"And it came to pass, that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions" (Luke 2:46).

There is a fascinating progression to be observed in the mention of those groups of people "in the midst" of whom Jesus was found at different times of His ministry. First of all, as a young boy He was found "in the midst" of the Jewish intellectuals and scholars of the day already possessing great wisdom.

It was not long before these same Jews became His bitter enemies, even seeking to slay Him, but He passed "through the midst" of them safely in Nazareth (Luke 4:30) and also in the temple (John 8:59), since His time had not yet come.

But then, His hour did finally come, and He was condemned and executed as a criminal on Golgotha, "where they crucified Him," and two others, with Jesus "in the midst" (John 19:18). After His crucifixion and resurrection, however, He was never again in the midst of the ungodly. Conversely, three times He is said to have appeared to His assembled disciples, suddenly standing "in the midst of them" (Luke 24:36; see also John 20:19,26).

Still later, He is seen prophetically and spiritually "in the midst of the church" (Hebrews 2:12), where He is leading in its praise to God. In fact, He had promised His disciples of the coming time when He would be with them through His Holy Spirit. "For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matthew 18:20).

Finally, He is seen prophetically in glory! "And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man" (Revelation 1:13). He is symbolized also by the Tree of Life, which in Eden was "in the midst of the garden" (Genesis 2:9), and in the New Jerusalem is "in the midst of the street of it" (Revelation 22:2). HMM