Have you ever thought about what Jesus meant when He said, “I am in the Father,” “you are in Me,” and “I am in you”? Jesus used those phrases several times when He told His disciples that He would be going away and gave them some instructions about living without Him personally walking and talking with them.
“When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.” John 14:20-21
I pondered what Jesus meant by the word “in.” What does that look like? What does that mean? And so, yes, I actually looked up the meaning of “in”.
“Expressing the situation of something that is or appears to be enclosed or surrounded by something else.”
So, Jesus is enclosed and surrounded by God.
And so I am enclosed and surrounded by Jesus.
And I enclose and surround the Holy Spirit.
And yes, I drew a picture of it!
When I see it and consider the truth of what it means; that Jesus is “in” God, and I am “in” Jesus, and His Spirit dwells “in” me, I realize what an amazing position I have been placed into!
“For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” Colossians 3:3
My position is one of protection, privilege, and power! I’m not just left on my own to live out the Christian life by myself.
The disciples didn’t understand what Jesus meant when He said He was going back to the Father. For three years they followed Jesus, learned from Him, and were encouraged by Him. Now, the thought of Him leaving brought fears and doubts that they could make it on their own. Jesus knew the trials, the difficulties, and the persecution they would face, and He knew exactly what they needed to know to prepare, encourage and strengthen them for the days, months, and years ahead.
While walking and talking with His disciples Jesus set the example of what it looked like to be “in” the Father. Jesus only did and said what His Father told Him to. He listened to and obeyed everything the Father said, even when His will didn’t want to.
Jesus was fully God, yet fully man. Something I can’t really wrap my brain around, but I believe the fully man part was the part that was “in” the Father.
Jesus demonstrated to us what a life lived “in” looked like.
Jesus’ love for His Father and joy “in” the presence of His Father, allowed God’s power and love to flow through Him to meet the physical and spiritual needs of everyone He encountered.
Jesus’ passion “in” the Father fueled His righteous anger against the hypocritical attitudes of the Pharisees.
Jesus’ trust “in” His Father empowered Him to completely obey His Father’s will.
Jesus didn’t live life on his own.
And He knew the disciples couldn’t live life on their own.
Jesus entrusted those twelve men with His example and with His words of instruction, expecting them to believe Him, to trust Him, and to obey Him so that the Gospel would be lived and spread throughout the world for generations. Jesus knew it would require they lived “in” Him, filled with the Holy Spirit, to carry forth their mission.
We can’t live life on our own either!
Jesus’ voice speaks to us today, just as it did to His disciples. May we not take our position “in” Jesus for granted, but earnestly seek out what that means in our every day lives.
What would your days look like if you woke up each morning, looked in the mirror, and saw yourself fully enclosed “in” the sovereignty and love of God, completely surrounded “in” the peace of Jesus our Savior, and saw “in” you all the fruit of the Holy Spirit?
It would change your thoughts completely!
It would change your behavior completely!
You would see the attributes of God that would bring awe and appreciation of who God is and you couldn’t help but start your day by praising and thanking Him! You would see God’s power and love and they would dispel all your fears and insecurities! You would feel safe and protected by Him. You would have a confidence in your very core that you are a child of God and that no matter what happens that day, God will work it out for your good!
You would see the peace of Jesus and be compelled to lay down all your cares and worries at His feet. You would no longer see your sin and shame, but you would hear His voice pronounce, “It is finished!” and you would see yourself as He sees you, dressed in His robe of righteousness. And standing there in front of the mirror wearing His robe of righteousness, you would realize you have been given the gift of this day to take up your cross and follow Him, and to make a difference to those around you.
You would see you really are a temple of God, because right there living inside you is the Holy Spirit! You would see His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control all radiating inside you; ready and waiting to be poured out on those around you that need to know how amazing God is!
Oh to be enclosed “in” the love of the Father, surrounded “in” the peace of Jesus, and filled with the joy of the Spirit!
May this be the truth that sets you free from the fears, doubts, and challenges of living the Christian life on your own, and may you discover the protection, the privilege, and the power that is found “in” Jesus so that you do the works of God here on earth!