How We See Jesus (blog)

A few people I've been talking with are having trouble seeing God in everything that's happening in this time of global pandemic, social distancing and economic shutdown.It is hard to see Him in all of it.I find it a little easier after watching a livestream worship service, 'Zooming' with my church family, talking on the phone or text messaging with someone.  God is with us and He is working hard to reassure us of His love and real presence through these means of communication.  In faith, we trust that He continues to be near us in the encouraging words of other people, even those spoken remotely, and in His own Divine Word to us.I've been reading in Mark, where Jesus asked his disciples:  "Who do people say I am?" (8:27)"Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets," they replied.  (8:28)Was anyone seeing who Jesus really was and why he came?"Who do you say I am?" Jesus asked the disciples (8:29)"You are the Christ,"  Peter answered (8:29).  It makes sense that Peter knew him, because he had followed Jesus closely from the beginning.Jesus warned the disciples not to reveal his identity as the Savior to other people, not yet anyway.  That also makes sense, doesn't it, with all of the wrong ideas that people had about him?  My Bible note suggests that Jesus wanted to show who he was by what he said and did, so that later people would be able to understand what kind of Messiah he came to be.The Jews were waiting for a Savior who would deliver them politically, by restoring their nation.  Oppressed by Roman rule, this notion of deliverance was very appealing.  Enter Jesus, gentle and riding into Jerusalem on a donkey, a sign of peace.  What a contrast, with both what they were experiencing and what they were expecting!The people could not have helped but see it!What about the people who came to Jesus and experienced healing?  Jesus also warned many of them not to talk about what he had done for them (Matthew 8:4, 9:30, 12:16).  My Bible notes suggest that if word of his miracles got out in the 'wrong' places too soon, the religious authorities might have killed Jesus, or the people may have risen up in revolution against Roman rule, either of which might have prevented him from completing his ministry and mission.The notes also suggest that Jesus didn't want to be know as just a miracle worker.  There were two key parts to Jesus' ministry:  his miraculous healings and his teachings."Repent and believe the good news!" Jesus said (Mark 1:15).With Jesus, the Kingdom of God came near!  God's rule over the world.  His power, authority and dominion in people's lives.  His real presence with us, here, spiritually.It makes sense that Jesus wanted people to know him, to see who it was that soon would deliver them, not from the Romans, but from sin and death - the oppressive and eternally fatal rule of the devil over them.Peter (and James and John) had a glimpse of God's real presence with them when they saw Jesus Transfigured, shining gloriously.  Jesus was careful to reveal his glory out of sight, up on the mountain, and to just these three.  And again he warned them "not to tell anyone what they had seen" until the right time (Mark 9:9).Jesus came back down the mountain (despite Peter's efforts to keep him up there), because he wasn't ready to reveal his glory and power to all other people yet.  His ministry wasn't about what he could do for the world physically or politically.  He wanted them to see whose he was and why he came:"For God so loved the world that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)Because God loved us, Jesus came...to love us, first and foremost!  He came to be with people, where he could demonstrate God's love for them, in relationship and by healing their diseases.  He came to demonstrate that love by dying for us, on the Cross, for our sins.Jesus died by crucifixion, a Roman method of execution, and in this we see him fully participating in the suffering of the world.  Here we see God, at work, clearly and definitively!"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)That's what Jesus wanted people to see, that he came not just to be our Savior, but also our friend."You are my friends," Jesus said, "if you do what I command." (15:14)And what did Jesus command us to do?  "Love each other."  (15:17)To love each other!  As Jesus loved us, giving all he had to us.We see the key part of God's plan for the world's Salvation, in Jesus, who not only died for our sins but rose again to life in victory (next week's blog).  But God's plan continues to unfold in the lives of the people around us.  We're seeing just a small part of a much bigger picture.Right now that part looks confusing and scary.  People all over the world are sick and dying of the Coronavirus, and (as with sin) not one of us is immune.  When will it end and where is it going?But it's not about what we can see.  It's about what we know God has done and is doing.  And it's about what we can do, to shine Jesus' light into these dark times.We have an opportunity to show people what Jesus is really like, by the things we say and do, so that when the time comes for them to know him as their Messiah, they will be ready to see what kind of Savior he really is.