Allusions to our “absent” Lord Jesus in prayers and conversation often strike a wrong note that deserves comment and consideration.
Bible basis for the term
It is, of course, true that the Lord is physically absent. As expressed in the parable, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom” (Lk. 19:12). And as Peter said, Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God for, “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool.” Thus “the heaven must receive [him] until the times of restitution of all things” (Acts 2:34-35 citing Psa. 110:1; Acts 3:21).
The Lord has not yet returned to set up his kingdom on earth — the millennial order of justice, peace and plenty. For this reason we join with all believers in praying, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20). In his kingly role, he is absent; but through the spirit power of God. he is very much present in other respects.
Our present Lord and Savior
In praising the mighty power of God, the apostle says this: “He raised him [Jesus] from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places…and hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things to the church (Eph. 1:20-23). Now at the right hand of God, Jesus is not inactive. Far from it! He is the present, active head of all things related to the believers and is continually among us through the power granted him by the Father.
How often we remember. “Where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” and we rejoice that “[he] walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks [representative of the community of believers]” (Matt. 18:20; Rev. 2:1). Our Lord is not absent, he is in our midst.
We also remember with joy that he is “a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted” (Heb. 2:17-18). In time of need, we count on him being close at hand to help (succour) us. In such circumstances, there is no way we think of our Savior as being out of touch in “a far country.”
Indeed, it is part of our confidence that as Savior, he is present, not absent, so “If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins” (I John 2:1-2). “Advocate” is from the Greek word (parakletos) rendered “comforter” in its only other N.T. usages (John 14:16,26; 15:26 and 16:7). In his epistle, John is surely directing our thoughts back to the assurance Jesus gave his disciples. Although he would be physically absent from them, through the spirit of God, he would be present on a broader and more powerful basis than during his ministry. Because of the completed New Testament and the present involvement of our merciful high priest, we still have the “comforter” with us. In this sense we, too, can take confidence in his promise, “I will not leave you comfortless (mg. orphans): I will come to you” (John 14:18).
Hebrews 4:14-16 offers the same assurance that we can readily approach the throne of grace to obtain help in our time of need. In a very active sense. therefore, “Christ is the head of the church: and he is the savior of the body” (Eph. 5:23). Thus if we were to speak of our “absent Lord and Savior” we are indicating a significant insensitivity to the involvement of our Lord and Savior in our lives now.
Our present Judge
The Lord said, “Behold. I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be” (Rev. 22:12). Because we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ to hear our eternal fate publicly declared, we can easily forget that Jesus, our Judge, is presently exercising his judicial role.
We will sometimes hear statements such as: “If Christ came back, and found us doing…” If Jesus were in the room, would you be saying…?” We speak as if the Judge is absent.
If we take comfort in Christ’s presence as a merciful helper, let us hear the words immediately prior in Hebrews 4: “The word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:12,13). These words are not speaking of our hearts being opened for examination at the judgment seat; they are in the present tense. This is happening now! Jesus is in the room hearing what we say; he is where we are, seeing what we’re doing. Even more, he is looking into our minds, now.
Revelation 2 and 3 provide a detailed look at Christ as the presently active head of the body, but they also reveal him in his judicial capacity. The Ephesians had done well in exposing false teachers and rejecting evildoers, but the Lord looked past their actions and judged that, “thou hast left thy first love” (Rev. 2:4). Those at Thyatira were warned, “I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works” (v. 23). Their judge was not out of touch in a far country; he was very near.
In Sardis, many had a good reputation in the brotherhood, but the Judge saw differently: “Thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead” (3:1). He didn’t need to wait until the judgment seat to make his determination; he made it then. They still had opportunity to “repent” and he would know if they did. Having the Judge present is not all bad, of course, if we are walking in the light as were those in Sardis who had not been contaminated by association with the wicked; “Thou hast a few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy” (3:4).
The Judge was present with them and he is present with us. Their evaluation did not await the future; the Lord knew then who was worthy and who was not. We are told in another place. “The Lord knoweth them that are his” ( II Tim. 2:19). The principle was true then and is true today. When our probation is finished either by death or by the return of Christ, the Judge makes the decision whether or not we have abided faithfully in his house. He can do so because “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
The Lord may be absent in body and we rightly pray for him to return to rule the world, but he is our present Lord and Savior and Judge. By these things, we are comforted and exhorted.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One