In March of 2012, Americans listened with regret and repulsion as we heard reports of an American soldier in Afghanistan who went on a killing spree in a rural Afghan village. This rogue soldier massacred 16 civilian Afghanis. This is an absolute horror. The aftermath compounds our grief because these evil actions (and several other travesties) will, for some, define American ideals to our Afghani neighbors. Because of the actions of one violent man, many will believe that Americans are filled with hatred and are to be feared. Who can blame them? When someone acts in our name or on our behalf, we’re represented by their actions.
In a way, we could say that God represented Himself (and His reputation) in Jesus—the Son of God who has been part of God’s work in the world from the beginning. Through Jesus, God “created everything” (Colossians 1:16). Through Jesus, God rules over “thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities” (Colossians 1:16). In Jesus, we see God in action.
Jesus, however, does more than represent God. Rather, Jesus actually embodies Him. Jesus Christ shows us what God looks like. Jesus is the visibility of Him—God with skin on. As Paul says, “God in all His fullness was pleased to live in Christ” (Colossians 1:19).
If we want to know what God is like, we look first at Jesus Christ. We can’t know all there is to know of God, not by a long shot. But we can know a lot. We know that He is full of love. We know that He cares for justice and rebukes hypocrisy. We know that He loves the outcasts and misfits. We know that He heals the sick and forgives the sinner and longs for us to experience life to the full.
We know that God does all these things because Jesus does all these things.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Genesis 27:1-40
More:
Pick any story in one of the four gospels. Read the story slowly with this question in mind: What does Jesus’ action and heart reveal to me about God?
Next:
What is your biggest question about God’s will or God’s love for you? What does Jesus’ life and teaching say to your question?
dossk on January 17, 2013 at 7:32 am
Dear Winn, Thanks for the post. Many of the Hindus study in Christian schools in India, because they are the best. They learn about Jesus to some extent. They begin to compare Jesus with the Christians, because they are the followers of Christ and what a disappointment to them. They do not find Jesus in them. They do not want to follow Christ, even if they have the desire. How much is Christ let down. What a tragedy of the 21st century Christianity.
winn collier on January 17, 2013 at 11:27 am
may God grant grace to us, in our sin, and to others in their search.
tom felten on January 17, 2013 at 8:59 am
Good thoughts, Mike. The apostle John wrote of Jesus (the “Word”) in John 1:1-5. We see that He “existed in the beginning” and that He “gave life to everything that was created” (vv.2,4). What an amazing, triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) we serve!
Scott on January 17, 2013 at 9:14 am
1 John 4:16 says “God is love”. Matthew 22:34-40 says, Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
From these verses, I believe that I can conclude that God looks like……….LOVE!
winn collier on January 17, 2013 at 11:28 am
I think you’re onto it, Scott. And love has a name: Jesus Christ.
davidbloomfield on January 19, 2013 at 2:54 am
Dear Winn, Thank you for this challenging message.
I often think that when some people say,”I would believe if I could see Jesus.” we should be able to say,”Come to my church then and see.”
Seeing Jesus in others brought me to Him many years ago.