As Though It Were Christ

He had previously broached the subject of His ‘lifting up’ with them, but now He makes the event and the aftermath explicit to them. A change is coming; the biggest change in their experience since they were first called to follow. They baulk at leaving Him, more than leaving all for Him! Yet, He assures of both His care and provision for them, being equipped by means of the indwelling Spirit, along with direct relationship to the Father in prayer. 

We attend closely to those heartfelt assurances – not that we have had anything approaching the experiences they had to make parting even more bittersweet, but we see these men becoming the first saints living post-Calvary, post-ascension, in the bodily absence of Christ.  

Yet, though absent, Christ remains invested and involved in His disciples’ daily walk. So much so, that cases arise throughout the rest of the New Testament where the individual fades to the background as Christ identifies himself with them! 

The dread of persecution hung over the apostles in early days, especially until Pentecost when the empowering and emboldening Spirit sees Peter take public witness to great effect. The realisation in their minds of the promises of the Upper Room begin to stir, even as the room itself stirs again with Divine presence when the mighty rushing wind filled the place. 

Over against this activity of the Godhead in the book of Acts, there comes a breath (‘empneo’) from a different source; the forewarned breathing-out of “threatening and slaughter” towards the disciples of the Lord. And yet, it is a cause of simple comfort but remarkable sweetness that we hear one such antagonist arrested in the Damascus Road with the words “Why persecutest thou Me?” 

“Me” - Christ in all His bodily absence still is invested in His people! It is He personally whom such persecution is against – not as an abstract cause or worldview, but as the One they first knew personally as Jesus (Acts 9:5) – Jesus of Nazareth, the man approved of God, and able bodily to experience such persecution to the point of being physically crucified and slain. Yet this same Jesus was raised, and made Lord and Christ (Acts 2:22-36). That truth Saul came to know and believe (9:5-6). For our part, we grasp that Christ not only in His Priesthood recalls experiences of suffering and reproach which fit Him to be the perfect candidate to bear office, but in one sense personally receives all that His saints endure, as if it were His own. How confident we can be of His heart for us. 

The Olivet discourse in Matthew 25, contains great insight and prophecy in relation to the coming kingdom. Yet even in the shade of the loftiest of truths, there nestles some of the most beautiful practical teachings.  The nations who have showed kindness to His brethren have their deeds itemised: food to the hungry; drink to the thirsty; clothing to the unclothed; visitation to the weakened; company to the imprisoned. Precious and searching in equal measure is Christ’s perspective: “Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.” 

To Him! We imagine the tug upon our hearts if He were indeed thirsty. If He were imprisoned? If He had the indignity of being unclothed … suddenly and too solemnly we realise that yes, He had experienced much, if not all of it, at Calvary. All scattered then (Mark 14:27) and we, in weakness, would likely have joined their number. Yet, right now we can seize the lesson that will be heard by the nations in a coming day – kindness done to these brethren is “done unto Me”.  

Believers and brethren are further seen as if their number were Christ, in the great appeal of the gospel. Evangelists have not only opportunity, but responsibility in offering a reconciliation that has already been found in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:19) – but to do so “as though God did beseech through us, be ye reconciled to God” (5:20). The imploration comes “in Christ’s stead”, i.e. if it were Christ Himself, this would be the message upon His lips: the sequel to His appeal “Come unto Me”. Such an ambassadorship is more striking still when followed by the basis of such a message – His substitution, in our stead, as a sinless One ‘made sin’ for us. 

Lastly, another party is to be considered as if they were Christ. A very grounded command is given in Colossians 3:23; “whatever you do, work heartily – as to the Lord”. The application makes immediate practical sense – simple work ethic always reflects well upon the diligent worker. More than that, though: the recipient of this command was likely in a position where not many other opportunities came. A bondservant could not become an itinerant preacher; they were not always free to visit, nor to conduct even family matters freely or independently. Financial provision (e.g. in fellowship) would strain the resources of most. Yet in whatever sphere they were in, whatever the seeming narrowness, they could treat Christ as the object of labour. Many an avenue of service will pass us by too, but in diligent work “you shall receive the inheritance as your reward… you are serving the Lord Christ”. 

To scripture, it is Christ personally who is persecuted; to Him kindness shown is personally received. It is Christ who appeals through us in the gospel, and in the mundane labour of life, scripture directs our walk towards Gods’ perspective – to see in our navigation of life’s daily items, Christ.