Then finally, the time had come for the shadows of the Old Testament to be replaced by the light of this marvelous face.
How do you feel when you see a friendly face? More times than not, a sense of joy and excitement sweeps over you, and you can’t help but crack a smile. How do you feel when you see a friendly face you haven’t seen in a really long time? Let the hugs begin!
For centuries, there were prophetic words, conversations, written documents, and great anticipation of the arrival of the most unique face man could ever behold. But no one knew when exactly. Then finally, the time had come for the shadows of the Old Testament to be replaced by the light of this marvelous face (Colossians 2:17). How exactly would He come? What would He look like? He was after all…God!
John 1:1-18 (HCSB) provides a beautiful introduction to the long awaited One and ends with these poetic words in verse 18, “No one has ever seen God. The One and only Son, the One who is at the Father’s side – HE has revealed Him.” John 14:9 later records Jesus saying “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” Hebrews 1:3 says “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.”
What!? Mind blowing! Jesus has revealed GOD! He has come down to man! History was forever changed, and man could for the first time look into the eyes of his creator.
This truth and these words from John 1:18 inspired our worship ministry to write our first Christmas song last year, Face of God. It was introduced last year at Mid-Cities Church alongside a Christmas sermon from Pastor Daniel Stephens entitled, He Has Revealed Him. You can get the chord chart here.
“So what about us today?” you might ask. Jesus has ascended into heaven. We can’t see His face anymore. Jesus already knew we would probably have that question and told us in John 20:29, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” Even on this side of His ascension, I believe we can indeed still see the face of God. When you read about Jesus’ compassion for the hungry (Matthew 15:32), His love for the seeker (Mark 10:29), His grief for the deceased (John 11:33), His anger towards the swindler (John 2:13-17), and His joy for the humble (Luke 10:21)…(just to name a few), you can’t help but get a pretty good picture of the face of our intimate God. These emotions Jesus portrayed reflect the perfect image of God without any shortcomings or misrepresentations. We can see Him, and we can know Him personally in His fullness.
Jesus is the perfect manifestation of God. Today He makes himself available to all who will open the eyes of their hearts and see Him for all that He is. He is here! Light the world!
Karen Hicks
Posted at 01:01h, 12 JanuaryI loved reading this. I know for myself just can not imagine how excited I will be and just in awe of Him. I have never seen His wonderful face but I have felt Him in my heart and there have been times when I hear Him answering a question when I am talking with Him…its not an audible voice but I hear the answer almost in my own voice…but I know the answer is from Him because He answers in a way that was not the one I wanted lol. He is so loving and so merciful to us all. I love the sentence open the eyes of our hearts…for that is what we see Him with…and how fitting as that is exactly where He lives is our hearts.
He is def. the Light of the world and as the song says…a city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Thank you Lane for this wonderful insight and opening my eyes to knowing we do see Him with our hearts.