Sometimes I wish Jesus would show up and set a few things straight in this messed up world of ours – if people would pay more attention than they did the first time around. But that idle wish misses a big ol’ point: He is here. He said he would be. It’s up to us to discern him and to make him known.
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them,” is a promise, a promise of presence. To unfold that promise, though, requires a few steps of faith.
First, we have to be able to distinguish between flesh and spirit. Jesus said fleshly reality was limited, and spiritual reality was never-ending. Jesus’ enfleshed presence was time-and-space-limited, 33 years or so, in one region of the world. His presence in a resurrection body lasted about 40 days. His spiritual presence is eternal, and still going strong, especially among those who believe in his promise.
We also need to affirm that Jesus lives in us. I take the promises of baptism at face value - that we are united with Christ, made a new creation, given a new heart and a new spirit – his spirit. So Paul wrote, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” But we are not filled with his spirit in an “invasion of the body snatchers” way. Rather, his spirit joined with ours brings forth a new person, that most true “……..” (fill in your name) that can possibly be.
If Christ dwells in us, abides in us, then he is real in us. When we gather with others in whom Christ lives, his presence can become even stronger and more real. By believing and joining together, we make Christ present in our world, not just a suggestion of presence, but fully here, spiritually speaking. (We have to supply the flesh and blood.) This is just as true for online gatherings in his name as in-person.
How might it change our lives and ministries if we were more fully conscious of this reality? If, when we gathered together, we knew Jesus was among, us and spoke and acted and prayed like we knew we were in the presence of the all-powerful God? If, when we went out in ministry, we made sure we went in teams of at least two, so that the power of Christ’s presence would fill and empower our work in his name? Don’t get me wrong – Christ is present in us when we’re alone. But he promised that when two or three of us – our more – gathered in his name, he would be in our midst.
Where would you love for Jesus to show up this weekend? In a place? A person? A situation? Do you have any idea how you might bring him there, with two or three others? Going deeper… where do you think he might want to go? You might get quiet in prayer today or Saturday morning, and ask him: “Jesus, where do you want me to take you today, to make you known?”
I can’t wait to hear how those prayers turn out. I do know the world needs a lot more Jesus, and we’re just the ones to help make that happen.
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