Hebrews 9:24-28
Jesus is in Heaven
24 For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with human hands that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. 25 Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. 26 Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
John 14:1-4
Jesus Comforts His Disciples
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Jesus ascended to heaven after His death and resurrection...He did not enter a place or sanctuary made by human hands that was only a copy of the true one; He actually entered heaven itself...And He is there to appear for us and be our mediator in God’s Presence...He is in heaven and prepares a place for us there...And heaven is the holiest of holiest places, the Most Holy Place...But Jesus did not enter heaven to offer Himself again and again, the way the high priest had to enter the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own...Otherwise Jesus would have had to suffer many times each and every year, since the creation of the world...Jesus had to appear only once, and be crucified once, and be raised once, and be resurrected once, and be ascended to heaven once......And once and for all at the culmination of the ages Jesus did away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself on the cross...Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Jesus was sacrificed once on the cross to take away the sins of many and the world...And He will appear a second time...But this second time is not to take away the sins of the world, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him...
In one of the most beautiful promises ever made, and it is a heavenly promise, and it was done on the night Jesus comforted His Disciples -just before His arrest...Jesus told His Disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled...You believe in God; believe also in Me...My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I AM going there to prepare a place for you?...And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I AM...You know the way to the place where I AM going.”...
Jesus was promising His Disciples a place in heaven...Each of us should be touched by His promise of this place that He personally prepares for us...And His promise is not in just any place, but a place in His Father's house, in God's home in heaven...What a beautiful promise that is...There might not be any greater promise that we can think of, than to be in God's Kingdom in heaven, with our Father and His Son...