Images of Jesus
We are called to do so every Sunday when we meet to remember him, and all four Gospels paint a picture that is very descriptive of the day.
Season 5, Episode 26 · Images of Jesus
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The story behind the idea
That leads to a question that I have for you that will dominate the rest of the episode today. When you cast your eyes on Jesus, when you see images of Christ, what exactly does that look like? If I asked you right now, and you were in a safe place to do so, to just close your eyes and picture Christ, what image would come to mind and how would you describe him?
What stands out
If that's what you see when you visualize Jesus, there's a reason for that. We are called to do so every Sunday when we meet to remember him, and all four Gospels paint a picture that is very descriptive of the day that Jesus died. Let me be very clear, you are not making a mistake if your vision of Christ is a crucified Savior. I would at least say this that is a picture of where he was.
Why it matters
I'm starting there to say that nowhere in the description to follow should you forget that Jesus loves you. He came to earth and gave his life because of his love for you. His death was to free you from your sins and to make you into something amazing, to make us into his kingdom, to enlist us as priests and servants to his Father.
A faithful way forward
How do you balance the tender hand that reaches down and says, Do not be afraid, and the sword that is protruding dominantly from his mouth? Or to put it another way, how do you see Jesus as both the lamb that was slain as well as the royal lion of Judah?
Put it into practice
We start wrestling with all these issues about whether we should ever feel terror or if all fear should be gone. I would put it to you this way seeing Jesus at the right hand of God ought to cause you to hit your knees in reverence. Like any great father multiplied by infinity, we ought to be drawn to him by his love and yet intensely respectful of his power. Speaking of lion and lamb, let me share some final thoughts from Revelation chapter five.
Take the idea with you.
- 01What idea from this study most needs my attention right now?
- 02Where does this challenge the way I am currently thinking or living?
- 03What is one faithful step I can take this week?
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