In Christ

We begin straightway with the question, which comes in different forms. How can a person be in Jesus? What really does it mean for one to be in Jesus? How practical is it for us, carnal human beings, to be in Jesus, a Spiritual being? Indeed the questions seek one thing really, and it is to know how possible can something so humanly impossible be. How can it be?

Doesn't some of this, remind you of the Pharisee who had gone to Jesus, to sit at His feet to learn? Nicodemus, a Jewish teacher himself, observed a difference in this Teacher called Jesus, from Nazareth, and sincerely wanted to learn more, and know more about this different Teacher and His words and works. Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him. John 3: 2b.

In this most precious and privileged one-on-one night class with Jesus, it is explosive. It is life-altering, as Jesus brings things to this man of letters and law, of which he has never ever heard. Jesus tells Nicodemus that no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. John 3: 3b. This Jewish teacher hears what the Teacher from God is saying, but to him, it is humanly impossible. He wants to know how something so impossible can ever be. How can a man be born when he is old? Nicodemus asked. Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born? John 3: 4. We are no different really, for even though we may not articulate it, in so many words, many of us see it as humanly impossible for a human being, grown-up or not, to enter into Jesus. 

Being in Jesus is important and crucial to salvation because, unless we are in Him, who is our Blood-marked Door, we will not know salvation from the wrath of Sovereign Almighty God. Do not be deceived about this. The devil has no more power over us; death has no more power over us; the grave has no more power over us; neither does hell have any more power over us. Why is this so? How can this be? This is factual because of the shed Blood of Jesus. Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death – that is, the devil – and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2: 14 – 15. Jesus, by His death, has ensured that the devil has been defeated once and for all and he now lives powerless to keep us, who are in Jesus, in slavery. This being the case, we are now free to live in Jesus and know salvation from everlasting death. Be in Christ Jesus! So how can we be in Jesus?  

God the Holy Spirit Himself, our Teacher and Enabler, has given us one answer and it is the same response Jesus gave to the Pharisee called Nicodemus. The only way any human being can be in Jesus, is to be born in Him. Jesus has risen and has sent the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit to be in us and with us.

Jesus is born in you if you love Him and keep His commands. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. John 15: 9 – 11. To love Jesus as He loves you, is to be in Him as He is in you.

Believe it or not, as I am before our Counselor, Teacher, Guide and Enabler, in deep concentration and learning, this song from decades ago, takes forefront and I begin humming it. I immediately stop, with a kind of horror like, when I think, hey! This is a secular love song! As I was about to throw it from my mind, if I could, I was given a most peaceful time of understanding about being in Jesus, through a most unconventional, unexpected and frankly, worldly way. Yet, who am I, who are we, to speak with corrective tones to our Teacher, as if we can guide Him as to how He must work or must not work, what He can use and cannot use? I thank God daily for our Holy Spirit, our blessed and wonderful Teacher, who knows perfectly how to deal with all His students, all His learners in conqueringly, victorious manner. Once again, He has conquered and saved me.

Here are words from this song of vintage hue, made popular by a singer called Bobby Darin. Perhaps some of you may remember it.

More than the greatest love the world has known,

This is the love I give to you alone,

More than the simple words I try to say,

I only live to love you more each day,

More than you'll ever know my arms long to hold you so,

My life will be in your keeping: waking, sleeping, laughing, weeping,

Longer than always is a long, long time,

But far beyond forever you'll be mine,

I know I never loved before, and my heart is very sure

No one else could love you more.

What does this have to do with being in Jesus? We find out tomorrow. All I know is that at this moment, I am giving thanks to our Lord God, to our Holy Spirit, to our Master and Saviour, whose ways are beyond our human understanding and thinking. I’m giving joyful, heartfelt, grateful thanks to our One Lord, who understands our every weakness, our utter and complete ignorance and delights in teaching us and changing us.

It is in anticipation in Him that we wait to receive.