A New Era in History

And when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left, your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."  (Is. 30:21)

During Jesus' earthly ministry, He was to the crowds a Rabbi, a Teacher, a Healer.  To His companions, however, He was a companion, a guide, a provacateur, a friend, and exciting teacher, revealing hidden truths in the parables and in daily life.  When Peter made a mistake in thinking or in action, Jesus but had to speak or to reach out His hand to deliver Peter.

As Jesus began to speak more and more about leaving them, He also promised that He would not leave them as orphans, but would manifest Himself to them.  "Why to us and not to the world?" they asked.

To the world, Jesus remains a historical figure like Napoleon, like Abraham, like Peter the Great.  He does not manifest Himself to the world as companion, as rescuer, as guide, as friend, as exciting teacher.  He is not present to them as He was to the Apostles.  But having once broken into history as Emmanuel---God with us---do you think He was going to become a "hear-say" God again ---not really present, but at a distance?

We do not need to look back to the time of Jesus.  He is here with us now, as Friend, as Companion, as Healer, as Rescuer, as Teacher, as Provacateur---constantly revealing God With Us night and day, standing by, ready for every moment and every emergency.

Amazing comradeship!

In the first age, God the Father spoke through a few prophets, priests, and kings.  He made known His way and His will through the law and the commandments, and He annointed a few people as rescuers of the people in times of trouble.

In the second age, God spoke to us directly through His Son, Who rescued the poor and sick and poured out His love on all around Him.

In the third age, the same Son remains present to us through the Spirit.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow:  He heals, He teaches; He comforts; He guides and corrects; He rescues and guides; He communicates the Father's love and will.  He is God with us!

If we treat Jesus as a historic person, we are missing the reason He came---not just to interpret the Law, to teach, and to heal a few people for 30 years---but to be fully present with us today.  All communication of the Presence of Jesus is through the Holy Spirit; all "law" (read "instruction") is given to us today through the Holy Spirit.  All rescue of those in trouble is done through the Holy Spirit.

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter said this:

This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

In the last days...I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

We are not "on our own," trying hard to obey the law today.  There is in us the Spirit of Jesus, fulfilling the law perfectly, even though in ourselves we are still broken vessels (or cracked pots) holding the Spirit.  The work He has begun in us, He will complete.  We just have to patch up the cracks as well as we can so as not to let the Spirit of Jesus leak out of us.