One of the newer songs that has become one of my favorites is by Dick and Melodie Tunney. The verse describes the feelings that occur in the presence of our Lord.

In his presence there is comfort, in his presence there is peace. When we seek the Father’s heart we will find such bless’d assurance, In the presence of the Lord.

Cover me Lord with your presence.

The song concentrates on the ascended Lord and our spiritual connection with the Father and the Son. What the song does not mention is the importance of truth in the presence of Jesus.

In a recent reading of the gospels, I was struck by Jesus’ total honesty with the people in his presence. He seldom left people complacent with their lives, because he always told them the truth about themselves and the condition of their lives.

Jesus possessed high standards, never hesitating to speak honestly to people. He never sugarcoated any situation.

In Luke’s gospel, when he was invited home for dinner with a Pharisee, a woman “who had lived a sinful life in that town” washed his feet with perfume, her tears and her kisses. Simon the Pharisee questions why Jesus would allow such a woman to touch him, and Jesus sets him straight with the story of a man who owes 500 denarii and another who owes 50. The moneylender forgives both debts, and Jesus asks who will love the moneylender most. Simon answers that it will be the one had the biggest debt canceled.


Then Jesus confronts his host with reality. He points out that Simon had not given him a welcoming kiss, nor did he have a servant wash Jesus’ feet — both serious breaches of hospitality.

In the presence of Jesus, Simon had to see himself as a poor host and man who too easily passed judgment on the woman and even Jesus.

Jesus’ apostles frequently were wrangling about position — who will be greatest in the kingdom? In Luke 9, Jesus used a little child to show them the spirit they must have to be his followers. He warned that being greatest requires being the greatest servant.

In Matthew 20, the mother of James and John asks if her sons can sit on the right and left of Jesus in his kingdom. He tells her that those positions are for God to determine.
In the presence of Jesus, the apostles, especially James and John, learned that earthly standards of position have no heavenly value.

In John 4, the Samaritan woman whom Jesus asked for a drink of water had her whole sinful life exposed as Jesus talked to her. What Jesus told her made her realize that he was not an ordinary man. She told all her friends about Jesus, and the whole community believed in Jesus.

In the presence of Jesus, the woman at the well and her community learned about the salvation Jesus offered.

In Matthew 19, when a rich young man came to Jesus, asking about gaining eternal life, Jesus told him to obey the commandments. In the conversation that followed, the young man indicated that he had kept all the commands and wanted to know what he still lacked. Jesus told him to sell all his possessions and give to the poor in order to have treasurers in heaven.

The man had his good works confirmed, but he saw the reality of his own materialistic values.

Peter often was forced to see the truth of his character. Although he was one of the first to confess his belief that Jesus was the Christ, the son of God, his doubts surfaced when he wanted to join Jesus in walking on the water. When he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the waves, he began to sink, and Jesus told him he had doubts and little faith.

At the last supper, as Jesus told that someone would betray him, Peter declared that he would never desert him. But Jesus warned him that he would deny Jesus three  times before the dawning of the next day — a prediction that became reality early the next morning. Jesus reminded him with a single look at the moment of the third denial.

In John 21, before the ascension, Jesus asked him three times if he loved him — a solemn reminder of his weakness.

In the presence of Jesus, there is comfort, peace and blessed assurance. But his presence also requires truth and honesty so that we can change and be better people who follow Jesus.