I don’t know about you, but I often wish I could have been one of Jesus’ disciples back then, who could have been in His presence every day for at least 3 years. Just think, to be able to walk with Him on the dusty streets of Israel, to be able to eat and drink with Him, and to be able to talk with Him at any time of the day or night!
The other day, I read John 13 and 14.
You know it!
How Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, broke the bread with them, and ate.
Then we read the following in John 13:23: “One of His disciples, whom Jesus loved, leaned back on Jesus’ breast as he was eating.”
Do you see the picture of this in your mind?
What a privilege to have the boldness and privilege to know that you have a place there on Jesus’ breast! Because He loves you!
Then Jesus begins to talk to them about what makes His people different from the rest of the unbelieving world around them. You know the two verses in which He told them this. Yes, John 13:34 and 35.
“A new commandment I give you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another.”
Then He begins to talk to them about the time after His crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension. When He, as God the Son, will no longer be with them as an ordinary man.
Listen to how He tells them about this new season that is coming. But not just for them as His disciples who were with Him for these three years, from 28 to 30 AD. No, this is now going to be the experience of each of His followers from now on as well.
Listen to what He says about this.
“Do not be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would not have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.”
Do you hear what I hear Jesus say to each of us who love Him?
Yes, that we are going to discover that we, like John, also have a place in His bosom! We can, just like His disciples of old, experience and experience His presence, His love, His being-there, every day, every moment of the day!
What is the secret? How is it possible?
As the early Christian congregations and believers of whom the book of Acts tells us, we are going to discover that the secret is the presence of God the Spirit, the Holy Spirit, in and with us!
Next time, I will tell you more about this from John 14.