Some people these days say they see Jesus; others are even hugging the triune God in their quiet times. Are they mistaken, or is it possible for us to touch God and Jesus Christ the Son of God? Are people seeing another Jesus?
Christ's Earthly Ministry
While Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, walked the earth, the disciples and many others touched Him, fell at His feet, hugged Him, and John even placed His head on Christ's bosom (chest). Jesus Christ is God in the flesh (John 1:14), so they did indeed touch God the Son. But because it was during His earthly ministry, He could only be in one place at a time when this happened.
After His resurrection, the risen Lord told Mary not to touch Him (John 20:17) but told Thomas to touch Him (John 20:27). He was telling Mary in essence not to hold on to Him or hug Him.
Christ's Heavenly Ministry
Since His ascension, Christ now sits at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for the saints (Romans 8:34, Colossians 3:1, Hebrews 10:12, Hebrews 12:2, 1 Peter 3:22). This is the physical location of Jesus Christ today.
Because Jesus is still in human form, He can't physically be in two places at the same time. He demonstrated that when He was on earth. To leave the right hand of God where He is making continual intercession for the saints (Romans 8:34, Hebrews 7:25) to give someone a hug during their quiet time is inconsistent with what we read in the Bible.
This is exactly why Jesus said it was expedient that He leave so that the Holy Spirit could indwell believers (John 16:7, John 14:16); meaning that the Spirit of Christ would be with us no matter where we go.
So, instead of Christ being physically present, His Spirit makes us ambassadors of Christ wherever we are. And in that sense, we can say the touch of a Spirit-filled believer is the touch of Christ. But, to say Jesus, in the flesh, actually hugged you doesn't line up with Scripture. It would likely be "another Jesus" (1 Corinthians 11:4)—the Jesus not revealed in the word of God.
In 2 Corinthians 5:7, we read that we walk by faith not by sight. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
When we walk by faith, we don't need a physical hug from God because we trust from His word that our Abba Father is with us at all times. We trust that Christ is with us at all times—closer than any hug could bring us. A physical hug from God would defeat that purpose.
God's plan is to mold us into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29)—our Example of the faith (1 Peter 2:21). Even when Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane groaning and sweating drops of blood for His coming pain and suffering, we don't read of Christ getting a big hug from the Father. Giving us physical hugs while we're on earth is counterproductive to faith-building.
John the Apostle, the one who laid his head on the Lord's bosom (John 13:23), fell at the Apocalyptic Christ's feet (Revelation 1:17). He was perhaps the closest human being to Christ, yet what he saw that day led him to drop to his knees.
There may be times in certain locations that don't have access to the word of God where the Lord will give visions (cf. Acts 2:17) and deliver people from horrific circumstances. But any vision of Christ must be in-line with the Scriptures or it is a false vision that can deceive us. But we're talking about hugs right now.
Hugging Christ is a different story. God has given us His word, a surer word of prophecy that we're to rely on in faith (2 Peter 1:19). And God's word tells us that Christ is presently at the right hand of God and will return to set foot on the earth once more when He sets up His Kingdom (cf. Zechariah 14:4, Zechariah 2:10,12; Revelation 19:15). When Christ does return to earth, for many, it will not be pretty. He'll take vengeance upon all those who reject the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
If someone has hugged Jesus today, it would be a miracle that he/she could have, because everyone else would be dropping on the ground to worship Him (Revelation 1:17) or fleeing and hiding from Him (Revelation 6:16).
What we do know from the Bible is that Jesus Christ has ascended, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will return at the appointed time. The Father, no one has seen (John 1:18) or touched.
Though some experiences may feel real, if they contradict the word of God, they must be false. Those who claim to have seen God or Jesus Christ and hugged Him today are mistaken—their experiences conflict with the clear and plain teaching of the word of God (2 Peter 1:19).
END
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Author: Jerry S., Pastor, OLBC
Author Bio: Jerry is a bi-vocational missionary pastor-teacher and an avid writer on practical theology currently residing in the Philippines. He has a wide range of experience and education from bachelor to doctorate degrees in various fields and writes articles, blogs, devotions, e-books, academic papers, and more.
Image source: dreamstime.com, ID149672213 OneLineStock
We Walk by Faith Not by Sight
In 2 Corinthians 5:7, we read that we walk by faith not by sight. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.
When we walk by faith, we don't need a physical hug from God because we trust from His word that our Abba Father is with us at all times. We trust that Christ is with us at all times—closer than any hug could bring us. A physical hug from God would defeat that purpose.
God's plan is to mold us into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29)—our Example of the faith (1 Peter 2:21). Even when Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane groaning and sweating drops of blood for His coming pain and suffering, we don't read of Christ getting a big hug from the Father. Giving us physical hugs while we're on earth is counterproductive to faith-building.
The Apocalyptic Christ
John the Apostle, the one who laid his head on the Lord's bosom (John 13:23), fell at the Apocalyptic Christ's feet (Revelation 1:17). He was perhaps the closest human being to Christ, yet what he saw that day led him to drop to his knees.
There may be times in certain locations that don't have access to the word of God where the Lord will give visions (cf. Acts 2:17) and deliver people from horrific circumstances. But any vision of Christ must be in-line with the Scriptures or it is a false vision that can deceive us. But we're talking about hugs right now.
Hugging Christ is a different story. God has given us His word, a surer word of prophecy that we're to rely on in faith (2 Peter 1:19). And God's word tells us that Christ is presently at the right hand of God and will return to set foot on the earth once more when He sets up His Kingdom (cf. Zechariah 14:4, Zechariah 2:10,12; Revelation 19:15). When Christ does return to earth, for many, it will not be pretty. He'll take vengeance upon all those who reject the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 1:8).
If someone has hugged Jesus today, it would be a miracle that he/she could have, because everyone else would be dropping on the ground to worship Him (Revelation 1:17) or fleeing and hiding from Him (Revelation 6:16).
Conclusion
What we do know from the Bible is that Jesus Christ has ascended, is seated at the right hand of the Father, and will return at the appointed time. The Father, no one has seen (John 1:18) or touched.
Though some experiences may feel real, if they contradict the word of God, they must be false. Those who claim to have seen God or Jesus Christ and hugged Him today are mistaken—their experiences conflict with the clear and plain teaching of the word of God (2 Peter 1:19).
END
________
Author: Jerry S., Pastor, OLBC
Author Bio: Jerry is a bi-vocational missionary pastor-teacher and an avid writer on practical theology currently residing in the Philippines. He has a wide range of experience and education from bachelor to doctorate degrees in various fields and writes articles, blogs, devotions, e-books, academic papers, and more.
Image source: dreamstime.com, ID149672213 OneLineStock
