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We seek, not the historical Jesus, but the glorified Christ.
John 7:37-39 In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this he spoke of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive, for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because that Jesus was not yet glorified).
The living water Jesus spoke of is like that which he spoke to the woman of Samaria, at the well, in John 4.
John 4:14 But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
This spoke Jesus of the Holy Spirit which he would give after he was glorified.
Many Christians think that the 4 Gospels are the most important part of the whole Bible, because they contain the words that Jesus himself spoke…..I mean, they’re in red (in red-letter versions), aren’t they, so they must be more important! And so they look for the wisdom that Jesus shared….how to live, how to think, how to treat our fellow man. They seek to be more like Jesus…..like Jesus was when he walked in the flesh on the earth. There is a serious limitation in the walk of a believer who looks at the word of God, and at Jesus Christ, in this way.
The indication in the verses above is that what will come after Jesus is glorified will be much much greater than what it could be at that time, when Jesus was alive and on the earth. If we seek the historical Jesus, to walk like he walked and obey the words he spoke, we will not be walking in what the glorified Christ made available. Let’s find out exactly what that is.
John 14:16-21 And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him; but you know him, for he dwells with you, and shall be in you. (The Holy Spirit of God was at that time with the believers, being in Jesus, and would, after Jesus was glorified, be in the believers) I will not leave you comfortless. I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world sees me no more; but you see me, because I live, you shall live also. At that day you shall know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me; and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Why would Jesus say that he would manifest himself to them? Wasn’t he right there, with them at that time? Ahhh, you see, they could see him, see the works he did, hear the words he spoke, but they could not understand the power, the life that he walked in. They could not know and understand the relationship he had with God, his father. That understanding would only come after Jesus was glorified.
John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceeds from the Father, he shall testify of me.
John 16:13-15 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, the will guide you into all truth; for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me; for he shall receive of mine, and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me, for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you. All things that the Father has are mine; therefore said I that he shall take of mine, and shall show it unto you.
Now we know how Jesus was glorified….by the Holy Spirit of truth. That same spirit is birthed within us when we believe on Jesus the Christ, the son of God. That same spirit also glorifies us!
John 17:21-26 That they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that you have sent me. And the glory which you gave me I have given them; (this is a prophetic word, speaking of the future as if it were the present) that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and you in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them, as you have loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom you have given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which you have given me; for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
The glory which God, the Father, gave to Jesus….Jesus has given to us. That is the glorified Christ.
Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
This mystery is our hope of glory.
I Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a (regarding the) mystery, the hidden, which God ordained before the world unto our glory;
Jesus, having been glorified by the holy spirit of God, gives that same spirit to whosoever believes on him. That same holy spirit (called the spirit of Christ, because he is the one who sent it), now glorifies us also!
II Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh; yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
The last words of the verse should be “after the flesh.” Can you see how they were omitted by Paul, actually emphasizing them by their omission? This is a figure of speech, called an ellipsis. Figures of speech are how God puts emphasis on something in his Word. God is emphasizing that we are not to know Jesus the Christ according to the flesh. We are to know him by the holy spirit of God, which was given us when we believed. We are to know the glorified Christ, not the historical Jesus!
Colossians 3:1 If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.
Above, in John 17, Jesus prayed that we would be where he is. He is at the right hand of God. This does not refer to a physical location, but to a spiritual reality. The right hand of God is the authoritative working of God. All things that God has ever desired for mankind to have and be and enjoy are brought to pass by the glorified Christ, by means of the holy spirit of God. This is God’s right hand. The glorified Christ in you, the hope of your glory!
Praise God for his indescribable gift!
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Brother Steve, I enjoyed and was encouraged by this post thanks! I wanted to add to your premise that the glorified Christ, whom we worship, said himself why it was so important for the Comforter to be with us: //John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. // Which ties right into your quote from John 16:13 – 15 above. God bless you and yours until we see you next.
I’m not sure I see the WHY of the importance of the Comforter being with us, in this verse you mention. If you could tell me what you see, then I’m sure I’ll smack my forehead with the palm of my hand and utter, “Well…duh!…why didn’t I see it?”
I would love a note from you, I think I see as some are called, Jesus only relating to God in what you have on the internet. Could you mind give me a yes, or no. Hope you understand. Then I will tell you what I believe in return. Thanh you Sir. I will respond.
Not sure what you’re asking, dear sir.