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 daily devotional looks at how God revealed Himself through Jesus.
Nuggets
- The most well-known example of God revealing Himself to us is through Jesus.
- God is revealed as Creator, Ruler, and Judge.
To read devotions in the How Do We See God? series, click the button below.
Jesus came so that our relationships with God could be restored. To do that, He had to pay the penalty for our sins.
Once God forgives us of our sins, we need to live that way that God intends for us to do. How do we do that?
We follow the example the Jesus gave us. Jesus showed us Who God is and how we are to follow Him.
Let's Put It into Context
Here is a running list of nuggets for the series.
God Revealed Himself Through Christ
"No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side — he has revealed him" (Jn. 1: 18 CSB)
The most well-known example of God revealing Himself to us is through Jesus.
Jesus and God are One (Jn. 10: 30). They have the same nature and character.
To reveal God to us, Jesus took on human flesh. “… Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Phil. 2: 5-7 ESV).
Remember, man is made in God’s image (Gen. 1: 27). That God utilized this in Christ is verified in Colossians 1: 15: “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (CSB). God used this visible likeness to show us His nature. Jesus is a reflection of God.
Christ’s deity had to be linked with His humanity. He could not serve as a substitute for mankind until He became mankind.
Jesus came down from heaven to show us Who God is. Hebrews 1:3 says, “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power …” (ESV).
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, yet 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.
God Revealed as Creator, Ruler, and Judge
God is revealed as Creator, Ruler, and Judge.
When you think about Who God is and how Jesus revealed that, it can be eye-opening.
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, “And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (ESV). They saw that Jesus commanded the elements and, because of this, worshiped Him.
Remember, the Jews were only to worship God. They were when they worshipped Jesus.
Jesus rules with God. Hebrews 12: 1-2 says, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (ESV). 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.
Making the Connections
One important reason Jesus reflects God is so that we will have an example. Jesus showed us God’s character — the character that we are to imitate.
Just think how we would be in a pickle if we didn’t have Jesus’ model to pattern ourselves after. We would have no clue how we are to act.
Jesus made sure we know exactly what God expects of us.
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
How Do We Apply This?
- Read God’s Word. It tells the story of Jesus.
- Hear God’s Word. The Pastor Steve-types provide us with examples of what we read.
- Practice what we learn.
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.
What do you think?
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