What is the difference between “Jesus in you and me” and “Jesus”? Why might there be – is there really – a difference between the two?

“Jesus in you and me”   The indwelling, soul sharing, mind-blowing, God breathing possession we prefer not to acknowledge or (very often) even allow. The worship of “Him up there”, the praise of “Him down here”, but almost never the indwelling God of possession in each of us – freely available (if we allow) – freely visible if only we look – and freely audible (if we have but ears to hear).

I think we differentiate so often: sinners and saved, good Christian and bad Christian, our type of Christian and not our type, a Christian I trust and one I don’t. One that looks like us, talks like us, fits with us – and those that don’t. I think we excuse ourselves so often.  Because – to be honest – we do not like being challenged when it comes to God stuff.  We might have to change. And our “journey” might become real.  And that is scary.

So “Jesus in you and me” comes with an awful lot of packaging. A lot of keeping God safe. A lot of putting Him in a box (and taking Him out, and putting Him away again). It is an odd kind of possession really. Not to be encouraged, not be admitted, and not to be talked about in public.

So back on safe ground, please!

Because “Jesus” needs no introduction, no endorsement from me – I am not worthy.

“They went on from there and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know it; for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” ” Mark 9:30-37

Jesus preaches hope. Jesus teaches hope. Jesus is hope. Jesus allows. Jesus waits.  Jesus speaks. And we listen to Jesus.

And that is my hope. My hope is that we allow “Jesus” to be the same.

Because when God Soft Hands Jesus prompts me to speak I may get the words wrong, I may hear the message a little crooked, I may speak with much of “me” in the way.  And if I only hear “Jesus” (in you) filtered by the lack of ”Jesus” (in me) – and if you do the same when you listen to me – there is a difference between Jesus and Jesus in you and me – and always will be. And then it gets messy.

“ex-Jesus just you and me”: “And whoever distances a crusty old grouch, an opinionated bonehead, an antisocial outsider, a naïve enthusiast … all the diverse and abundant facets of humankind we applaud (and struggle with) … the unique and delightful differences (we wish were “easier” to educate and convince to be like us) … the uniqueness we retain because we are blessed creations of Christ – and that same “uniqueness” we disallow in others because they are not like us (or if they are – they have an irritating way of showing it!)”

“Jesus” AND “Jesus in you and me”: “Whoever welcomes one such inconvenient interruption in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.”

“ex-Jesus just you and me”: “Whoever DOES NOT welcome one such inconvenient interruption in my name DOES NOT welcome me, and whoever DOES NOT welcome me DOES NOT welcome the one who sent me.”

Where is the hope?  We all need hope …

Already within each of us – if we allow!  If we REALLY allow – that He REALLY indwells in me and you and each of us ALL the time.

Because then all WE have to do is look and listen and ALLOW – and then we WILL connect “the Him within” within each of us.

Hope already “is”.  Just by allowing.

That’s all. That is simple.

And that IS powerful.

(and that really does blow my mind!)