Two kinds of eyesight . . .

In his later years, my grandfather was blind. Every now and then I try to imagine blindness, even close my eyes and attempt daily chores. Being blind requires grace even though the darkness seems to heighten other things. Touch, hearing, even imagination step up in the body’s attempt to fill in what the eyes cannot see.

Jesus gave sight to blind eyes. That requires imagination too. What would seeing be like to a person who had never experienced it? My sister had a dog named Dot, one of those little dogs with lots of hair, particularly hanging over his eyes. One day we gave him a haircut. She decided to also clip the part over his eyes. Dot reacted with a look of surprise and wonder. His fuzzy vision instantly became clear — he could see!

A Christian chorus says Jesus was ‘perfect in all of His ways’ which means He had good vision, but there are more ways to see than physical eyesight. Jesus can see what we cannot see because He is more than a mere physical person. He is the Word of God made flesh . . .

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. (John 1:1, 14)

Being with the God who is spirit and invisible is one thing. Being God, being divine is another. Jesus, unlike us, can see God. Is this like looking in a mirror? Or is it a special kind of vision? All we can know is what He says about this amazing ability to see, to know God, to reflect the image of God:

All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matthew 11:27)

No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. (John 1:18)

It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (John 6:45–47)

The Father and the Son are not invisible to each other. Their relationship is intimate, so much so that Jesus could say that whoever saw Him and knew Him also sees and knows God the Father . . .

I am the one who bears witness about myself, and the Father who sent me bears witness about me.” They said to him therefore, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” (John 8:18–19)

How does this happen? When I became a Christian one of my neighbors told me that salvation happens in a moment, in the blink of an eye, but then you spend the rest of your life trying to figure out what happened. He was right. I try, but I cannot fully explain how Jesus gave spiritual sight to me, not the physical sight which I already enjoyed, but eyes to see Him. This is not a physical seeing but that kind of knowing that is so real and powerful it is as if He stands before me, a smile on His face and love in His eyes.

How can seeing Him equate to seeing the Father? I’m sure there are many ways to think of this. The Bible says Jesus is the image of the Father, full of grace and truth. He makes God known because He is like Him in every way. Jesus hates sin and tossed over the money changer’s tables that were defiling the temple. Jesus loves sinners and ate with tax collectors and prostitutes who were hated by most everyone else. Jesus loves all humanity. He told us to pray for our enemies and do good to them. He showed us His love by dying on the cross for all, while we were yet sinners, even while we mocked and scorned Him.

All of this He gives to His people through the power of the Holy Spirit, putting Himself alongside our humanness and granting us the ability to choose righteousness, an ability no one has until He comes into their life. His priestly prayer included these words:

O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me. I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:25–26)

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I cannot describe how You make Yourself known to people but I do know that this knowing changes our lives. You grant us forgiveness and eternal life, but also that amazing love that You have for us so we can love others the same way. It is like sight to the blind, like light in great darkness. You are amazing and I worship You this day and always.

“Follow Me”

Those who don’t know much about religions will often say that one is as good as another, or that every religion is valid. Today’s devotional warns against the spiritual danger of being affected by this pluralism.

Since Christ saved me and came into my life, I’ve not been confused by those ideas, for which I am thankful. Yet I know people who think ‘everyone is okay’ and have no idea of the claims of Jesus Christ. If they did, they would need to make some changes in their thinking.

Two major claims come to mind, both from the same passage in Scripture. One is what Jesus said about the way to God and the other is about His identity. Both are unique. Both would startle those who accept pluralism.

Jesus was talking to His disciples about their fears and assured them that even though He was leaving them, He would come back and take them to where He was going. Thomas said, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”

Jesus replied, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”

Jesus responded, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.” (John 14:5–11)

In this dialog, two claims are made: One is that Jesus said He is the only way to the Father. This flies in the face of those who claim that every religion is a way to God, a way of worshiping Him and a way of coming to Him for eternal life. Jesus says otherwise. He does not say, “I am A way” but “I am THE way” and NO MAN can come any other way.

The other claim is that He reveals God the Father. As Hebrews 1:3 says, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature . . .” The same thought is repeated several times in the Bible, including the statement in Colossians 1:15, “He is the image of the invisible God . . .”

Pluralists would struggle with this. I don’t, but I do have a related problem. I’ve been proud that I belong to the ‘only way’ and believe in the ‘only right way’ — and that faith is not wrong in itself, but my pride is sinful. I have no right to being smug because the Gospel negates pride. I did nothing to earn or deserve my salvation. I did nothing to earn or deserve Jesus Christ walking into my life. I am a sinner saved by grace. “God shows His love for me in that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me.” (Romans 5:8, personalized) That is humbling, not reason for pride.

