, He intercedes for His people, presents His blood before the Father, serves as our sympathetic High Priest, prepares a place for our eternal dwelling, builds His Church through Word and Spirit, and reigns over all creation. What comfort this brings! Our Saviour is actively working on our behalf. We are not forgotten, not left to fend for ourselves. The One who loved us and gave Himself for us continues to love us and minister to us from heaven until the day He returns to take us to be with Him forever.
“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” Hebrews 7:25
