Nearness to Christ

Israel as a nation were relatively near to God in contrast to the Gentiles “which were afar off,” and the priestly family were yet nearer as having access to the holy place, but even the priests were forbidden access into the immediate presence of God, a privilege that belonged only to Moses, and to the high priest on the day of atonement. Through the coming of the Lord Jesus, and His work on the cross, the Christian is brought to God, and has boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus. Though, as believers, we have been brought to God (1 Peter 3:18), and have access to the Father (Eph. 2:18), we may not be living in the good of the blessings that God has given us, for these blessings can only be known and enjoyed in nearness to Christ. It is in nearness to Christ that we learn the thoughts and will of God, and that we are supplied with the grace that enables us to represent Him aright in testimony before men.

David’s Three Mighty Men

In 2 Samuel 23 some of the exploits of David’s mighty men are recorded, and among them is the story of the three who broke through the hosts of the Philistines to satisfy a desire of the heart of their king. At the time, David was “in a hold, and the garrison of the Philistines was then in Bethlehem, and David longed, and said, Oh that one would give me drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate!” (verses 14-15).

This was not a command from the king, it was the expression of a heart that desired something to gratify; and these three mighty men who “brake through the host of the Philistines” must have been very near to David to hear this expression of his heart’s desire, and what the king desired acted powerfully on those who were near him. Their regard and affection for David found expression in bringing to him, in face of the greatest danger, that which he longed for. As the king said, they “went in jeopardy of their lives” to satisfy his longing. Although not a command, the expression of the king’s desire acted as though it was a command to those who were nearest to him.

Do we not see in this beautiful picture the marks of those who know what it is to live near the Lord Jesus Christ? Such believers knowing the blessedness of the privilege of being in nearness to the One who is so great, who loves them so well, and whom they have learned to love, count it a high honour to be near Him, and a very great privilege to know the desires of His heart, and to have the grace from Him to endeavour to do what is His will.

John Baptist’s Disciples

John Baptist had witnessed to the greatness of Jesus, saying, “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), and no doubt his disciples were impressed with his testimony, but it was when John was contemplating the greatness of the Person of Jesus, not His work in relation to the removal of sin, but the preciousness of His own Person, and when his overflowing heart caused him to say, “Behold the Lamb of God!” it was then two of his disciples heard him speak and followed Jesus (verses 35–37).

These two disciples were near enough to John Baptist to hear the words that expressed his deep delight in Jesus as the Lamb of God, and the power of this attracted their hearts to Him who was so attractive to their master John. One of these disciples would seem to have been the writer of the Gospel that records the incident, and the one who knew what it was to keep close to John Baptist learned the blessedness of living near to Jesus. He found out that day where Jesus dwelt, and abode with Him, and it was the beginning of a life of devotion to Jesus in nearness to Him.

“Leaning on Jesus’ bosom”

One of the disciples whom Jesus loved leaned on His bosom on the night when the disciples celebrated with their Master the Paschal supper. It was in this place of nearness and intimacy that the Apostle John learned of the love of Jesus, and it was this knowledge of His Master’s love that gave character to his life and witness, as can be seen in his Gospel and Epistles. No one can lie in the bosom of Jesus without knowing the great love of His heart, or without learning His mind, His will and His secrets.

When the question arose regarding the betrayal of Jesus, (John 13:21–26) Simon Peter knew how to discover who the betrayer would be. He did not ask publicly, nor did he approach Jesus to ask privately, but he beckoned to the one who was lying on Jesus bosom to find out of whom his Master had been speaking, and Jesus, no doubt in secret, pointed out to John who would betray Him. It was a solemn secret, but those who are near to the Lord Jesus are brought into many secrets, some of them the most wonderful secrets of the heart of God regarding His own purpose and glory, and in relation to what He has in store for the blessing of His people in association with His own Son.

“Follow thou Me”

After the Lord had instructed Simon Peter regarding the care of His sheep and lambs, Peter, no doubt very interested in John, and desirous of knowing what the Lord had for him to do, said, “Lord, and what shall this man do?” (John 21:21). The answer of Jesus is full of instruction as to what John was to do, but the word for Peter was, “Follow thou me.” John’s ministry, both in his Gospel and Epistles, and in the Book of Revelation, takes us right down till the coming of Jesus, but if Peter was to be a successful servant of the Lord he had to heed the word, “Follow thou me.”

