A Reflection On Jesus’ Presence

When I can’t sense Jesus with me

Mary and Joseph were perhaps given history’s most sacred charge: parenting the Son of God. And they lost Him! For more than three excruciating days, He was missing. They looked among their traveling companions. They searched all over Jerusalem. When they finally found Him, He calmly reassured them: Where else would He be? The Temple is His home.

Don’t we also search for Jesus? Even though we are assured of His Presence, He often seems awfully absent. Yet Jesus does not leave us to despair. What greater commitment could He make than this: “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

We do not need to wonder where He is. He is always about His Father’s business, which is dwelling in and working out His plan in believers. In light of the post-Resurrection fact that our bodies are His temple—both individually and corporately—what greater assurance of His Presence can He give? His own nature compels Him. He must be in His Father’s house, and His Father’s house is us.

[Jesus said,] “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”

Luke 2:49