THE BLESSING OF CHRIST’S PRESENCE by Gary Wilkerson

Christ delivered the beatitudes to a fractured, hopeless body of believers: “Blessed are you who are broken, who mourn, who are poor in spirit. You are blessed right now, not because you’ve done anything to earn it but because I am with you” (see Matthew 5:2-11).

What a revelation! We are blessed simply because Jesus is with us. The blessing of Immanuel—“God with us” (Matthew 1:23)—takes on a whole new meaning in light of Isaiah’s prophecy: “I will . . . give you as a covenant to the people . . . to apportion the desolate heritages” (Isaiah 49:8, ESV). The blessing of Christ’s presence was going to silence all our accusing voices.

This silencing happened literally in the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). The religious leaders brought her to Jesus and demanded that He also accuse her but secretly they had another reason for bringing her before Jesus. They wanted to accuse Him!

Have you ever heard Christians accuse God of something? I hear it from people all the time in my pastoral counseling: “God isn’t working in my life. I pray faithfully but He doesn’t answer. I’ve done everything I can, but He still hasn’t set me free.” This is exactly what Satan wants us to do: accuse God in our hearts. It creates an endless cycle of bondage.

Jesus answered the adulterous woman’s— and His own—accusers: “He stood up and said to them, ‘Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her’” (John 8:7, ESV). God was no longer the One being accused. Jesus had turned the spotlight where it belonged: on their own sin. They responded by “[going] away one by one” (8:9).

Note what Jesus then said to the woman: “Where are they? Has no one condemned you?” (8:10). The King James Version translates this verse, “Where are those thine accusers?” This is exactly what Jesus says to us today: “Where are your accusers? Where are the voices that say, ‘You’re sinful, hopeless, a failure’? They’re gone! I am your righteousness now and I have silenced them all.”

When these voices continue to scream and shout in our ears, we will hear another voice above them all: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27, ESV). Christ’s voice will speak to us, “I have silenced your accusers.” His truth cuts through all clamor and din with His peace, which passes all understanding.