Presence In The Name Of Jesus

Welcome to the final day in the final month of this academic and ecclesiastical year. Yes, the year has gone down, the month has faded and the hours are darkening, but we are standing victoriously in this ending, this fading down. How can we do this? We can do this because we are standing in the Son, whose Name never changes. There is victory today in this ending, however you see ending and whatever an ending is for you, only and precisely because of the Name of Jesus, whose attributes never end. He remains constant and consistent and the same is true of His Name and the attributes of His Name.

On yesterday’s meditation, when we looked briefly at the disciples of Jesus, as they were facing a going down, a setting of the Son, as He was about to leave them, did He not shine the most brilliant light upon them, with this Word? Listen to it again.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14: 27.

Is not Jesus’ Peace, His very Presence? O yes it is! Just as it is impossible for you to stand in pouring rain, unshielded and unsheltered, and not be drenched, it is impossible for you to know Jesus’ Peace and not His Perfect Presence. In like manner, you can never know His Presence, without His Peace. Accept the Word of Jesus!

On this ending, this setting, yet victorious moment, we linger on the Presence and in the Presence of Jesus.

Presence

Here is Moses, facing a going down, a setting sun if you like, as God has given him a new mission of service, in the Lord and to the Lord’s people. A new beginning awaits this Lord’s servant, as a new beginning awaits you, in the dawning, new ecclesiastical and academic year. Moses, as he faces the going down, the relenting of, and the giving up of the past, regardless of how good or bad it may have been, must know the victory of what is before him. Like the setting sun, which never loses its name, and like the setting sun, which shows brilliant brightness before it is hidden from our eyes, so too with Jesus, God the Son. The presence of the setting sun is magnificent. The Presence of the Setting Son is majestically brilliant and illuminates all who dare to stand in His Presence.

Let’s follow for a bit with Moses. When the ending had come for Moses to put away all his thoughts, his fears, his insecurities and niggling doubts concerning the new service which God had given to him, Moses needed great assurance from his God. Listen to how, with His deeply penetrating and brightly illuminating Word, God gave perfect reassurance to His servant, who sincerely sought Him. The LORD replied, My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33: 14. Is this not the brightest illumination ever, in a time of leaving one time, to embrace another time?

As a believer in the Lord, as His friend and servant, will you, by faith, hear this Word for you also? You are not just leaving this fading ecclesiastical and academic year of 2024, but you are being ushered into new mission and service in fruit-bearing. Yes you are, because Jesus Himself has made it abundantly clear that we are all in Him, to do as He directs and instructs, to His Father’s glory. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples. John 15: 8.

Will we, like Moses, so believe and so put all our hope, trust and faith in the Presence of our Master and Lord, Jesus Christ, that we can honestly say to Him, If your presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. Exodus 33: 15b. We do not want to take another step into the unknown or the known; the loved or unloved; the sunny weather or the stormy weather; the laughter or the tears, without the Presence of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

We reaffirm that there is Presence in the Name of Jesus, since we know and believe this by faith in His Word, which allows us to know that Jesus and the Father are One. I and the Father are one. John 10: 30. As believers therefore, we too can say like David, You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16: 11. The path of life is Jesus, for His Word is light for our path. He is the Word made flesh and He is our illumination. The Living, active, never failing Word of God, is the Presence of Jesus with you.

As this academic and ecclesiastical year of 2024, ends, hold fast to this truth, stand firm in its assurance and rejoice in the Peace it bestows. Therefore, will you come before our Jesus, living these words in your mortal clay?

Let’s pray then -