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8D. The Eternal Future in the Mystical Body 
People carry around the memories of their past in their minds like Russian Dolls with layer upon layer of skirts and petticoats. On the outside we may be 35, 55 or 75 years old but the baby still resides within. We are never free, nor far from our memories. The headship of Jesus is the one unchanging element in the heavenly Body. Jesus past, present and future has been, is and will be in control of all God's faithful people and will link together as one mind the past and present not just of our own personal existence but that of every other member of the Mystical Body. His huge collective memory binds as one all God's people in the Body of Christ.
Eternal Nature of Jesus
The present, past and future tenses stress both the eternal nature of Jesus and his vital place in history. The Revelation of John calls Jesus "him who is, and who was, and who is to come."(4) This reminds us also that "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever"(5).
Names of Jesus
Our song recalls the eternal nature of the God of the Old Testament who described himself as "I AM WHO I AM."(6). As Jesus ascends before his disciples, he calls out "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age"(7). Christians have been encouraged down the years even when faced by wild lions in a Roman Coliseum that Jesus is with them always. The ever present Jesus gives us unwavering love, grace and peace in all circumstances. He promises nothing else than that he will be with us always.
Jesus is a historical character. The first and the last letters of the Greek alphabet are spoken by the glorified Christ saying, "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End."(8). In the Old Testament, the first and last Hebrew letters are linked together in the word "whom" in Zechariah 12.10 "They shall look on the one whom they have pierced." Jesus' persecutors and all who by sin are aligned with them saw him pierced on the cross. They shall also be forced to look with anger on the Christ in glory in heaven.
Historical Resurrection
Jesus was the "first born among the dead" in his historical resurrection and the first to rise as an example and encouragement to the others. "I am the Beginning and the End"(9) said the Lord God but later also Jesus. He is part of the future. Mark Twain wrote, "I am greatly interested in the future. I expect to spend the rest of my life there." Jesus has a future because of the present and the past. For now, we know only his presence in our lives, but the mystery unfolds!
God is With Me
Patricia Emme composed a lovely poem about Jesus being always present with us,
"I know that God is with me, For He warms me with His love,
He walks among the flowers He paints the sky above.
He forms the red, red roses, And He makes the Bluebirds sing,
He fills my eyes with wonder As He beckons to the Spring.
I know that God is with me, For He whispers in my ear,
'Be not afraid my little one, For I am always near!'"
Question for Discussion
Jesus said, "I am with you always." What does His presence mean to us?
Notes
(4) Revelation 1.4. (5) Hebrews 13.8. (6) Exodus 3.14. (7) Matthew 28.20. (8) Revelation 22.13. (9) Revelation 22.13
"We are living members of his mystical body"