The word spoken to Peter is also for us. If we would be true and faithful servants of our Lord and Master we must follow Him. Peter learned the lesson His Master taught him, and he followed Him even through a martyr’s death into His presence, faithfully testifying to Jesus, as is recorded in the Acts. Moreover, he passed on what the Lord spoke to him to us also, writing, “For even hereunto were ye called; because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow His steps” (1 Peter 2:21).

“Abide in me and I in you”

The subject of the opening part of John 15 is fruitbearing, and the Lord said to His disciples, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (verse 4). To bear fruit is to manifest the features of Christ for the pleasure of the Father, for fruit in a tree is the mature expression of the life of the tree, and when the life of Christ in its manifold features of beauty are seen in His disciples it is for the glory and pleasure of God.

To abide in Christ is to live in nearness to Him, depending on Him in communion, and drawing upon the infinite resources that are in Him where He now is in the Father’s presence. He only abides in us in the measure that we abide in Him, and His abiding in us is seen as we manifest His life. Christ dwelling in our hearts by faith gives Christ His true place in our affections, but it is by faith He dwells there, that is as the eye and heart are engaged with Him where He is so shall He have a dwelling place in our hearts.

It is only as we abide in Christ that we can abide in His love (verse 9), and only as we abide in His love shall we manifest that love in the divine circle of affection into which He has called us in His grace. As thus near to Him there will be responsive love to Him, love to His own, and compassion for all men as was seen in the Son in Manhood here. Every true believer abides in Christ, but all do not abide in Him as having the same measure of dependence and communion with Him. All true believers abide in Him, as having His life, and as depending upon Him for divine blessing, but to abide in Him also involves a life of communion, even as there are degrees of fruit-bearing, “fruit,” “more fruit,” and “much fruit” (verses 2, 8).

“That I may know him”

Paul knew what nearness to Christ was for he could write, “I live by the faith of the Son of God” (Gal. 2:20), but he realised that there was no finality in the growth of divine knowledge, and in becoming nearer to Christ. This is seen in Philippians 3, where the Apostle writes, “That I may know Him” (verse 10). Having known His Lord and Master throughout many years of devoted service to Him, the Apostle still desires a deeper knowledge of Him, for Christ was everything to him.

Earlier in the same book Paul could write, “For to me to live is Christ,” and only one in peculiar nearness to Christ could truthfully utter such words. Yet here is one so near to Christ, and His desire is still to be nearer to Him, so that he might deepen in the knowledge of Him in personal intimacy, so that he might follow as closely as possible to his Master in every way, even through death to resurrection.

“Let us go forth…unto Him”

How very blessed it is to be near the Lord where He is in the presence of the Father, so that we might know Him, know His love, know His thoughts, will and desires, and to be like Him in this world, following His steps and serving Him. But the Lord has not only the place where His Father has set Him down at His right hand, He has also the place that the world has given Him, and of this we read in Hebrews 13. The religious world crucified the Son of God after putting Him outside the gate of Jerusalem. Outside in the place of the world’s reproach and shame the Lord Jesus desires that His own should be in nearness to Him. Do we desire to be in nearness to Jesus in this place of reproach?

There are many true believers who would like to be near to Christ in spirit where He is above, but who shrink from being in nearness to Him outside the camp of the religious world. We cannot go outside of Christendom, but we can go outside the many imitations of the Jewish camp that are in Christendom, outside of what in reality is the religion of the world. If in Hebrews 13 the Lord Jesus is seen outside the Jewish camp, He is seen in Revelation 3:20 outside the religious systems of men in Christendom. We can therefore share Christ’s outside place of reproach, and at the same time know the joy of having communion with Him, even as He says, “If any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”

It is only as we truly know nearness to Christ where He is before the Father that we will be prepared to take our place in nearness to Him in the outside place this world has given Him. In the outside place with Christ we shall find others who have gone forth to Him, and together we can have fellowship in His things, while waiting to enjoy eternal nearness to Him in the Father’s House.

R. 6.12.68