The Manifestation of Jesus

                         I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

                        Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:

                         because I live, ye shall live also.

                        At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

                        He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me:

                        and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him,

                        and will manifest myself to him.

                       

                        Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest

                        thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

                        Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words:

                        and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and

                        make our abode with him.

                                                                                                                        (John 14:18-21)

Prayer must be the most unimaginable thing to an atheist! A person goes off by themselves and speaks words into the air, to nothing and no one. From this perspective there could be no greater waste of time or more foolish scene than a man in prayer. Would it surprise you if the atheist is found to be you, and the truth of this scripture to be more real than we have dared to believe?

In an attempt to make Christianity less mystical to a skeptical, practical and scientific world, we have pretended that such scriptures about the manifestation of Jesus to be only a natural outcome of our religious activities: as if through devotion to the Bible and faithful church attendance we might somehow obtain an enlightened-similitude of Jesus Christ impressed on our souls, a better picture of the Savior in the imaginations of our hearts or through knowing His teachings we could have a better picture of the man. To this approach the world has asked the most obvious of all questions; “How would this manifestation differ from the manifestation of Buddha, or Mohamed, or other religious leaders?” The simple answer is, if that is our approach, there is no difference.

Could it be that Jesus meant what He said and more literally then we have dared portray? What injustice have we done to the gospel by portraying Jesus as more dead than alive? Could He actually be really alive and active as an individual, as God, and the literal leader of His church? Could He be the personal recipient of our prayers? Could He be so real that our prayers stop sounding as speeches made to a deity far removed, and more like a dialogue with a well respected and powerful friend whom we know well?

Christianity made to be devoid of the living God is non-distinct compared to the pantheon of the religions of the world, and leaves us no better prepared than an atheist in prayer. With the manifestation of Jesus, prayer becomes as natural to the Christian for spiritual life as breathing is for the natural life: because the object of prayer has been recovered and the declaration of “in Jesus name” can now be spoken with boldness before the Father.

We have said the right words when speaking of salvation, saying that a “personal relationship with Jesus Christ” is the only way to be saved, but as soon as the person is converted to the faith we excuse the term from meaning a real relationship with God, and leave them with only devotion toward God, rather than fellowship with Him. To take the term “relationship” to mean only the exercise of our devotions toward God closes us off from the life of prayer: leaving us only with a duty we find impossible to perform. The same can be said of prayer as with salvation: not only does it require a “personal relationship with God”, it is the very reality and activity of that relationship.

In the most practical of terms, the manifestation of Jesus is not a projection of our thoughts about who He is, a recollection of all that we know about Him or a construct from our learned minds; it is His actual personhood present with us during prayer. We might say this is the “presence of God” as commonly expressed in charismatic and pentecostal circles, but it is more than these terms can hold; for we are speaking of the manifestation of the Lord Jesus Himself.

All of the scriptures about Him, all of the learning about Him has not been wasted or useless, but compared to the manifestation of Jesus Christ Himself, these have been only misty shadows. Indeed the gospels have re-presented Him enough that when praying, having not seen His form, we can identify Him when He speaks. Many times I have seen the same Jesus of the Bible alive and well while praying; asking me the same piercing questions as the Jesus of the Bible.

The questions He asks are the questions of God to a man, which are not of God’s ignorance, but are revelations themselves. Can you hear Him in the garden calling to Adam, “Adam where art thou?” God already knew! Can you hear Him asking for the coin used to pay taxes to Cesar? “Whose image and superscription is this?” This is an inquiry based on knowledge, not on ignorance: asked for the sake of the responders, not the responses. When I come with questions and hear, “I will also ask of you one question, and answer me, and I will tell you…” This is the same Jesus portrayed in the scriptures; it is Him who we have encountered in prayer.

                         For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged

                        sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints

                        and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

                        Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are 

                        naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

                        Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens,

                        Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

                        For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our

                        infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

                        Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,

                        that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                             (Hebrews  4:12-16)

The Word of God here is not speaking of the scripture, but the manifestation of Jesus Himself as we standing before Him in prayer. The writer calls Him “living and active”, “quick and powerful”, “zaō and energēs”, “living and strong.” He is sharp like a sword, His words and questions piercing right to core of matter. It is He who sees all, all of creation manifested in His sight, all creation laid bare and open to His eyes. It is Him who is touched with our feebleness, yet the writer say, “let us therefore come boldly”. This is the manifestation of Jesus Christ, and this is His throne of grace, just on the other side of the door of prayer.