“I, even I, am He that comforteth you: who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall die, and the son of man, which shall be made as grass…?” Isaiah 51:12
There are many ways which God uses to reveal Himself to our hearts, and become a living reality to us. The different ways are described in Scripture in such a manner that we may not only be informed about His working, but also, to provide to the believer a knowledge of His ways as to how He will meet the individual. Why is this so necessary? Firstly, it is because God is too great and glorious for us who are so very little and limited, to grasp something of the wonder of His being, His glory. So, He comes to us where we are, in our limitations, and ignorance, to reveal quietly to us the beauty and wonder of His nature, His holiness, His uniqueness. When Jesus came to earth, He came to dwell among us, to identiy Himself with us in our limitations and needs. Though without sin, He came to reveal Himself in such a manner as to meet our deepest needs in a sinful world. He did not come just speaking words of elevated concepts and visions of heaven. He came to where were were, and are, there to manifest Himself to us by the knowledge of the truth, but also, manifesting His person, nature, working in us faith, so that we might know Him as our light, life, and love. Fundamental to God’s revelation to us in Christ, and His work in the believer, is His ministry to us as our Comforter. Why? Basically it is because of a sinful world in which we live, and the sinners that we are. Both the world system, and sin, have created a circumstance and condition of great need, and suffering. It is with the coming of Christ, that the sinful soul, in particular the believer, begins to know the comforting presence and ministry of the Spirit of God. When the Spirit was poured out upon all flesh at Pentecost, the revelation of the comforting presence and power of God was amplified. The fact that the believer now is in living union with the Son of God by the Spirit opens up a new world of thought, hope, blessing, confimation, and assurance. Christ becomes, by the comfort He gives, a reality that goes beyond the depth of man’s need, and suffering.
How then does God comfort us? We begin to discover the answer by reading Paul’s words to the Corinthians: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.” (2 Cor. 1:3,4) Paul does not speak of just objective truth here, but of the personal ministry of the Spirit to the heart and soul, making HImself very real in the moment of tribulation or suffering. Christ is able to comfort us exactly in the precise manner that is needed, with the power, love, and wisdom to do so, because He “…tasted death for every man,” thus identifying HImself with the suffering of all. In addition to the consciousness of His love, grace, and goodness, His mercy and tender care, are there other ways that Christ comforts us? Yes. Jesus, in speaking to his disciples before His death, told them that it was expedient for them that He should “go away,” i.e. die. Why? Because in the will of God, He would then be able to send the Spirit, His Spirit, the blessed Comforter, to the believer, to dwell in his heart by faith. Christ’s comfort took the form of assurance, the believer being taught and instructed by the Spirit of wisdom, His ministry confirmed to the heart by the peace of God that He communicates to the soul. There is great comfort in His presence.
Dear Father, Comfort us constantly today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.