Man’s Need of Companionship – Part 2

“In the garden, Mary had stood weeping, when Jesus was close beside her. Her eyes were so blinded by tears that she did not discern Him… How many echo Mary’s despairing cry, ‘They have taken away the Lord,… and we know not where they have laid Him!’ To how many might the Saviour’s words be spoken, ‘Why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?’ He is close beside them, but their tear-blinded eyes do not discern Him. He speaks to them, but they do not understand.” DA 794.5

Oh how the heart of Infinite Love must ache! He is standing right there, waiting to throw His arms around them, to lay their heads upon His breast, to speak to them words of comfort, cheerful words, joyful words, happy words, words of encouragement, to succour them, and they don’t even know He’s there. O fools, and slow of heart to believe…

Jesus promised, “Lo I am with you always even unto the end of the world.” But the question is, “do we believe it?” When we forget that Jesus is there, and fail to acknowledge His presence, how do you think He feels? Much the same as you would?

Jesus was a real man.

“A human body and a human mind were His.” 3SM 129.4 “He was hungry and thirsty and weary. He was sustained by food and refreshed by sleep.” DA 311.4 He needed to eat. He needed to drink. He needed the companionship of fellow human beings. He found the rest that His weary human nature needed in the home of Lazarus, a fellow human being. Chosen above every angel around the throne, Moses and Elijah, men, were sent to comfort Him at the transfiguration.

And remember Gethsemane? He came to His disciples earnestly desiring to hear a word of comfort, just to know that they were praying for Him, but He found them sleeping. He needed sympathy in His suffering. He needed to hear words of comfort. Just like you and me…

“The human heart longs for sympathy in suffering. This longing Christ felt to the very depths of His being. In the supreme agony of His soul He came to His disciples with a yearning desire to hear

some words of comfort from those whom He had so often blessed and comforted, and shielded in sorrow and distress. The One who had always had words of sympathy for them was now suffering superhuman agony, and He longed to know that they were praying for Him and for themselves. How dark seemed the malignity of sin! Terrible was the temptation to let the human race bear the consequences of its own guilt, while He stood innocent before God. If He could only know that His disciples understood and appreciated this, He would be strengthened.” DA 687 But He found them sleeping. And then they forsook Him and fled.

He looked for some to take pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but found none. And therefore He says: “I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people [there was] none with me:”

He was alone.

Now, let us contemplate! Jesus was a real man. He needed sympathy in His sufferings; to hear words of comfort. He needed succour. He needed the companionship of fellow human beings.

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15

Read it carefully. We have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities – present tense.

“The church is the property of God, and God constantly remembers her as she stands in the world, subject to the temptations of Satan. Christ has never forgotten the days of His humiliation. In passing from the scenes of His humiliation, Jesus has lost none of His humanity. He has the same tender, pitying love, and is ever touched with human woe. He ever bears in mind that He was a Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. He forgets not His representative people who are striving to uphold His downtrodden law. He knows that the world that hated Him, hates them.

Although Jesus Christ has passed into the heavens, there is still a living chain binding His believing ones to His own heart of infinite love. The most lowly and weak are bound by a chain of sympathy closely to His heart. He never forgets that He is our representative, that He bears our nature.” HP 284.3

Why doesn’t He forget that He is our representative, and that He bears our nature? Because, He is still touched with human woe. His heart, His human heart, is still touched with the feelings of our infirmities.

In the garden of Eden, Adam could find no joy in the communion of the animals, or in the communion of holy angels. “After the creation of Adam every living creature was brought before him to receive its name; he saw that to each had been given a companion, but among them ‘there was not found an help meet for him.’ Among all the creatures that God had made on the earth, there was not one equal to man. And God said, ‘It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.’ Man was not made to dwell in solitude; he was to be a social being. Without companionship the beautiful scenes and delightful employments of Eden would have failed to yield perfect happiness. Even communion with angels could not have satisfied his desire for sympathy and companionship. There was none of the same nature to love and to be loved.” PP 46

Jesus has lost none of that humanity. He still needs the companionship of fellow human beings. “He who dwells in the heavenly sanctuary judges righteously. His pleasure is more in His people, struggling with temptation in a world of sin, than in the host of angels that surround His throne.” COL 176

Even the communion with angels, that vast throng that surrounds the throne, cannot satisfy His desire for love and sympathy. There must be those of the same nature to love and to be loved. Is it any wonder that when He was resurrected that He took a multitude of resurrected ones to heaven with Him?

