Have you ever heard an older person refer to "The Man Upstairs"? Growing up in the country and working around farmers and cattle ranchers, I heard it a lot. It may not be a rural-specific term or exclusively used by the elderly, but it's widely used where I live.
But who is this Man Upstairs? People who use this term seem to think He has authority and sees everything. Most importantly, they seem to think that the Man Upstairs is a good guy. This vague reference to a mysterious Person always seems to perk my ears up, and I guess that's because I know this Person!
I don't typically like hearing God referred to as "The Man Upstairs." Part of this is because, well, He isn't just a man. He's God, He is God in the flesh, and He is God in Spirit.
When they say that He's "upstairs," they're right. But more importantly, He came downstairs, as a human, to walk among us, allowed humanity to murder Him for the sake of our relationship with God, then went back upstairs.
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." —Philippians 2:5-8
Jesus lived here for thrity-odd years. One of His best friends on earth said, "The Word [another name for this Man] became flesh, and dwelt among us..." (John 1:14). But why, if Jesus had such a beautiful home upstairs, did He leave?
Here's the cool part: in His own words, He came "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). The LOST...that's us! He came downstairs for US. How amazing is that?
"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." —John 6:38
Part of seeking and saving the lost was the requirement of Jesus' death. But He knew that was going to happen. He told His closest friends that He "must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed... and after three days, rise again" (Luke 9:22). You see, He knew that He was going to live again after He died. Why would He go through all this?
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him." —John 3:16-17
Jesus did it for joy—both His and ours (Hebrews 12:2)! Shortly before He died, He prayed, "Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son, that the Son may glorify You, since you have given Him all authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent." He came to bring eternal life, but it's only through knowing Him.
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." —John 14:6
Jesus Christ is the Man who lives upstairs, and He is our friend and Savior. He wants to be known by us, and He wants us to trust Him and love Him as we love our closest friends and family—and even more.
Now you know who "The Man Upstairs" is, and I hope you will introduce everyone you know to Him. Next time you hear someone talk about "The Man Upstairs," make sure they know who He really is!
Jesus Christ is the Man who lives upstairs, and He is our friend and Savior. He wants to be known by us, and He wants us to trust Him and love Him as we love our closest friends and family—and even more. in His own words, He came "to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). The LOST...that's us! He came downstairs for US. Jesus proclaimed His mission in John 6:38: "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."
John Raz is a diabetic who enjoys writing, playing guitar, and photography. He rarely knows what to put in his own bio because he's not good at talking about himself, but he would love to talk to you about Christ!
