Jesus lives!

If you could choose just one Bible verse that sums up your entire life as a Christian, which would it be? Perhaps this most frequently quoted verse: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life?" (Joh 3, 16)A good choice! For me, the following verse is the most important one that the Bible as a whole conveys: “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.” (Joh 14,20).

On the night before his death, Jesus not only told his disciples that the Holy Spirit would be given to them "in that day," but he also repeatedly spoke of what would happen through his death, resurrection, and ascension. Something so incredible is about to happen, something so amazing, something so shattering, that it just doesn't seem possible. What do these three little sentences teach us?

Do you realize that Jesus is in his father?

Jesus lives through the Holy Spirit in an intimate, unique, and very special relationship with his Father. Jesus lives in the bosom of his Father! "No one has ever seen God; the only begotten Son, who is God and is in the bosom of the Father, he has proclaimed him." (Joh 1,18)One scholar writes: “To be in someone’s bosom means to be in someone’s embrace, to be filled with someone’s most intimate care and loving attention.” Jesus is exactly there: “In the bosom of his heavenly Father.”

Do you realize that you are in Jesus?

“You in me!” Three small, breathtaking words. Where is Jesus? We have just learned that he lives in a true and joyful relationship with his heavenly Father. And now Jesus says that we are in him, just as the branches are in the vine. (Joh 15,1-8)Do you understand what this means? We are in the same relationship that Jesus has with his Father. We are not watching from the outside, trying to figure out how to become part of this special relationship. We are part of it. What is this all about? How did all this happen? Let's take a look back a little.

Easter reminds us each year of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But this is not just the story of Jesus, it's your story too! It's the story of every single one of us, because Jesus was our substitute and replacement. When he died, we all died with him. When he was buried, we were all buried with him. When he rose to a new, glorious life, we all rose to that life. (Röm 6,3-14)Why did Jesus die? “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.” (1. Petr 3,18).

Unfortunately, many people imagine God as a lonely old man living somewhere in heaven, watching us from afar. But Jesus shows us the exact opposite. Because of his great love, Jesus has united us with himself and brought us into the presence of the Father through the Holy Spirit. "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 also may be." (Joh 14,3)Have you noticed that it doesn't mention anything here about us having to do or achieve anything to enter His presence? It's not about following rules and regulations to make sure we're good enough. We already are: "He raised us up with him and seated us with him in heaven in Christ Jesus." (Eph 2,6)This special, unique, and intimate relationship that Jesus has with the Father through the Holy Spirit for all eternity has become accessible to every person. They are now as closely connected to God as they can possibly be, and Jesus made this intimate relationship possible.

Do you realize that Jesus is in you?

Your life is worth so much more than you can ever imagine! Not only are you in Jesus, but he is also in you. He has spread throughout you and dwells within you. He is present in your everyday life, in your heart, thoughts, and relationships. Jesus is taking shape within you. (Gal 4, 19)When you go through difficult times, Jesus goes through them in you and with you. He is the strength within you when trouble comes your way. He is in the uniqueness, weakness, and fragility of each of us and rejoices in seeing his strength, joy, patience, and forgiveness expressed in us and revealed to others through us. Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Phil 1,21)This truth applies to you too: He is your life, and therefore it is worth giving yourself up for him. Trust that he is who he is within you.

Jesus is in you and you are in him! You are in this atmosphere and there you will find light, life and food that strengthens you. This atmosphere is in you too, without it you could not exist and you would die. We are in Jesus and He is in us. He is our atmosphere, our whole life.

In his high priestly prayer, Jesus explains this unity even more precisely. “For their sake I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. And I do not pray for them alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they all may be one, just as you, Father, are in me and I am in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you sent me. And I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one even as we are one—I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (Joh 17,19-23).

Do you rather recognize readers, your oneness in God and the oneness of God in you? This is your biggest secret and gift. Return your love of God with your gratitude!

by Gordon Green