But, isn’t there already human beings in heaven? Enoch, Moses, Elijah and the multitude resurrected with Him? But still His pleasure is more in His people, struggling with temptation in a world of sin.

Does the question pose itself: but He already has fellow human beings with Him. Can’t He find joy in their communion?

Of course He can. “The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.” SC 100

As far as Jesus is concerned, it is just Him and you. In His dealings with you it as though there is nobody else. You have His undivided attention. Jesus’ pleasure is in you. He needs YOUR companionship. Without it He is alone.

Let’s just pause for a moment. Time to think. Time for the reality of Jesus Christ to sink in.

I shared to begin with: “How many echo Mary’s despairing cry, ‘They have taken away the Lord,… and we know not where they have laid Him!’ To how many might the Saviour’s words be spoken, ‘Why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?’ He is close beside them, but their tear-blinded eyes do not discern Him. He speaks to them, but they do not understand. DA 794

I asked the question: How do you think that He feels? Alone? Yes, He is there wanting to help them, but they know it not. And they think that they’re the ones that are alone. Oh how His heart must ache when those whom He loves, do not pay any attention to Him. They get caught up in their little old “me”, and forget that Jesus is there.

He says, “Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the LORD; [and] I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I [am] merciful, saith the LORD, [and] I will not keep [anger] for ever. Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the LORD thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the LORD. Turn, O backsliding children, saith the LORD; for I am married unto you: and I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion:” Jeremiah 3:12-14

He wants to take you, to make you His own. Turn, He says, for I am married unto you. You are bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh. I want you to be mine. I gave my life to be with you. “I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.” Hosea 11:4 “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3

He took YOUR humanity upon HIMSELF, He bore your sins, carried your cross, endured your sorrows, suffered YOUR grief. All He wants is your companionship. To satisfy YOUR need. To love you. To give you sympathy. To succour you.

“Our Saviour wants you to keep in close relation to Himself, that He may make you happy. When Christ lets His blessing rest upon us, we should offer thanksgiving and praise to His dear name. But, you say, if I could only know that He is my Saviour! Well, what kind of evidence do you want? Do you want a special feeling or emotion to prove that Christ is yours? Is this more reliable than pure faith in God’s promises? Would it not be better to take the blessed promises of God and apply them to yourself, bearing your whole weight upon them? This is faith.” FLB 123.5

Let us read carefully to follow this through. Jesus wants a relationship with you. He wants to make you happy.

Remember doubting Thomas? “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.” John 20:27-29 Blessed are those who believe without seeing.

How then, do I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, whom I have not seen and cannot see? How do I have a relationship with a man that I cannot see?

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I [am] in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.” John 14:16-23

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show [it] unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall show [it] unto you.” John 16:13-15 Through the Holy Spirit, you will have communion with Jesus.

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 Jesus will come INTO him and will sup with Him and he with Him. You will experience an intimate relationship with Jesus in your heart. In your mind and it will affect how you see and view everything in the world around you.

How do you have a relationship with a man you cannot see?

By faith. What is faith? The evidence of things unseen…“Faith is not the ground of our salvation, but it is the great blessing –the eye that sees, the ear that hears, the feet that run, the hand that grasps. It is the means, not the end.” HP 104.2 By faith you will see Him, you will hear Him, you will walk with Him, and you will hold His hand. An intimate relationship. Communion. Companionship.

