Being With Jesus

    "They took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus."

    There is a sort of people in the world concerning whom it may be known that they have been with Jesus.

    Who are they? All that have closed with him by a true and lively faith. Such as have heard and embraced the call of the gospel. All true believers, and none but they. The great end of ministers' preaching is to bring people to him; to acquaintance and union with him; to see their lost and undone condition without him. Here is a Christ for each of you. A Saviour for that lost soul of thine; a righteousness wherein thou mayest stand before God: "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see." You have been taught the three offices of Christ—Prophet, Priest, and King. Have you been with him in all these offices? As your Prophet, to teach you? As your Priest, to satisfy God's justice for your sins? As your King, to rule and govern you? In Matt. xi. 28—30, you have them altogether.

    Such as have had, and have communion with him in his holy ordinances, have been with Jesus. It is not enough to be with ordinances, unless you be with Jesus in them. "What is your end in coming to ordinances? see 1 John l. 3. Is it to see and be seen? Is it to see such or such a friend? Or to meet with Jesus, your best friend? Search into your own hearts. Learn to be with Jesus in praying. You are so when you are sincere, and hearty. Asking "in his name." Doing what you do in the strength of his Spirit and grace. Expecting acceptance only through his merit and mediation. Are you with Jesus in hearing sermons? Do you look beyond the minister, the instrument, to Jesus who speaks by him? At the Lord's supper we are with Jesus, when we see him by faith evidently set forth and crucified before us. Many come to this ordinance who are not with Jesus there; and to them it is a lost sacrament.

    Walking with Jesus and before him in the course of our conversation, shows we have been with him. We must be with him all the day; frequently breathing towards him, desiring to approve ourselves to him. We are to press after this every day, in every thing: "To me to live is Christ." "The life that I live, I live by the faith of the Son of God;" that is, I venture into no place or company where I cannot comfortably hope that Jesus will go with me. If I go into my calling, into my shop, into my study, I take Jesus with me; if to visit a friend, I intreat his presence. This is to be with Jesus.

    How may we know whether we have been with him? The "tree is known by its fruit." Make it appear by your "walk." When Moses, who had been forty days in the mount with God, "came down," his "face shone." If you have been with Jesus your face will shine: your "light will shine before men." What! Christians, and not be with Jesus. But how must it appear?

    1. Those who have been with Jesus are taught of him. The eyes of their understandings are opened: "Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord." "We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true." The enemies of Peter and John knew they had been with Jesus by the understanding answer that Peter gave them; see Acts iv. Nicodemus, a doctor in Israel, understood nothing of the "new birth," because he had not been taught by Jesus. Not that all who have been with Jesus understand alike; or can express themselves alike, of what they do understand. But have you such a sight of the evil of sin, and beauty of Christ, as you never had before? Blessed be God.

    2. All that have been with Jesus have their hearts made tender. How may we know the wax has been at the fire, but by the softness of it? A heart that has been with Jesus is softened: it will easily receive impressions. Those who have been with Jesus are tender in their walking: they walk "surely," in opposition to walking at all adventures. They often ask— May I do this or that? Will God be pleased with it?

    3. All such are taught to pray. They have not all the "gift" of prayer; but they all have the "grace" of prayer. "Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." "For this shall every one that is godly pray." Do you content yourself with the prayer you learned when a child? That is as insufficient for you now, as the clothes you then wore are. Every day brings new wants.

    4. All that have been with 'Jesus have the law of love written on their hearts. Where' there are envyings and quarrellings, it is a sign the parties have not been with Jesus, john was the beloved disciple. See his first epistle, how love breathes through every line. He leaned on Christ's bosom. This he got by being with Jesus.

    5. They that have been with him may be known by their contempt of the world, and the things of it: "If any man will be my disciple, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me." Looking on the sun dazzles the eyes. So does looking on the Sun of righteousness. "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." Not that we are immediately dead to all earthly things, for we still carry with us bodies of flesh.

    6. They that have once been with Jesus long to be with him again. They are willing to die. When in a good frame they desire death; that they may be with him to all eternity.

    Sow such are the persons whom we should take knowledge of, and be acquainted with. Let them be the men of our choice and delight.