Prepare a Place 7/22/19

July 22, 2019 Prepare a Place – Manna by Dorothy & Tony Callies

John 14:2-3 “I go prepare a place for you . . . . Where I am, there you may be also.”

It was almost time for the Jewish Passover Feast.  Jesus knew that it was time for Him to leave this world and go back to the Father. He had always loved those who were His own in the world, and He loved them all the way to the end.  Jesus and He followers were at the evening meal. (John 13:1-3 NCV).

After Jesus washed His disciples feet, Jesus gave a long speech from John 13 through 17^th.  From John 18^th Jesus had finished praying, and they went into the garden of Gethsemane. There Jesus was captured and then led to the cross and died.  After His death and resurrection, Jesus appeared to disciples and many other followers at different times.  There was so much joy that they wanted Jesus visits to be continued.

But on the 40^th day after His resurrection, Jesus gave His final instructions to the disciples and Jesus slowly went up until the cloud hid Him from the view.  The disciples stayed on looking for Him.  I imagined that the two angels tried to tell them that Jesus is gone, and that He is coming back again someday, but for them to go on to Jerusalem as Jesus instructed them to do.

Jesus could have vanished instantly, as He had done before (Luke 24:31).  But He chose to go up visibly and slowly to impress on His followers that this was the end of His visits.  His bodily presence would soon be replaced by “another Helper,” the Holy Spirit promised in John 14:16. Jesus said, “And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter that He (Holy Spirit) may abide with you forever.”

This is the part that impressed me deeply about “Jesus’ end of His visits” with His disciples and His followers on the earth. I repeat: Jesus end His visits . . . so disciples must have felt lost for a moment until they obeyed to go to Jerusalem to the Upper Room and wait for the Power of Holy Spirit to come.

With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, God and Jesus visited them in the Spirit, not in the flesh. His Presence was felt by 120 followers and 3,000 got saved. So Holy Spirit took Jesus’ place and the only different is no flesh . . . to see in person. The Holy Spirit is a Spirit and He can makes God and Jesus very real to us . . . This is what we called, “Faith.” So come, Holy Spirit, we need you!

Song: Come, Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, I need you,

Come, sweet Spirit, I pray;

Come in Your strength and Your power,

Come in Your own gentle way.

[Gloria and William J. Gaither, Sing His Praise]

God bless you!

Dorothy 
 PS. Jesus promised that He will be in person when He comes to get us into heaven. He is busy preparing us a place and there He will be a real live person for us to see, to touch, and to hug, and hug again!  It is worth waiting for!