Tuesday, May 29, 2007
2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
"HE WILL GLORIFY ME."
Portraits of Jesus abound. Believers the world over have a heartfelt desire to look on a likeness of their Savior. But each and every one of these pictures is a product of the artist's imagination. Not only is there no actual drawing, painting or sculpture of Christ in existence, there is no description of Jesus' face anywhere in the Bible.
Or is there?
Can't we see His smile of affection when He says, "You are worth many sparrows"?
Can't we see the light of love in His eyes when He says, "Mary", to the weeping
Magdalene outside the empty tomb?
Can't we see the gentleness in His face and His touch when He takes the hand of Jairus'
daughter?
Can't we see concern etched into His brow when He asks His disciples, "Where is your
faith?"
Can't we see the strong line of His jaw when He "sets His face to go up to Jerusalem",
where He knows He will suffer and die for us?
You see, while we might wish there was an original painting of Jesus somewhere, the portrait of Christ which we truly need to have is the one the Holy Spirit provides for us in the Holy Scriptures. We appreciate the efforts of Rembrandt and da Vinci, Sallman and Hook, but to the Spirit we pray . . .
Let me see my Savior's face,
Let me all His beauties trace;
Show those glorious truths to me
Which are only known to Thee.
(The Lutheran Hymnal 234:2)
