BESIDE

prep: nearby, close at hand, by the side of

 “God said, ‘Look, here is a place right beside me.” Exodus 33:21 MSG

I wonder if Jesus ever felt lonely.

 He certainly had crowds of people around him much of the time, and a very close group of friends for the last few years of his life. We read that he had to make quite an effort to get away by himself to pray.

But did he experience that aching, empty feeling inside as he realized that even in the midst of all these people, no one really understood him?

 Does he know what we feel like when we just need someone to come close? To truly “get” us?

When we learn about the people that Jesus sought out, it seems like he understood the loneliness they felt:

-the despised tax collector that climbed a tree to get a glimpse of him,

-the woman who went for water at the hottest time of day in order to avoid the others

-the man with leprosy that people walked away from in disgust,

and so many more.

And in the Old Testament, more lonely ones:

 -Hagar–the pregnant servant girl of Sarah, rejected and running away,

-Joseph–the “golden child” sold into slavery by jealous brothers,

-Naomi–the bitter, grieving widow with no one to take care of her,

and Moses–confused and hiding from his past.

 Moses–the one this promise was originally spoken to. What struggles of identity and purpose he must have wrestled with. How alone he must have felt at times as he tried to lead the Israelites through the wilderness.

And God understood. He knew what Moses needed.

 He said to him, “Look here is a place right beside me.”  

And in the next breath he said, “Put yourself on this rock.”

 God was getting ready to reveal his power and presence to Moses in a very significant way. He invited Moses to put himself in a secure and protected place where he could get the most of God as his Spirit came close. A place right beside him.

When Moses returned from this mountaintop visit with God, his face was literally shining.  God had come exceptionally close–revealing his commandments and renewing his covenant of everlasting love for his chosen people.

His chosen people. You and me.

 Jesus still invites us to sit next to him. He wants to meet us exactly where we are. The “rock” that we can put ourselves on might be the chair in the waiting room, the seat of our car, the desk at work, or the side of our bed. He knows our insecurities, our heartaches, our darkest secrets, and our worst fears. He also knows our favorite colors, how we like our coffee or tea, the music we listen to, and the things that make us laugh.

And he wants to give us everything–redemption, hope, freedom, purpose, guidance, forgiveness, unconditional love, and lasting peace.

He wants to give us himself.

Dear Jesus, you are my most faithful friend. I trust that in my loneliest times, you come closer than ever. You will strengthen my heart and make me shine with your powerful presence and your tender compassion. Thank you for always making room for me. Amen.

TAKE YOUR TICKET

Jesus has a place–right beside him–saved especially for you.

Let’s sit beside him for a few minutes before we go into this day.