SEEK 46 – Jesus on Earth
Question: Why didn’t God let Jesus stay on earth so that he could tell people about him?
Bible Reading: John 16:1-15
Text: “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7)
It sounds logical doesn’t it. Given what we have just seen in the past chapter about evangelism – would it not be so much easier if Jesus was here on earth? How many would flock to see him? The most people I have ever heard gathered to listen to someone speak was when Jordan Peterson came to Sydney in 2022. A sell-out crowd of 9,000 hung on his every word (and there were plenty of them!). Imagine what crowds we would draw if Jesus went on tour!
But that’s not what Jesus’ thought. In fact, he told the disciples, who I suspect did not immediately grasp how this could be true, that it would be better for them if he went away.
Why would it be better?
Let’s return to my going to hear Jordan Peterson at the Sydney Exhibition Centre. We got to see him, projected on a screen from a distance and to hear him. A lucky few got to ask him questions through the Slido technology. A handful got to go backstage and meet with him afterwards. I was thankful to be part of that handful. But he was limited in his time, in his body and mind (he was really tired). It was great to chat briefly with him, but he is not the Messiah!
Imagine if Jesus was like that? Limited to a human body on earth – only able to give a few minutes to a few people. Would we really want him to give access only to those who could afford the tickets?
The Ascension of Jesus is a much-neglected topic. Even for someone like me who has been a Christian for 45 years it was only a couple of years ago that I grasped something of the practical difference it makes. There are not many books I would regard as life changing – but Gerrit Scott Dawson’s Jesus Ascended was one such book. Amongst other things I learned the answers to the following questions:
- Is Jesus still human? Yes – he still has a human body. But it is a renewed body. A different kind of human body – one that we shall have. One that is free from the bondage to decay we currently experience. He doesn’t get tired or weary. As ‘Rabbi’ Duncan put it: “the dust of the earth sits on the throne of heaven”.
2) Where is he? Dawson cites Calvin’s wise comments.
“What? Do we place Christ midway among the spheres? Or do we build him a cottage among the planets? Heaven, we regard as the magnificent palace of God, far outstripping all this world’s fabric”. (Dawson p.40).
3) What is he doing? He is sending his word as the prophet; he is praying as our priest, and he is as our King. And he is with us. He is present with us through His Spirit. Where two or three are gathered he is there in the midst. When we gather in worship we can honestly stand up and tell people ‘Jesus is here…. Jesus is in the house!’. When we sit at his table, he is not absent – he is present with us – which is why the Lord’s Supper is so much more than a memorial to absent friends!
Another way to think of this is that he is giving us, his church, gifts. Paul cites Psalm 68:18 to the Ephesians to prove this – “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to people” (Ephesians 4:8).
As to your specific question witness. It is because he has given us these great gifts – his word, Spirit and Church, that we are able to bear witness to the end of the earth. He has not left us alone. He is present with us.
“We have gained in Christ more than we lost in Adam” (Dawson p.71). Let me add to that. We have gained more from Christ ascending than we would have if he had remained on earth.
Consider: Isn’t it an amazing – and to be honest sometimes quite scary – thought that Jesus is with us. He is not with us like a Zoom call. It’s far more than that. You don’t have to dial him up and wait until he answers. He is with us always. He’s not with us in a physical sense – it’s far better than that. He is with us by his Spirit, in his Church, word and sacraments. What are the practical implications of all of this for you if you are a believer? And if you are not a believer, why would you not want this?
Further Reading:
Jesus Ascended – Gerrit Scott Dawson
The Ascension: Humanity in the Presence of God by Tim Chester and Jonny Woodrow.
The Ascension of Christ – Patrick Schreiner
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, right before your Ascension into heaven you told your apostles to be His witnesses to the ends of the earth upon receiving the Holy Spirit. May I be similarly inspired to spread your Gospel message in word and deed, according to your will for me. And may I do so prudently and joyfully, with your help, your guidance, and your grace! And remembering this glorious event, help me to seek what is above, Heaven, where you are seated at the right hand of God the Father! (I found this beautiful prayer on a Catholic website)
Acts with Acts 3 – The Ascension
Thank you David. I often reflect on these things. It seems that Jesus’ resurrection body is his final ‘spiritual’ body’.. What does it mean for a body to be a ‘spiritual body’. I presume it means energised by the Spirit. It’s life I take it is not natural life but eternal life. Questions abound.
Humanity seems to have different stages. Adam was sinless but innocent rather than holy. We have moral awareness but are fallen.
What was thhe nature of Christ’s humanity? It was not simply innocent and certainly not fallen, It was holy. Holiness is invincibly opposed to sin. Theology tends to locate Christ’s inability to sin in his divine person. Although they may agree he was impeccable they would locate this in the fact that he was a divine person. His humanity they may say was technically peccable, i wonder if this is true. His humanity was holy. Moreover, his human nature was born of God. I wonder if the nature he had by natural birth is the same nature we have by new birth. Surely Christ;s human nature was not less than a renewed nature. Anyway,,, food for thought.
Yes, I had the privilege of meeting Jordon Peterson and speaking with him for a couple of minutes. I could tell he was listening, really listening and compassionate. It was powerful and tremendously encouraging.
I spoke of how I got cancelled at university having been suspended following me having the temerity to say that a BBC drama was not representative of diversity in society, for speaking this truth and what followed. He got my gallows humour and responded in kind and in unity of spirit with ironical humour “well, you should be hung drawn and quatered for that then”.
I see what he means by being greeted everywhere and being thanked for his influence and there being nothing better than that.
So – why is it that there isn’t more of this kind of thing in the church in believers with the indwelling of the God given Spirit of love, power and sound mind? Why does it take someone like Jordan Peterson to provide the kind of service with people hanging on every word as you say?
It seems there is a lot of repenting to do of having the appearance of godliness but lacking in Christ’s power to produce godliness. But who would dare be the one to say this or to to shine their light in Christ’s power and be hated by the darkness whether that come in a religious or secular form with being “cancelled”?
It will be a brave and courageous few. Many travel on the wide road that leads to destruction and few walk the path that leads to life.