By faith. But let’s not leave it at that. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for. It is that which will bring about a result. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1) Have we not proved this in the past as we have moved out in faith to produce the things now seen?… Faith is not only to look forward to things unseen; it is to be confirmed by looking at past experience, at tangible results, the verification of God’s Word… Pray, ‘Lord, increase my faith.’ Faith quickens the senses to work diligently to produce results. Faith elevates and ennobles the powers of the soul, enabling it to lay hold upon the unseen.” UL 72.4

Faith is something that goes beyond the imagination. Faith is not just an idea of the mind. It doesn’t just sit in the mind. Oh yes, that’s a lovely thought. Yes, that’s great. No, faith will produce results–tangible results.

It will quicken the senses. What are the senses? Eye ears, etc… The things that are seen.

“Let the children learn to see in nature an expression of the love and the wisdom of God; let the thought of Him be linked with bird and flower and tree; let all things seen become to them the interpreters of the unseen, and all the events of life be a means of divine teaching.” CG 52.1

“In the natural world God has placed in the hands of the children of men the key to unlock the treasure house of His Word. The unseen is illustrated by the seen; divine wisdom, eternal truth, infinite grace, are understood by the things that God has made.

“Children should be encouraged to search out in nature the objects that illustrate Bible teachings, and to trace in the Bible the similitudes drawn from nature. They should search out, both in nature and in Holy Writ, every object representing Christ, and those also that He employed in illustrating truth. Thus may they learn to see Him in tree and vine, in lily and rose, in sun and star. They may learn to hear His voice in the song of birds, in the sighing of the trees, in the rolling thunder, and in the music of the sea. And every object in nature will repeat to them His precious lessons.

“To those who thus acquaint themselves with Christ, the earth will nevermore be a lonely and desolate place. It will be their Father’s house, filled with the presence of Him who once dwelt among men.” CG 46

Faith produces results. It will colour everything that you see and do. It will pervade all of your actions. By believing that Jesus is right there with you, by taking Him at His word, you will hear Him, you will see Him. You will never be alone.

And in trial and suffering, if you have faith in the personal presence of Jesus, what will be your experience?

You will have joy! “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.” 1 Peter 4:12, 13

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Philippians 3:10 In your sufferings, you will experience the companionship of Jesus. They are not your sufferings. They are His sufferings. He has taken all of your sorrows upon Himself, so that when you suffer, it is His sufferings. He has become at one with you so much, that all that you experience, it is as His own.

Do you want a feeling to confirm Jesus? “We have felt Him in the humiliation; we have felt Him in the sacrifice; we have felt Him in the trials; we have felt Him in the test.” 1 SAT 132.1 Have you felt Him? Have you been humiliated? Have you had to make a great sacrifice and it felt that your very lifeblood was being drained from you? Have you had any trials lately? Been tested? Then you have felt Jesus.

But did you know that He was there? When we come to make Jesus our personal companion, we will never be alone. What a privilege we have to endure sufferings and trials. To be able to feel Jesus. It’s not the happy flight of feelings the flesh would like. No it’s not a little tingle down the spine. It’s far closer than that. Right there in your heart.

And when you have peace? “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27. It is the peace of Jesus.

That which is not seen will be experienced by the seen. They will be interpreted by the tangible things of life. But only if you believe.

How do I believe? Jesus said “Except ye become as little children…” and how do children believe? They often say, “My Daddy told me so, so it must be right.”

Is that not how it is when you love someone? You trust them. You take their word for it and you act upon it. “My Father in heaven said so. So it must be true.”

He promised, “Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.” Matthew 28:20 “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God [is] with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9 “Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Isaiah 41:10

Believe it. Act upon it. “O taste and see that the LORD [is] good: blessed [is] the man [that] trusteth in him.” Psalm 34:8

“How shall we know for ourselves God’s goodness and His love? The psalmist tells us–not, hear and know, read and know, or believe and know; but—‘Taste and see that the Lord is good.’ Instead of relying upon the word of another, taste for yourself.

“Experience is knowledge derived from experiment. Experimental religion is what is needed now. ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good.’ Some–yes, a large number–have a theoretical knowledge of religious truth, but have never felt the renewing power of divine grace upon their own hearts. These persons are ever slow to heed the testimonies of warning, reproof, and instruction indicted by the Holy Spirit. They believe in the wrath of God, but put forth no earnest efforts to escape it. They believe in heaven, but make no sacrifice to obtain it. They believe in the value of the soul and that erelong its redemption ceaseth forever. Yet they neglect the most precious opportunities to make their peace with God.

