Have you ever been asked, ​“If you could meet any historical person, who would it be?”

Answering ​“Jesus,” on the surface seems saccharine-sweet. But truly, in your heart of hearts, if given only one choice who else would it be? 

After all, what could be better than looking into the eyes of the Son of Man, eyes unclouded by duplicity and doubt, and see boundless love looking back; or to be present at the tomb of Lazarus and hear the Resurrector say, ​“Come forth”; or to have a front-row seat for the Sermon on the Mount?

Yet something is better.

On the Renovaré Podcast this week, Sarah Bowling reminds us of Jesus’ words in John 16: ​“It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you.” 

She comments, ​“Part of the upgrade [of the Holy Spirit versus Jesus in the flesh], if you want to look at it that way, is Holy Spirit is with us all the time and isn’t limited to physical presence.” 

A refrain comes to mind…

Better than Eden
Oh Holy Friend
From walking beside
To dwelling within

The Spirit of our Lord — the one called Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Strengthener — dwells within you. Through the Holy Spirit, Jesus fulfills his promise: ​“I am with you always.”