At the same time, the Gospel lifts me up, just as it is intended to do for all who believe it. In that joy of knowing Jesus, we have a wonderful message to pass on to others. No matter what they claim, no religion can claim salvation by faith in a man who is God in the flesh, who was crucified and rose from the dead, and who promises to return to earth and take His followers to the Father.

In fact, all other religions have a list of what people must do to get to God. Instead of God reaching down to save them, they must try their best to get to Him. If they are able to do everything required by their religion, it would produce pride, but none of us can keep even our own set of ‘rules’ for life. Realizing that is true should put every person on their knees before this Jesus. He replaced all those religious demands with only one: “Follow me!”

Face to Face

A mother tells of her little boy wanting her to stay in his room until he fell asleep each night. She told him that God was with him all the time. He said, “I know, but I want somebody with a face.”
 

I’ve felt like that. God is with me all the time, but sometimes I need a face, or at least to be with Christians who are like God in some way. How good of God to provide that kind of fellowship where we can share the face of His Son with one another.

Jesus is the face of the invisible God. While we cannot physically see Him now, we can know that He is no idol. He is God Himself who came in human flesh that we might have someone with a face.

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. (Romans 8:29) 

Some of my brothers and sisters in Christ are like Jesus in many ways, yet only Jesus is the “radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3–4). Only Jesus is “the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation . . . For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross” (Colossians 1:15, 19).

Sometimes I’ve longed for Christian fellowship, even idolized a few people that have been like Jesus to me, but realize that this longing may not be coming from my own heart. Jesus lives in me, and in Him is the fullness of God . . .  

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. (Colossians 2:9–10) 

Because I have been filled with Him, could that longing I feel be the longing of His heart and not mine? Could it be Jesus longing to have fellowship with others, with me? As I interpret those desires that way, I find that my communion with Him and with other believers is far more amazing than I ever thought possible. Think of it; the God who created the universe and all things wants to have face to face conversation with me! This can mean intimate prayer, but can also mean rich sharing with others in whom He also dwells. 

We are on holidays. We attend a wonderful church while we are here, but haven’t had many opportunities to talk with other Christians. This has had two positive results in my thinking. One is that I can see how easily I can “idolize” my brothers and sisters in Christ and make them a substitute for intimacy with the Lord Himself. 

The other is a deeper realization that those who do not know Jesus are oblivious to the glory of Christ. They do not know the wonder of this God who became flesh . . . 

In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

There is an old hymn that says I might be the only God that people ever see . . . giving me the responsibility of relying on Him alone, no idols, and no trusting in myself. The goal is that my face might perhaps reflect a smidgen of the glory of His face to those who are otherwise blind.

Names of God

In my studies, I’ve been captivated by the way God is described using analogies. That is, His Word uses ordinary words to help me understand Him, words that by themselves would not do that, but because they are given and understood in the power of God’s Spirit, I can know something about His character, His essence. Today’s Scripture passage gives an example of this analogical language . . .  

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (Revelation 5:5–6)

God the Son is described in vivid picture language. He is a lion, a root, a conqueror, yet also a very unusual lamb. These, particularly the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb that has been slain, say much about the nature and character of Jesus Christ.

The title of Lion may have come from Jacob’s blessing on his son Judah using reference to a lion, likely because of the valiant future of his descendents. Jesus came from his lineage. He is called the root of David as David also came from this lineage. However, the “lion” designation also describes a strong, majestic animal. A lion was used as the symbol for Christ in The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis, a popular fiction series. We call lions the king of beasts.

However, Jesus is also called a Lamb. I notice that the Lion was able to open the book in the vision from Revelation, but it was the Lamb that actually did it. When this Lamb acted, those around the throne sang a new song . . .

Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:9–10)

A lion can be thought of as a devourer that slaughters others, even defenseless lambs, yet Christ is represented as both, even a lamb that had the marks of one who had been slain. This brings together a picture of Christ’s admirable virtues. The lion may excel in strength, but the lamb excels in meekness and patience. It suggests also a source of food and wool, but mostly a suitable offering for sacrifice. The context suggests what the rest of Scripture confirms, that the sacrifice of the Lamb makes Jesus worthy of our worship.

Another verse shows more of this language.

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

These multiplied images show a conjunction of virtues in the same Person. That is, Jesus is a son but also the everlasting Father. He is a child yet rules the world as Prince of Peace. He is a Wonderful Counselor and the Mighty God, all in the same Person.

It is from the analogies used in the Bible that I understand that God is more than words can describe. He is called by a variety of names and represented with a variety of descriptions because no one name or image can give me a complete picture. Even with those, I get it that God is beyond human understanding, yet amazing in that he perfects ordinary language to the degree that it can be used in His Word and by His Spirit to speak of who He is.