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The Eternal Mystery of Being in Two Places at One Time

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October 20, 2020

John 14:1-7

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

CONSIDER THIS

This text is the universal go-to text for funerals everywhere. In fact, that’s about the only place I ever hear it. While comforting many a soul in the wake of loss, I’m not so sure this is what Jesus had in mind when he spoke these words.

The context here is not a funeral but final preparations for a sequence of cataclysmic events—namely Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, ascension, sending of the Holy Spirit, and final return. Jesus clearly addresses the living not about death but concerning their ongoing relationship with him in the absence of his physical presence.

Bear with me. This is about to get mind-bending. Jesus teaches his disciples what it means to dwell in two realms simultaneously—on earth and in heaven. (On earth as it is in heaven is not an ethical paradigm but a living mystery.)

Stay with me. Because Jesus is physically seated in heaven at the right hand of the Father, he is able to dwell all over the earth in and through his disciples (i.e., the church) via the person and power of the Holy Spirit. In like but opposite fashion, because Jesus’ disciples are physically present all over the world, they are also seated in heaven in the presence of Jesus by the person and power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit mediates the presence of Jesus on earth as it is in heaven. And the Holy Spirit mediates the presence of Jesus’ disciples (a.k.a. the body of Christ) in heaven as it is on earth.

This is what it means when Jesus says, “that you also may be where I am.”Jesus is here and we are there. Paul is all over this in his letters. Check these out.

And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. (Eph. 2:6)

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Col. 3:1-4)

This is indeed a profound mystery and one in which we have scarcely begun to perceive the implications. So what if we began to apply this text more for our lives than in others’ deaths?

THE PRAYER

Abba Father, we thank you for your Son, Jesus, who has prepared a place for us that where he is we may also be. Come, Holy Spirit, and help us grasp the reality that he is here with us and we are there with him, and show us all this can mean in our lives. We pray in Jesus’ name, amen.

THE QUESTIONS

1. Does it make more sense to see this text as futuristic or as present?

2. What does it mean that we are seated in the heavenly realms?

3. What are the implications of this way of understanding the presence of Jesus and the presence of his people?

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For the Awakening,
J.D. Walt
Sower-in-Chief
seedbed.com

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WHAT IS THIS? Wake-Up Call is a daily encouragement to shake off the slumber of our busy lives and turn our eyes toward Jesus. Each morning our community gathers around a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer, and a few short questions, inviting us to reorient our lives around the love of Jesus that transforms our hearts, homes, churches, and cities.

Comments and Discussion

3 Responses

  1. As weird as your proposed interpretation first sounds, I’m in agreement with it. Paul’s words confirm it.
    I believe that to be seated in heavenly realms does mean that we are truly citizens of heaven NOW. We are to realize that when we pray the Lord’s Prayer, the part about “ thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven “, we are actually asking Jesus to display himself fully in us now. This interpretation of our presence in two realms simultaneously, also explains how in certain liturgical traditions, we join with angels and the heavenly hosts in their unending praise around the throne of God.
    The implication of participation in dual realities also explains why Jesus said that we, his corporate body, would do even greater things than himself, once we were In dwelt with his Holy Spirit. John 14:12

  2. I’m so happy I ran across Seedbed! I’m excited to see what the Lord has called you to do. My church (Shiloh Fellowship) is responding to the call as well. I’m honored to join the Watch for Awakening starting tomorrow morning. God is moving 😀
    God bless you and your ministry <3

  3. Good day family. I had this thought and question 🙋 because the Holy Spirit gave me a dream in which my in-firmed mother was with me in one place, but as I traveled in the dream I found a locked door 🚪 which I struggled to open, the only way I got it opened was by sinking a long knife 🔪 deep into the knob hole. When I went in I found someone wrapped up like a captive on a table. Immediately I knew that this person was there for too long a time to still be surviving. Yet once I unwrapped the body I found it was my mom still alive but weak. I led her out of Satan’s captivity. Hallelujah!

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