“They may read the Bible, but its threatenings do not alarm or its promises win them. They approve things that are excellent, yet they follow the way in which God has forbidden them to go. They know a refuge, but do not avail themselves of it. They know a remedy for sin, but do not use it. They know the right, but have no relish for it. All their knowledge will but increase their condemnation. They have never tasted and learned by experience that the Lord is good.” 5T 221

How do I have a relationship with a man I cannot see? By experiment. It’s not something that I can give you. You must experience it for yourself. Take His word, and act upon it. If He says that He is with you, then believe it, and act as though He is. His life will be your life for you are one with Him. When you are called to face the world, you will face it with Jesus, and as Jesus faced it. You will not be afraid, because the Lord God Almighty, the King of the heaven and earth, is right beside you.

“And shall say unto them, Hear, O Israel, ye approach this day unto battle against your enemies: let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the LORD your God [is] he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you.” Deuteronomy 20:3-4

And when you sorrow? “Through all our trials we have a never-failing Helper. He does not leave us alone to struggle with temptation, to battle with evil, and be finally crushed with burdens and sorrow. Though now He is hidden from mortal sight, the ear of faith can hear His voice saying, Fear not; I am with you. ‘I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore.’ Rev. 1:18. I have endured your sorrows, experienced your struggles, encountered your temptations. I know your tears; I also have wept. The griefs that lie too deep to be breathed into any human ear, I know. Think not that you are desolate and forsaken. Though your pain touch no responsive chord in any heart on earth, look unto Me, and live. ‘The mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.’ Isa. 54:10.” DA 483.1

Have you found a friend? Oh such a friend. Jesus is real. All our sorrows, all our joys are His, because He has become one with us. When we experience the hardships of life forgetting that Jesus is right there with us, we leave Him to tread the winepress alone. And oh, how does His heart ache. There is no one else. Just you and Him.

When we suffer, we need to suffer with Jesus because it is His suffering. He Himself needs OUR sympathy. He Himself needs to know that we know how He feels.

Will we be like the disciples and will He find you sleeping when He comes? He is still touched with the feelings of our infirmities. He Himself needs sympathy in His suffering.

Hear His cry “Is it nothing to you, all ye that pass by? behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto my sorrow, which is done unto me, wherewith the LORD hath afflicted me in the day of his fierce anger. From above hath he sent fire into my bones, and it prevaileth against them: he hath spread a net for my feet, he hath turned me back: he hath made me desolate and faint all the day. The yoke of my transgressions is bound by his hand: they are wreathed, and come up upon my neck: he hath made my strength to fall, the Lord hath delivered me into their hands, from whom I am not able to rise up.” Lamentations 1:12-14

He has taken your sorrows upon Himself so that Hew can experience them WITH you, and when we leave Him out, how does He feel? How would you feel?

“Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, [saying], How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you. Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.” Proverbs 1:20-33

Don’t leave Jesus out. Don’t leave Him alone. If He’s knocking on your door saying, “let me in, I want to fellowship with you in your sufferings,” open wide the door. Don’t leave His aching heart outside. You wouldn’t like it if He did it to you would you? Then do unto Him as you would have Him do unto you.

Bring Jesus into every experience of your life. Make Him your constant companion. In the trial, in the joy, you will have fellowship with a man who knows just how you feel, and knows just how to make you feel better.

You yourself must taste and see that He is good. And though it may at first be bitter in your mouth as you plunge into the deep waters of self-denial and affliction, you will find it to be sweet.

May we do just that. May we not leave Jesus standing there without the door, while we are crying and sorrowing on the inside. Let’s not leave Him alone. It is my prayer that you won’t. Amen

These appeals that are coming to us from Jesus are the cords of a man. We would naturally shrink from companionship with God. AMEN.

Camron Schofield, Australia