In dealing with this subject, “The Lord Jesus in the MIDST”, we are first reminded of the two statements in the first chapter of John

“NO MAN HATH SEEN GOD AT ANY TIME; THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, WHICH IS IN THE BOSOM OF THE FATHER, HE HATH DECLARED HIM.” John 1:18.

“AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH, AND DWELT AMONG US, (AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, THE GLORY AS OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER) FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.” John 1:14.

We remember the prayer of our Lord Jesus, recorded in John 17:5: “Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.” That One who was in the form of God took upon Himself the form of a servant, fashioned as a man. Before the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, we read concerning Him in Daniel 3:25: “I see four men loose, walking in the MIDST of the: fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” This was about six centuries before the virgin Mary gave birth to the Holy Child Jesus.

About 900 years before these three Hebrew children were in the fiery furnace; according to I Corinthians 10:4, the Israelites, on their way from Egypt to Canaan, drank of that spiritual Rock, and that Rock was Christ.

But let us turn now to the New Testament Scriptures and notice a number of verses concerning the Lord Jesus Christ in the MIDST.

CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF THE DOCTORS

“And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the MIDST off the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.” Luke 2:46.

CHRIST IN THE HOLY LAND IN THE MIDST OF ISRAEL

“Ye men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in the MIDST of you, as ye yourselves also know.” Acts 2:22.

CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF DYING LAW-BREAKERS

“Where they crucified Him, and two other with Him, on either side one, and Jesus in the MIDST.” John 19:18.

THE RESURRECTED CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF HIS APOSTLES

“Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the MIDST, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” John 20:19.

“And after eight days again His disciples were within, and Thomas with them; then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the MIDST of them and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.” Luke 24:36.

CHRIST IN THE MIDST OF HIS CHURCH

“I will declare thy Name unto my brethren, in the MIDST of the Church will I sing praises unto thee.” Hebrews 2:12. “For where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the MIDST of them.” Matthew 18:20. “And in the MIDST of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the feet, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.” Revelation 1:13. “Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write: These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the MIDST of the seven golden candlesticks.” Revelation 2:1.

CHRIST IN HEAVEN IN THE MIDST OF ELDERS

“And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal; and in the MIDST of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.” Revelation 4:6.

“And I beheld, and lo, in the MIDST of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the MIDST of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” Revelation 5:6.

In these Scriptures we have seen our Lords Jesus Christ as a twelve year old child in the midst of the doctors, instructing them. He was about His Father’s business. He was ever about His Father’s business. He was the great Prophet, like unto Moses, sent unto His own, and His own received Him not. He was in the holy land, Israel’s land, in the midst of Israel, and by signs and wonders God witnessed to Israel that Jesus was the Christ (Messiah). The builders rejected the Stone. The despised and rejected Man of sorrows died in the midst of thieves; numbered with the transgressors. He was there made sin that we might be made the righteousness of God. But death could not hold Him. He shewed Himself alive after His death, by many infallible proofs. He appeared in the midst of His disciples as they were hiding from the Jews who had killed the Prince of life. He invited unbelieving disciples to touch Him and Thomas to put His fingers where His death wounds were. “Peace be unto you.” That message has been spoken to millions since that day.

Next we see the Saviour in the midst of His Church. Truly He is in the midst of members of His Body. Paul said, “Christ liveth in me.” “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” We are in Him accepted and complete, blessed with all spiritual blessings.

Then we get that glorious view of our glorified Christ, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, in the midst of the elders and the heavenly host, in Revelation 4, the Creator; in Revelation 5, the Redeemer.

What a day of glory when all of His redeemed ones, redeemed by the matchless grace of God and the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, shall be forever in glory and the Lord Jesus in the midst.

Before that time the nation who treated Him with such shame and disgrace shall look upon Him whom they pierced. A nation shall be suddenly born. The Messiah, not crowned with thorns but crowned with many diadems shall be in the midst of His ancient people, and shall be Wonderful, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, reigning from David’s throne. The kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.

Even so come Lord Jesus.

For more articles by Pastor J. C. O'Hair, visit the J. C. O'Hair Online Library.