Enjoying Jesus's Presence

Yesterday, in our "Resurrection Sunday" sermon, we explored the complexity and beauty of the resurrection of Christ. The resurrection of Christ is much more than "only" a coming back to life moment; in this event, Jesus is also crowned the King of the creation. As he announced to his disciples, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. And now, for this reason, we ought to go and make disciples of all nations.

And if, on one side, Jesus left us in his ascension, he also promised to be with us always, to the end of the age. The question in the mind of many then will be, how can I experience the presence of Christ? What does it mean for Jesus to be present with us?

Reformed theology historically heavily emphasized the doctrine of "union with Christ." Some of the texts that give us the foundation to understand this reality are, for example:

"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his." - Romans 6:5

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." - Galatians 2:20

The union of Christ with believers is understood as a spiritual and mystical reality mediated by the work of the Holy Spirit. Through faith, we are united to Christ in ways that transcend an intellectual assent to the truth of the Gospel or a mere moral imitation of Jesus. The Church is united to Christ as a wife to her husband. This union is of such depth that the Church is presented in the scriptures as the very body of Christ.

This union with Christ is multi-faceted and can be explored in many ways. It's a union that has past, present and future aspects. It's an objective union, with us being declared righteous and being adopted into God's family. But this union is also subjective and experiential as we participate in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ being conformed to his image.

We cannot enjoy Jesus' abiding presence without faith and the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit that communicates this reality to us. But once in union with Christ, we can - by faith - enjoy his presence by taking advantage of the ordinary means of grace. The Word, sacraments (Baptism and the Lord's Supper), prayer and fellowship with the Church, when employed in the intended manner, will bring us to a deep intimacy with our Saviour.

What happens many times is that people will fail to recognize and enjoy Jesus' presence in these simple means of grace for multiple reasons, and they will then move on to the pursuit of ecstatic experiences that end up becoming a poor (or false) substitute and will, in the end, leave people empty.

So, let us press on and not neglect the practices that Jesus gave us. Let us devote ourselves to what the first disciples devote themselves to. And let us learn to fully enjoy His blessings and presence through the means he ordained and not be attracted and deceived by all the forms of counterfeit spirituality out there.

Nino Marques