Day 1: Promise #1: My Presence Is With You.

“And he came to her and said, “Greetings, O favored one, the Lord is with you!” Luke 1:28 (ESV)

For sufferers, one of the most potentially hope-giving promises is Christ’s assurance, “I am with you” (Matt. 28:20). His presence is the ultimate marvel of Christmas: Christ, the eternal Son of God, became man—forever uniting himself with his people. Yet our ability to draw strength and hope from this promise rests entirely upon our view of Jesus.

We’ve all met people whose presence makes suffering worse. Others are a balm in our trials. How do you view Jesus in your sin and suffering? Consider three views of Jesus, and ask yourself which “Jesus” you relate to most.

View #1: Satanized Jesus

The apostle Paul observed that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Cor. 11:14). Yet sometimes the devil doesn’t need to disguise himself—we do it for him. We grab hold of Scripture’s description of Satan, dress him up as Jesus, and then look to him in our sin and suffering.

Satanized Jesus looks at us with disdain in his eyes. He doesn’t need to say a single word—we can tell by his expression that he’s judging us. He is harsh, impatient, and impossible to please. He offers no forgiveness. No encouragement. No mercy. No help. This “Jesus” makes suffering intolerable.

View #2: Neutralized Jesus

Unlike Satanized Jesus, Neutralized Jesus doesn’t make suffering worse—but he doesn’t make it better, either. His presence is like a wallflower, always in the room but rarely noticeable. We could live with or without him. He’s neutral.

There are many ways we neutralize Jesus in our minds. Some believe Jesus is powerful but doubt his care (Mark 4:38; Luke 10:40). Others believe Jesus cares but doubt his ability to help in their (seemingly) unique situation (Matt. 8:26; 14:31; John 5:6-7). Still others believe Jesus is hamstrung by their sin, unable to move in their life until they clean themselves up (John 4:13-18).

Jesus’ words, “I am with you,” mean little to those living with a neutralized Jesus. They say, “It’s a nice gesture, but his presence doesn’t make a difference in my broken life.”

View #3: Biblical Jesus

Scripture rejects and corrects the Satanized and neutralized misconceptions of Jesus. According to God’s Word, Jesus is not only with us; he’s unremittingly and powerfully for us (Ps. 56:9; Rom. 8:31). His presence is always a favorable, supportive, affectionate, advocating, saving presence—even after we sin (Rom. 5:8; 1 John 2:1). Dane C. Ortlund remarks, “He’s not only there; he is on our team. He is for us. … He is looking at us and saying, ‘I am rooting for you. I am in your corner. You [can] fall into my open, nail-scarred hands any time you want.’”

Christ Entered the Fire of Affliction with Us

The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the blazing furnace (see Dan. 3) gives us a powerful foreshadowing of Christ’s incarnation and the message of Christmas.

Before God saved these men, a fourth man—who Timothy Keller and others identify as preincarnate Christ—appeared “walking in the midst of the fire” with them (Dan. 3:25).

How strange is this? Christ could’ve easily appeared outside the furnace—safely and comfortably removed from the flames—and called out, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, come out of the fire!” This would’ve showcased his power and authority. Instead, Christ joined his people in the fire, preferring to endure the heat with them before saving them.

And so Jesus did for us. Our Savior refused to sit back and watch us suffer alone. He refused to remain at a safe distance from the flames of our affliction. Christ became man in part to identify, suffer, and walk through the fire with his people before saving us, forever binding himself to us intimately.

When Jesus says, “I am with you,” he says it as one who knows the pain of suffering. He understands our weaknesses, fears, and struggles. He has felt the heat of the fire himself. And those flames were hottest on the cross, where Jesus was scorched for us, so we would never have to walk through the fire of affliction alone.

One day, Jesus will return to extinguish the fire of affliction forever. Until that day, we must remember the hope of Christmas: Jesus is for us, he will save us, and he walks in the midst of the fire with us, even now.

“When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, and the flame will not burn you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior… Do not fear, for I am with you.” Isaiah 43:2

Reflection question: Which view of Jesus can you relate to most? Which activities can you engage in to reorient your mind to the true, biblical Jesus and to enjoy his presence?