Jesus is the image of the invisible God. (Colossians 1:15, ) Amazing! The Bible presents God as all powerful, all present, all knowing, all righteous - far beyond and above humanity; yet at the same time presents God as so very personal that He has been "touched with out infirmities"; He has fully identified with our humanity; He has been made very "knowable" in Jesus; God in human flesh. It is an old story, we celebrate at Christmas time.
It can become too familiar to us. But present this story to a Muslim, who has 99 names for God but none that bridge the gap between an awesome God and tiny humans on planet earth; they find it hard to believe that the great Creator God could possibly come as Jesus did. Every time I stop to really consider what is being said in this Christmas story, I find it almost beyond belief, don't you? Who would have imagined God stooping so low?
It was Philip who said "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."I don't know what Philip expected Jesus to say but it was probably not the straight forward yet astounding claim. "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:8, 9)
The apostles, despite the many months spent with Jesus; despite the Divine testimony to Jesus at His baptism and at the Transfiguration, had still not comprehended fully who Jesus was. Millions of people at this time of year will hear all or portions of the Christmas story - whether in Vietnam, Canada or a hundred other countries. We pray they will be enabled to truly see and believe this amazing, "almost impossible" story - the Great Creator became a human baby.
Not only is it hard to understand and believe, there is a spiritual enemy who wants to keep people from believing. It is so sad that: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." II Corinthians 4:4 May many for whom we pray this Christmas see beyond pretty Christmas lights to "the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ - the image of God."
It can become too familiar to us. But present this story to a Muslim, who has 99 names for God but none that bridge the gap between an awesome God and tiny humans on planet earth; they find it hard to believe that the great Creator God could possibly come as Jesus did. Every time I stop to really consider what is being said in this Christmas story, I find it almost beyond belief, don't you? Who would have imagined God stooping so low?
It was Philip who said "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us."I don't know what Philip expected Jesus to say but it was probably not the straight forward yet astounding claim. "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." (John 14:8, 9)
The apostles, despite the many months spent with Jesus; despite the Divine testimony to Jesus at His baptism and at the Transfiguration, had still not comprehended fully who Jesus was. Millions of people at this time of year will hear all or portions of the Christmas story - whether in Vietnam, Canada or a hundred other countries. We pray they will be enabled to truly see and believe this amazing, "almost impossible" story - the Great Creator became a human baby.
Not only is it hard to understand and believe, there is a spiritual enemy who wants to keep people from believing. It is so sad that: "The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." II Corinthians 4:4 May many for whom we pray this Christmas see beyond pretty Christmas lights to "the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ - the image of God."
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