If Only
by David Cross
It seems clear that Jesus had a reason for delaying His visit to the house of Lazarus. It would allow an extraordinary miracle of resurrection. But have you ever thought something similar to Martha when she said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died”?
Perhaps you thought, “Jesus, if only you could be here right now, as You were with people in the gospel accounts, You would be able to sort out my problem, bring healing to this desperate need, and calm my anxieties.
When Jesus walked the earth, His ability to be everywhere at once was, of course, curtailed. But we now live in a remarkable time when, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, Jesus has been able to promise every one of His followers, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
He is speaking here not just of our being in His thoughts, but of an intimacy of His presence every bit as real as when He visited the homes of people in the Bible. He is declaring a powerful closeness with all believers worldwide in every situation of their lives. This covenantal promise is unbreakable from His side, and it is able to be fully realised by us when we express our faith in His words. His touch upon us today can be as authentic, and life-changing, as it was for countless people who met Him personally two thousand years ago.
David Cross David is part of the Executive Leadership of Ellel Ministries, with particular responsibility for the Ellel centres in Western Europe. He is married to Denise and they have three grown up children and eight grandchildren. David has been a civil engineer and ski-touring instructor in the Highlands of Scotland. He is passionate about the teaching and practice of the healing and deliverance ministry of Jesus and has written several books: Soul Ties, Trapped by Control, God’s Covering, The Dangers of Alternative Ways to Healing(co-authored with John Berry), an A to Z Guide to the Healing Ministry, What`s Wrong with Human Rights? and, most recently, God`s Way out of Depression. You can follow a daily thought from David on Twitter: @dmcross62
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