#177

Sees What You Are - Not What You Were

I am not sure of all the psychological reasons as to why we can’t let go of our own pasts with all of our failures and glitches. The writer of Hebrews says we need to put all of that stuff down so we can get focused on Jesus (Hebrews 12).

At his invitation, Jesus has dinner with a Pharisee named Simon (Luke 7). It is during that meal that a sinful woman comes in and begins to cleanse the feet of Jesus. She was a prostitute. Simon knew this about her and, as far as he was concerned, that’s what she would forever be. “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman that she is – that she is a sinner.” He saw her for what she was.

Jesus looks at her and sees a redeemed soul. “Your sins are forgiven.”   He saw her as saved. “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

We can take a great deal of solace in the fact that Jesus sees us as we are and not as we were. I can hate what I was. I can get as far away as I can from what I was. I can teach others to not be what I was, but with Jesus I am seen as I am. I don’t need to wear what I was around my neck. I can rejoice in the reality that I am no longer what I was.

If Jesus can see me for what I am, then I should too. If Jesus could look at this prostitute (formerly) and see a redeemed and saved individual, then I can too.

This comes into play in both scenarios mentioned in the previous paragraph; how we look at ourselves, and how we look at others. Sometimes in our dealings with others we only see them as they were. It seems we can’t get past their past. It’s a good thing that Jesus can.

Could it possibly be that we can’t get past their past because we can’t get past our own past? The first step is to hear Jesus say to you now regardless of what you were and did then, “Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”

#176

A True Reflection

It seems he was pretty intent on seeing the Father. Philip made the request of Jesus, “Show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” I’m thinking that many of us feel the same way. If God would just reveal Himself to us, if He would just let us see Him then “that will be enough for us.”

Jesus’ response to Philip is somewhat curt. “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you for such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the father.” If I may borrow words from a song by Acappella (though in a different context), He (God) was “standing right in front of him (Philip),” apparently had been for some time.

Hebrews 1:3 states that truth this way, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His being…” This is more, much more, than being a chip off the old block.”

I am wondering if in our intent to come to know God that we skip right over Jesus. And can I say that it is impossible to come to know God without knowing Jesus. Someone should start a blog called, “Who is Jesus?” Oh yes, someone has.

You want to know how God would react to rebellion? Take a look at how Jesus reacted to rebellion. You want to know how God would respond to faithfulness or faithlessness? Remember how Jesus responded to faith demonstrated and faith failures. You want to know how God would respond to our hurts and pains? Follow Jesus as He stops to ease the hurts and pains of so many people. You want to know how God would respond to Satan? Just watch Jesus kick him in the teeth.

Sometimes I think we are looking for something different from God. Maybe we know how Jesus would react or what He would say in certain situations, but we are hoping just maybe God would react or speak differently.

Maybe we think if we go to God we are going right to the top. Don’t forget that Jesus is there too, seated at the right hand of God - now!

Oh yes, we can learn about God from His creation, (Romans 1). If we start with creation, we should be able to reason to a creator. But the ultimate revelation of God comes through His Son.

If we get to know Jesus, we will get to know God. Jesus speaks what His Father speaks. He does what His Father gave Him to do. That’s what the “exact representation” does. As a matter of fact it is difficult if not impossible to tell them apart. Who is Jesus? The exact representation of God – a true reflection.