Remembered by the Famous

There's a saying out there you've probably heard before: "Don't forget about me when you're famous." I guess there's a general feeling that people have a tendency to leave others behind when their stature is elevated. But we never need fear that when it comes to Jesus' relationship with us. Some of his parting words remind us of this truth,

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”¹

Being highly exalted and sitting in the position of prominence at the right hand of his Father, the one whose eyes are fire, whose voice is like many waters, whose words are a sword, still reaches into the humanity he once walked amongst. Jesus' heart and passion for people have not diminished now that he has returned to glory. He has not forgotten about us.

Thomas Goodwin, 17th century Puritan author, insightfully argues that God created the idea of relationship and its emanating affections to elucidate the character and quality of the relationship Jesus maintains toward us.² And Scripture contains hidden away in its narratives, stories that reveal his disposition toward us, even from his exalted position and "famous" stature.

Joseph

In the story of Joseph, favorite son of Jacob, we hear the heart of longing expressed when Joseph is reunited to his long-lost brothers,

And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard him, and Pharaoh’s household heard about it.³

His desire for his brothers was not hidden or restrained, and neither is Christ's desire toward us. Through Joseph, the nation of Israel was saved from world-wide famine. And Joseph's brothers were forgiven of great transgression. And now we have in heaven, an Advocate and Intercessor, who is continually before the Father on our behalf; one whose heart longs to be reunited with us.

Esther

In the biblical account of Esther, we read about a young queen who, even from her royal position, could not forget the plight of her people,

"For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”⁴

From the depths of Esther's heart, we see a passion ignited for her people, a passion that would go out against her people's adversary like a sure-aimed ballistic missile. She didn't become comfortable or uninvolved in her seemingly safe position but interceded for the safe future of her family and fellow Jews even at the risk of her own death. Christ's commitment to us is no less than Esther's loyalty to her own family and people.

David

King David had lost his closest friend Jonathan, but he did not forget his promise to Jonathan, even after he ascended to the position of King of Israel as promised by God. He remembered his promise to Jonathan to care for his household and followed through by receiving his crippled son Mephibosheth as his own,

Then Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do whatever my lord the king commands his servant to do.” So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table like one of the king’s sons.⁵

From his throne in heaven, King Jesus has not forgotten his promise to us to gather us to himself one day. He will come back. We will sit at his table and know his favor and embrace in unmeasurable quantity.

There are many more relationships on display in Scripture that show us the heart of Christ for us in heaven - too many to mention in this short blog. Moses, who did not forget his people, but led them out of slavery. The men who carried their paralytic friend and did everything they could to see him healed. So many ...

You can know that the Lord will not negate the power of these stories put in Scripture by loosening his hold on us. These stories put Jesus' heart on display for all to see the faithfulness and love of the one who is all about relationship. His heart in heaven remains just as passionate for us now as it did when he first entered our domain from eternity.

We are remembered by the famous one.

References

¹ Matthew 28:20b

² The Works of Thomas Goodwin, Volume 4, p.123, Reformation Heritage Books, ©2006

³ Genesis 45:2

⁴ Esther 8:6

⁵ 2 Samuel 9:11