We believe that Jesus Christ is God’s eternal Son who took on human flesh when He was born as a baby. He became a man with a physical body so He could die a physical death for the salvation of our sinful souls. He was buried and physically raised from the dead and He spent a short amount of time on earth before physically ascending back to heaven to sit on the right hand of God the Father. He is physically alive today and is coming back physically to this earth soon.
I used to wonder why Jesus did not just stay on earth and continue on with His work until now. There is nothing that would prevent Him from doing so as the risen Son of God. I would love the opportunity to hear him teach, perhaps even see Him in person, or have the blessing of meeting Him here on earth. Would it not have been better for us if Jesus had stayed on earth instead of going back to heaven?
Jesus’ physical time on earth with the disciples was so short. They grew to love Him and enjoyed spending as much time as possible with Him. They were saddened and confused with His teaching that He was going to be leaving them and returning to His heavenly home. We can read all about His conversation with them and their reaction during some of their last days together as it is recorded in John 13-17. As Jesus sensed their sadness and confusion about His leaving, He “comforted” them with the following words . . .
John 16:6-7 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Jesus said it was “expedient” for the disciples that He go away. The word expedient means “be better, be good, profit” according to the Strong’s Hebrew Greek Dictionary. But how could this be? How could it be better, be good, and profit the disciples for Jesus to go away? Wouldn’t it be better for them, for us all, if Jesus were to stay on earth?
Jesus went on to explain that after He left He would send the “Comforter,” the Holy Spirit of God, the third person of the Holy Trinity. This was expedient for the disciples because the Holy Spirit would come to indwell each of them personally. Instead of having God the Son in one human body they would soon have God the Spirit indwelling each one of them.
So it is true even today for those who trust
Christ that the Holy Spirit indwells each believer as our “comforter.” Jesus Christ was called Emmanuel “God with
Us” and the Holy Spirt is “God in Us.” (John
14:17) If Jesus Christ were still on
earth in His physical body we would have to go physically to see him and to hear
him in person. However, God the Spirit,
being always present and indwelling every believer, truly is “expedient” for
all of us.