Intimate With Jesus

Jesus said to him, ’Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip?’ —John 14:9

These words were not spoken as a rebuke, nor even with surprise; Jesus was encouraging Philip to draw closer. Yet the last person we get intimate with is Jesus. Before Pentecost the disciples knew Jesus as the One who gave them power to conquer demons and to bring about a revival (see Luke 10:18-20). It was a wonderful intimacy, but there was a much closer intimacy to come: “. . . I have called you friends . . .” (John 15:15). True friendship is rare on earth. It means identifying with someone in thought, heart, and spirit. The whole experience of life is designed to enable us to enter into this closest relationship with Jesus Christ. We receive His blessings and know His Word, but do we really know Him?

Jesus said, “It is to your advantage that I go away . . .” (John 16:7). He left that relationship to lead them even closer. It is a joy to Jesus when a disciple takes time to walk more intimately with Him. The bearing of fruit is always shown in Scripture to be the visible result of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ (see John 15:1-4).

Once we get intimate with Jesus we are never lonely and we never lack for understanding or compassion. We can continually pour out our hearts to Him without being perceived as overly emotional or pitiful. The Christian who is truly intimate with Jesus will never draw attention to himself but will only show the evidence of a life where Jesus is completely in control. This is the outcome of allowing Jesus to satisfy every area of life to its depth. The picture resulting from such a life is that of the strong, calm balance that our Lord gives to those who are intimate with Him.

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與耶穌親密

我與你們同在這樣長久，你還不認識我麼？ （約十四9） 這些並不是責備的話，也不是詫異之言，耶穌是領導腓力向前。在我們的密友之中，最末一個是耶穌。五旬節之前，門徒所認識的耶穌，是給他們權柄勝過鬼魔，而且帶來復興的那一位（路十18-20）。這固然是一種密切的關係，但更密切的關係還在未來——[我稱你們為朋友]。友誼是珍貴的，它是人思想與心靈的契合。其實我們整個人生的操練，就是要與耶穌基督進入一個最親密的關係裡去。我們得過他的祝福，明瞭他的話，可是，我們認識他嗎？

耶穌說：[我去是與你們有意的。 ]這是為了增進那關係，引導門徒向前。當一個門徒肯下功夫追求主更親密，他的心就喜樂了。聖經裡說的結果子，總是指由於與耶穌基督合一的必然表現（約十五1-4）。

我們一旦與耶穌建立深交，就永不再孤單，也永不再要人同情。我們可以不住的向主傾訴，而不至於自憐自怨。與耶穌親密的聖徒，從不給人留下他自己的形象。他只將主耶穌的形象毫無阻隔地彰顯出來，因為他天性裡所有的罅隙，已被主填滿了。這種生命給人唯一的印象，就是主賜給與他親密的人那種強烈的平靜與穩妥。

祈禱◆噢，主啊，將你自己那親切。和善的形象賜給我，讓我今天可以討你的喜悅，使我的生命變得完美，成為周圍的人真正的祝福。