“But the time is coming–indeed it’s here now–when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me.”
– Jesus (John 16:32)
Alone, but never alone. Our Lord Jesus showed us that even when all others have deserted Him, He was still in the presence of the Father. He was in the Father and the Father was in Him – 100%. He showed us that He could still serve the Father and His will even when He had to stand alone.
So was Jesus showing us how to stand alone? No. He was showing us the fullness of God in man, and how His fullness now rests in each of us so that we are capable to any and every situation in this life. True, we will face times when we stand alone – maybe not all of us, or maybe all of us, but whatever the circumstance He is with us – 100%. But showing us how to stand alone was never His intention or teaching – in fact it was never intended in our creation.
“Then the LORD God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; …”
– God (Genesis 2:18a)
When did He say this? He said this before the fall, before sin entered the world. He said this after seeing that all He created was good. So if it was not good for man to be alone when all creation was right with God, how much more is it not good in a fallen and sinful world?
So was Jesus showing us how to stand alone? No.
God created us for fellowship – with Him … and with one another. As a man, Jesus showed us how to live with one another, and how to love one another, and show mercy and kindness and forgiveness – and how to receive from one another. Yes, Jesus received from others as well as gave, and He received with grace. He received from the woman who washed His feet with her tears. He received from Mary who anointed him with costly oil for his burial. He received from Martha as she prepared food for all the disciples. He lived a life that demonstrated fellowship as it was always intended.
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.‘ The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”
– Jesus (Matthew 22:37-40)
You and I were made for each other, and for everyone. That is God’s good purpose for every one us.
Let’s try the following illustrations to explain the idea that God is with each of us 100%, and that His plan was for each of us to be in fellowship with one another. Consider a pan of water about 8 inches deep – that is about a quarter pound of water pressure per square inch in every direction. Place one foot in the pan and the water pressure is still approximately 1/4 psi (pounds per square inch). Place a second foot in and the water pressure is still 1/4 psi – equally on both feet, and equally 100% of the water pressure. It does not double and it is not cut in half. And if God is the water then we are the feet – fully 100% in God. And fully 100% enabled to stand alone if required.
Now place one hand in the water and draw out as much in the cup of the hand as possible. Typically the hand can cup together about 2 ounces of water. Now place two hands together and cup out water. Do you get 4 ounces of water – twice as much? No. Typically you get closer to 8 ounces in the two hands. One hand, 100% in the water, draws out a certain volume. Two hands, each 100% in the water, together draw out four times as much water. That is God’s design for us. Alone we are much. Together we are much, much more.
“I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you.”
– Jesus (Matthew 18:19)
God will work through one of us and accomplish much, but He loves to work through two of us together, and even more. Here is a treasure: righteousness and justice are the same words, the same meanings, in the New Testament and the Old. They are used selectively by the translators as seemed the best fit to the context, but at the core they mean the same thing: fair, without favouritism, equitable. Our fellowship in righteousness is without favouritism or judgment. The prince in the chariot is no better than the servant who leads the horses. We don’t seek the prince for his position, and we don’t condescend to the servant because he is somehow less. God loves to work through two persons, and especially through two righteous persons.
You and I were made for each other, and for everyone. That is God’s good purpose for every one us.
Jesus sat and ate with the Pharisees who were the esteemed people of that generation and time. And Jesus sat and ate with the sinners and tax collectors who were hated and looked down upon. Why? Because He was sitting with people – valued and loved by His Father and Him. Of course He saw what they did, whether adulterers and liars, or hypocrites, and He taught that those roads were useless, and He proclaimed the words and way of Life. But He never esteemed one over the other, or turned down one in favour of the other. He was invited by people, and He went and sat with people. He lived righteously in His fellowship with everyone. That is why we are commanded to love our neighbours as ourselves – to love everyone equally, so that we can fellowship in righteousness.
But weren’t we taught to prefer one another, and show greater honour to those that believe? Yes, but we were not to show favouritism of one above another. We were not taught to tell the unbeliever we can’t come to their home for dinner after we’d already said yes because we were just invited by the pastor to his home. We love God first – and He is righteous – and we love our neighbours in righteousness. Honouring and preferring fellow believers extends from a heart that loves everyone.
“that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
– Jesus (Matthew 5:45)
So as we grow to love without condition we receive of His design for fellowship. Going back to the truth that we are 100% in God and He in us, the fact remains that we don’t always walk in 100%. Often we are distracted with worries, fears, concerns, needs. We could be walking in 5% because we are overwhelmed, but a chat with a fellow believer can encourage us to feel empowered and start walking in 45% or more. We’re lifted up and enthused from where we were. And not just believers. The waitress who served us and was so pleasant that we feel better about ourselves and lift higher than that downtrodden 5%. She was a fellowship. And the teacher who inspires us in school to dream bigger dreams and raise our percentage is another fellowship. We lift one another up because we are built for each other – to affect one another and to respond to one another.
He (Jesus) never esteemed one over the other, or turned down one in favour of the other
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
– Jesus (John 13:34)
How did He love us? He gave His life – He sacrificed it for His disciples, and for those that believed Him, and for the Pharisees, and for the tax collectors, and for the sinners, and for everyone. And He has commanded us to love each other the same way. When we can do that, when we can give our time and love without favouritism or judgment, then we have found the kingdom of God and His righteousness.
We love God first – and He is righteous – and we love our neighbours in righteousness. Honouring and preferring fellow believers extends from a heart that loves everyone.
