19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
The unbelieving, harsh and malignant world which cries out: “Take Him away! Crucify Him!” will sadly get their wish – they will see Jesus no longer. One should be careful what one wishes for. Our Lord’s disciples, however, receive the precious promise from His lips that they will not only see Him physically after His resurrection but they will continue to see Him through eyes of faith after His ascension. Indeed, “you will see me” indicates a fixed and steady and habitual gaze. Jesus’ followers will have an uninterrupted communion with Him in His absence. This is certainly true for all believers today as well. As we gaze upon Him with eyes of faith, we see what the world does not see. Is that not the very definition of faith given in Hebrews?
1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Heb 11:1 (NIV)
Our Lord’s guys were grieved because He was going away. In their veiled understanding and their deflated emotions they could not clearly see or fully comprehend His forthcoming redemptive action. Even the best saints know but little while remaining in the body. Ever the encourager, Jesus sets forth precious Truth to comfort them – they will see Him. Furthermore, because He is the Head and He lives, they too will live – as well as every subsequent believer. “I live” quite literally means “the Living One”. This is not too dissimilar to “I AM” - the term both God the Father and God the Son claimed - meaning “I am He who is” or “I am He who exists” or “I myself am He who is”. Followers of our Lord will live both the full and abundant life in the here and now and the eternal life in the hereafter - they are permanently secured in this promise. The divine nature of which all believers are partakers will never perish. Though weak, we are closely knit to the Head - being members of His body, the Church. Paul writes in Colossians regarding Christ:
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Col 1:15-20 (NIV)
We also find in Ephesians where Paul writes:
22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Eph 1:22-23 (NIV)
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. Eph 4:15-16 (NIV)
Lastly, Christ speaks of the believer’s intimate, inseparable union with Him. Just as our Lord is in the Father, we are in Him and He in us. The promise of the same power which raised Jesus from the dead is within each believer in Jesus – it is the good Gift:
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Eph 1:18-23 (NIV)
Through the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit, every believer in Jesus has an amazing source of spiritual vitality, power and strength for living the Christian life. It is no wonder that Scripture teaches us to “shrink not the Spirit” by our own poor choices – ever emphasizing to choose wisdom. As followers of Christ, we have a spiritually dynamic and living force dwelling within us – right alongside our sinful, woefully inadequate human nature. When we acquiesce to our weaker side, it is we who are the greatest losers. Proverbs states:
13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. Prov 3:13-17 (NIV)
“Considering Mary, how did she “walk by the Spirit” and glorify Christ when God gave her an impossible circumstance? She believed God for the impossible---“How will this be, for I am a virgin?” And she lived a life of repentance—“I am the Lord’s servant, may it be to me as you have said”. What does a life of repentance look like? It is a daily recognition that you are not your own, for you have been bought with a price. What is your life response to the impossible issues you are facing? How must you walk by the Spirit, in the way of repentance and faith, like Mary? I must believe God that I am an adopted son or daughter. That I am loved unconditionally; that I am forgiven and really free from sin in my life. I must believe I have the Holy Spirit’s seal of approval...I must believe God can and will do miraculous things in my life...in the lives of others around me... I must stop living life by and for myself... I must repent of my self-saving ways...My idols of comfort, security and approval. And I can because Jesus has already done all for me. Not just some of what I need, but all of what I needed and need, on the cross and He continues to do, by the active Presence and Power of His Holy Spirit.” Tom Wood