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 1: 18 (HCSB)
Scripture: Ephesians 2: 14-22
Over the last few devotions, we have looked at examples of how God Himself appeared to people. He also sent His Representative to earth. While this isn’t theophany, Jesus is our best example of who God is. This devotion will look at how God revealed Himself through Jesus.
To read the previous devotions in this series, click the appropriate button below.
God Revealed Himself Through Christ
The most well-known example of God revealing Himself to us is through Jesus. Jesus took on human flesh. Christ’s deity was linked with His humanity.
Remember, man is made in God’s image (Gen. 1: 27). That God utilized this in Christ is verified in Colossians 1: 15: “Christ is the visible likeness of the invisible God. He is the first-born Son, superior to all created things” (GNT). God used this visible likeness to show us His nature. Jesus is a reflection of God.
Jesus came down from heaven to show us Who God is. Hebrews 1:3 says, “He reflects the brightness of God’s glory and is the exact likeness of God’s own being, sustaining the universe with his powerful word …” (GNT). Jesus became the way for us to see God. He verified this in John 18: 9: “… “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’?” (ESV).
Because He knows God, Jesus can show us who God is (Jn. 10:15). Why does Jesus know God? John 10: 30 says, “I [Jesus] and the Father are one” (NASB).
Let’s look at it this way. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2: 5-8 NKJV). Jesus was equal to God, but He gave it all up to come down to earth to sacrifice Himself so that we could be reconciled to God. Wow! That is love.
Jesus came to earth and paid the ultimate price because that was God’s plan. He allowed the hurt and pain to happen because He submitted Himself to that plan. John 5:30 says, “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (ESV). Jesus did whatever God wanted Him to do.
In fulfilling God’s plan, Jesus showed us God’s character. His words and his actions came from God (Jn. 8:28). Everything Jesus did or didn’t do was to show us how humans should live in God’s will.
When you think about who God is and how Jesus revealed that, it can be eye-opening. Think about God as Creator, Ruler, and Judge.
Matthew 14: 22-33 is the story of Jesus walking on the sea. We usually focus on Jesus walking on the water and Peter trying to. What we don’t fully focus on is Jesus’ command of the environment. Jesus not only walked on the water (Mt. 14: 25), but when He got into the boat, the sea calmed (Mt. 15: 32).
Next, Matthew 14: 33 says, “Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God’” (NKJV). They saw that Jesus commanded the elements and, because of this, worshiped Him. Remember, the Jews were only to worship God. They were.
Jesus rules with God. Hebrews 12: 1-2 says, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (NKJV). We can take comfort in the fact that the One Who has lived as we live, struggled as we struggle, sits on the throne in authority.
Jesus will also judge us. Look at Matthew 35: 31-33: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left” (ESV). Something as important as the great divide would not be delegated to Someone who is not God.
Loving Heavenly Father. You sent Your ultimate Representative to show us Who You are. You sent Your Son. But You not only called Jesus to live His life as an example for us to follow, but You also sent Him to die so that we might be reconciled to You. Thank You, Lord. Help us to follow that example and live the lives that glorify You. Amen.
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