Israel’s desire for God’s presence in Exodus 32 is an example and an encouragement for our everyday lives.

The thesis of the Bible?

In the closing of part one of this blog, I mentioned that the New Testament provides us with two tangible ways that we, as New Covenant believers, can feel God’s presence. However, before we discuss these ways, I want to take you to a favorite scripture of mine in the book of Hebrews. The opening chapter of Hebrews gives us an overview of God’s presence from Genesis to Revelation. I call it the Bible’s thesis statement because we get the main point of God’s revelation to man.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Hebrews 1:1–3

The Bible is the revelation of God to man. In it, God speaks and declares to His people that His speaking to the fathers (Abraham-Joseph) and the prophets were leading to Jesus, our tangible representation of Him. This is what God meant when He declared to Adam and Eve that One would come that would bruise the head of the serpent.

As we see in the continuation of this passage, Jesus created all things, rules all things, and creates and sustains the world, and is the exact representation of God’s glory and nature. Our God and Savior came to live among us and took on flesh. He experienced our suffering and the terrible effects of sin on mankind and the world. Jesus, as the perfect, sinless Lamb of God, went to the cross, obeying the will of the Father, taking our place in the punishment we deserved for sin, and satisfying the wrath of God. After His atonement was complete, He sat down at the right hand of God. Redemption was complete.

Remember when we discussed Adam and Eve’s relationship, their access to God’s presence, and how it was destroyed when sin entered the world? Jesus was the answer to our broken relationship with God. He brought us back to perfect access to God’s presence. No longer is there a need for a tent of meeting, a human mediator between God and man (Moses), nor is there a need for visible signs like the pillar of cloud, fire, and Moses’s shining face. Instead, God’s presence has been offered freely through salvation in Jesus.

How do we see Jesus?

You may have been excited about these last few paragraphs until you thought, “But Gina, Jesus isn’t physically here in the flesh.” So let’s take a moment to go over to the book of John and see how Jesus addressed this concern.

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came… “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
…Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

John 20:24–29

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Conclusion

Jesus gives us perfect access.

Jesus’s words are as true today as when he spoke them to Thomas. Blessed are those who have not seen Him but believe. Jesus calls us blessed! We are blessed because the two ways believers can experience God’s presence are perfect. Our access to God’s presence is not through a mediator but through the flesh of the perfect Son of God.

14 Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.’

Hebrews 6:14–16

Now that we have set our minds on the object of our access to God’s presence, Jesus Christ. In the next part, we will look closer at the two ways we can see and feel God’s presence in our lives.