It would be great if Jesus were to be the preacher at your church next Sunday. But if he’s at your church, then obviously that means he’s not going to be at any other churches. Jesus continues to have a real human body, so he can’t physically be in more than one place at a time. One estimate I saw online put the number of local congregations worldwide at 27 million. Even if Jesus attended two churches every Sunday, it would take him roughly 250,000 years to visit them all. The chances are you’d never meet him.
But because Jesus is present by the Holy Spirit, he can be present everywhere. That means, instead of having to make do with one appearance every 250,000 years, Jesus turns up at your church every time you meet. That’s exactly what Jesus promised: “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). Through the Holy Spirit, the presence of Jesus is wider than it ever was on earth, spreading out across the globe.
Jesus once attended a party at the home of Levi, a tax collector whom he had just called to follow him (Luke 5:27-32). Imagine Jesus coming to your home or attending your party. What an occasion it would be! But, when Jesus went to the home of Levi, he only went to one home. Now through the Holy Spirit, he’s present in every home that welcomes him.
It gets even better. Not only is his presence wider; it’s also deeper. Jesus said, “On that day you will realise that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:20). Jesus is not only with us by his Spirit but in us. He offers a deeper presence and a deeper intimacy—more profound than anything people experienced when he was on earth.
Jesus is not simply present for a brief visit. At some point Levi had to thank Jesus for coming and see him on his way—but not us. Jesus takes up residence in our hearts. He moves in and starts renovating the place, cleaning up the grime of sin and redecorating it with virtue. He makes our hearts his home. He promises not simply a pleasant evening ending with a goodbye. His promise is “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). Through the Spirit, the presence of Jesus is wider, deeper and longer.
What is Jesus doing right now? He’s making his home with us. Just as 2,000 years ago he welcomed sinners, he still welcomes sinners like us into his presence by his Spirit.
How do we respond?
1. HOLDING ON TO THE PROMISE
Jesus doesn’t always feel present. We can’t physically sense his nearness like the disciples did. So, especially in difficult times, we may need to hold on to his presence by faith, trusting that he’s with us even when it doesn’t feel like it. Indeed, the times when we feel most abandoned may be the times when he empathises with us the most. Jesus himself cried in his darkest hour, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34). The incredible truth is that Jesus knows what it is to feel abandoned, even by God. He, more than anyone, is able to sympathise with us in those moments when we feel all alone. And so in faith we can reach out to him through his promise and declare, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4).
2. MAKING JESUS FEEL AT HOME
Second, we respond by making Jesus feel welcome. Jesus says, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23). The Lord Jesus promises to make his home with us, but we’re to respond with love and obedience. We respond to his love with our love, and the way we love him is by keeping his commands (v. 21). And as we follow him in obedience, Jesus makes his home with us.
Imagine someone visiting your home whom you don’t like and whose presence you resent. While you may not want to create a scene, you can’t bring yourself to give them a welcoming smile or a warm hug. You would rather just ignore them. If we don’t love Jesus enough to obey him (v. 24), if we ignore his presence and neglect his commands, then he won’t feel welcome, and we’ll not enjoy his presence. Jesus will be the stranger sitting in the corner.
