He left but did not leave
But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'
John 16:5 (ESV)
We have tendencies to focus on ourselves and our problems and how the lives of others will affect us. If someone leaves us, we fear its impact on our way of life, our significance, and our security. Our mind flows towards self, and few question what lies ahead for the one leaving.
The disciples should have known the plan from the beginning, that Jesus came, lived, was crucified, will rise again, and ascend back to the Father. While He lived on earth, the disciples knew their place, but what was their place after He left?
Well, when Jesus left, He did not leave. This is similar to the ideas that when a believer dies, they do not die, or that we do not lose when we give. Of course, these concepts take some time to become a reality, but, as they do, we experience tremendous freedom in this life and no fear of the next.
Jesus was finishing the plan and would physically leave only to return to every believer's life in the form of the Holy Spirit. Believers would go from being with Jesus to having Him with them.
I need to live with that reality in mind every moment.
John 16:5 (ESV)
We have tendencies to focus on ourselves and our problems and how the lives of others will affect us. If someone leaves us, we fear its impact on our way of life, our significance, and our security. Our mind flows towards self, and few question what lies ahead for the one leaving.
The disciples should have known the plan from the beginning, that Jesus came, lived, was crucified, will rise again, and ascend back to the Father. While He lived on earth, the disciples knew their place, but what was their place after He left?
Well, when Jesus left, He did not leave. This is similar to the ideas that when a believer dies, they do not die, or that we do not lose when we give. Of course, these concepts take some time to become a reality, but, as they do, we experience tremendous freedom in this life and no fear of the next.
Jesus was finishing the plan and would physically leave only to return to every believer's life in the form of the Holy Spirit. Believers would go from being with Jesus to having Him with them.
I need to live with that reality in mind every moment.
Comments