The Image in the Glass  I Cor. 13:12; Col. 1:15-19  12/24/09

            The child was only two years old that Christmas-time.  The child wondered why they were putting a tree in their living room.  And then they put beautiful lights on the tree, and colorful glass balls.  The child went over to one of the bottom row of blue polished glass ornaments, pulled at it (to their parents’ dismay), but then held the ball in both of her tiny hands and said, “There you are!  I see you!”  I can remember that (or something similar) happening with each of our children.  It is a wonderful, magical moment to see yourself reflecting back in the blue orb of a Christmas decoration. 

            Soon the child realizes they can see not only their face, but, when it is rotated in the right way,  the reflection of the whole room in that little ball.  
            The Bible says that Jesus is the image- or reflection- of the invisible God.  There are no real words to describe the mystery here.  Jesus is the eikown tou Theou.  Plato used to talk about earthly copies of the archetypal things in the heavens.  In a sense we are all made in God’s image- but we are not the ones who created all things and hold together all things (vs. 16,17) as Jesus does.
            So basically, if you want to know what God is like- look at Jesus.  Jesus is the photo of God. A photo does not give the full picture, but it gives us a glimpse.  Jesus is the 2 hour movie about God.  I have a tub full of home movies-often of Christmases past.  Each home movie is a true glimpse into that person, but it is only a two hour glimpse at someone much bigger and fuller. Jesus is the image of God- but because He is human- it is only a finite glimpse of the infinite eternal God.  But it is a true glimpse.  When you want to see what God is like- look at Jesus, especially look at the God who became human that first Christmas.

Look at the Almighty- who humbled Himself as a child.  God is all-powerful but not a tyrant.

Look at the Holy other who came to sympathize with our weakness.  God is different yet like us.
Look at the Creator who came to be a part of creation.  God makes Himself human for us.

Basically the Holy, Almighty God shows us His love by coming down for us. 

            For some, it is so mind-blowing, they refuse to believe.  But for a billion of us, it is something not fully comprehended but greatly appreciated. 

            He is the head of the church. (18)  He is our true leader and example.  He not only tells us to love, He shows us how to love in his life and his death.  He was not wishy washy about holiness, but He also showed us He cared- He gives us a sense of balance. 
            He is the head of the church in that He is the firstborn over all creation (15).  It is not that Jesus did not exist with God before He was born as a baby in the manger.  He is the eternally begotten One from the Father- begotten not made. God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God.  
            He is the head of the church in that He is the first one raised from the dead (18) permanently. Lazarus was raised, but then he died again.  Jesus’ resurrection, brings us hope of our own resurrection.  I said this not too long ago- but one time I was going through a tunnel in the mountains outside of Asheville and a small rockslide blocked the tunnel for hours and hours.  People got out of their cars, some managed to turn around.  Most of us just waited.  Finally, after hours of work by the crew, one car got through.  That meant that we all would get through too.  We all cheered.  Jesus has gotten through!  He is the firstborn from the dead. 

            When we try to find God with our telescopes, our petrie dishes, our anti-matter colliders, and our reasoning, we see through a mirror dimly.  Our vision is clouded.  To prove the existence of God will always be debated.  But the larger question is, what kind of God?  Is God cold?  Is God hard-hearted and hateful?  Some think so.  But it is hard to truly think that and believe at the same time that God came at Christmas.  When God tries to find us- and we respond to his search, our eyes are opened.  At Christmas, the image of God became clear. 
            I once inherited an old mirror from my grandmother.  It was tarnished and dusty, and you couldn’t see a thing in it.  But once we truly decided to look for the image- and wiped the dust and grime off- there was a beautiful mirror there for all to see.

            This Christmas Eve night- wipe the dust off your image of God.  Take a closer look at Jesus Christ- the one who came to save us from our sins.  Seek Him- Seek this ultimate earthly image of God, and you will find the eternal, almighty, and Holy One!