CHRIST IN US AND WE IN HIM
John 6:56-57
Morning Meditation 4/18/2013
"He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me."
A.T. Pierson says, "this describes the highest conceivable unity. The stones of the building may be removed; the branch may be cut off from the vine, and the limb severed from the body; the sheep may wander from the shepherd, the child from the father; the bride may be divorced from the bridegroom; but you can not divide the spirit asunder. Therefore, when we are told that 'he that is joined unto the Lord is one Spirit,' we have the highest possible representation of unity--a unity which nothing can dissolve."
The disciples were offended at the teaching of Christ on this point. Jesus says in John 6:61, "When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?"
Human nature has never changed. What the flesh can't see or rationalize, it rejects. Jesus probes deeper into the mystery of our relationship to Him, and He to us, than He has anywhere in the New Testament. It was too much for many who had been following Him. We are told in John 6:66, "From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him." Jesus was addressing Himself to faith not reason. It is the same today. Man finds it impossible to rationalize God, and as a result, he lives like there is no God.
What is it to dwell in Him? It is to be incarnated into Christ so that His life is ours. We no longer live by sight but by faith. When the Bible says, "In the beginning God," it gives the believer no problem. We believe it just as the written Word says. We are like spoiled children who cannot make a decision on our own. We never go to our heavenly Father and have Him say, "I don't have time to help you right now." He is always there. We are always welcome. In fact, we are "at home" in His presence. He has given us unrestricted time in His presence. We are always first when we come to Him for counsel. There is no waiting room. Hebrews 10:19-22 says, "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
What is it for Him to dwell in us? It is being taken from the lowest depths of depravity and put by the Holy Spirit in Him. We are cleansed, we are free from any future condemnation. It is being made one with Him. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:17, "But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit."
Our bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
Our life is no longer ours but His. He has redeemed us and placed us as sons. We are partakers of the Divine nature. We are prodigals come home. He ran out to meet us and put His arms around us. We thought that we had lost our place in the Father's heart. But were we ever surprised. We discovered that when we left home the door was not shut against our return. We never dreamed that we meant so much to Him.
What is it for Him to dwell in us? It is Jesus reclaiming His property. It is Jesus moving in to take over. It is having His Holy Spirit to regenerate and give us the earnest of the Spirit as the guarantee that what He did for us in regeneration will ultimately be manifest in the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory. Jesus claims us as His own and puts the "seal of the Spirit" within us. This is His seal of ownership.
May the Lord bless these words to our hearts.
In Christ
Bro. White
