Incarnational Waiting

I found myself pondering lately the intersection of our waiting – in the midst of joys and sorrows, health and illness, peace and chaos, busyness and stillness – and the incarnation. In Jesus, God took on flesh (John 1:14) – becoming one of us – in complete and perfect identification with us – rather than cling to his divine glory, He emptied Himself (Philippians 2:6)… and came to dwell on earth. Jesus subjected Himself to all that He knew humanity experienced and endured – indeed, we have the record of his life and suffering and death. And in Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, we have the demonstration of that which awaits all of us who are in Him as He is in us – that glorious fulfillment of His prayer to the Father (John 17:20-26). Jesus explained that this unity would be made possible for us here on earth by His departure (John 16:7) – for He would return to His glory with the Father and send His Spirit to dwell within all who are His own.

The Spirit of Jesus dwells within us… not even just with us – in us. There is nothing that you or I or any of the billions of His children of all time have ever experienced that Jesus has not experienced with us! For me, this gives new insight to a couple things. For one example, when we read that He has been tempted in every way that we are yet without sin (Hebrews 4:15), it reveals an almost unimaginable depth to Jesus’ empathetic understanding. The same Jesus Who prays for us (Luke 22:31-32), not only created us (Colossians 1:16) but walks with us through everything (Matthew 28:20).

There’s another perspective to this that struck me this week as I listened to “Come Jesus Come” – particularly the chorus:

Come Jesus come
we’ve been waiting so long
for the day You return
to heal every hurt
and right every wrong
We need you right now
Come and turn this around
Deep down I know
this world isn’t home
Come Jesus come
Come Jesus come

Now pair this together with Jesus’ revelation about His return – that only the Father has the knowledge of that hour and day. However much we long for Jesus’ return, I can only imagine how much more He longs to return. He feels everything that builds these yearnings within us – amplified billions of times over with every heart-cry.

Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, waits with and in us – and oh what a day that will be when we wait no more! Hallelujah!