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Contemplating the Face of Jesus (Part 2)

Mary Magdalene saw Jesus when He had risen from the dead, but she did not recognize His face. 

“…she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.” John 20:14

This woman who really knew His face did not recognize Him in His resurrection body.  It was not until Jesus spoke her name that she recognized Him. How could this be? 

Mary had seen His face when Jesus delivered her from seven demons. He was the first man to ever see her for the beautiful child of God that she was. His face, unlike any other man’s face, expressed honor and esteem towards her, rather than lust and contempt. 

But she also saw Jesus’ face covered in blood, dirt and sweat. She had seen His eyes and lips swollen from the beatings. As she stood at the foot of the cross, she saw His face bloated and bruised, lacerated in places from the whips, and so unlike the face of the gentle deliverer she loved with all of her heart.

But the Man who stood before her in the garden of the tomb did not resemble the image of the tortured rabbi she held in her grief. How could she, of all people, not recognize Him? 

Unbelief had temporarily blinded her. She would no longer see Him again with her limited human sight. Her image of His face was of the Crucified. Standing before her was the Resurrection. It was His spoken Word, calling her by name, that opened her eyes. 

“So then, from now on, we have a new perspective that refuses to evaluate people merely by their outward appearances. For that’s how we once viewed the Anointed One, but no longer do we see him with limited human insight.” 2 Cor 5:16

The Firstborn from the Dead has a human face that emanates resurrection glory. The face of the God-man Jesus cannot be known with limited human insight. Because His face is the manifestation of the knowledge of God.

“Let brilliant light shine out of darkness,” is the one who has cascaded his light into us—the brilliant dawning light of the glorious knowledge of God as we gaze into the face of Jesus Christ.” 2 Cor. 4:6

To seek the face of Jesus, is to want to know God intimately. We were fashioned to desire His face. The longings we feel to see His face, originated in His heart. He pours into us a longing for the face to face.  Like Moses, we desire the position of friends who look eye to eye with mutual love. 

When John saw Jesus on the Island of Patmos, he said, “And his face was shining like the brightness of the blinding sun! Rev. 1:16

The light of His face gives light to the stars and life to creation. This is why God gave the commandment to have no other gods before His face. That would mean a loss of intimacy with us, instead of a face to face relationship as covenant companions.

In the Old Covenant, the psalmist prayed,

“I heard your voice in my heart say, “Come, seek my face;” my inner being responded, “Yahweh, I’m seeking your face with all my heart.” So don’t turn your face away from me. You’re the God of my salvation; how can you reject your servant in anger? You’ve been my only hope, so don’t forsake me now when I need you!” Psalms‬ ‭27‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ ‭TPT‬‬

But now, in this New Covenant, in this miracle of union with Christ, He will never leave us, never turn His face away again.

So, now in this moment, take a deep breath, close your eyes, and open the eyes of your heart. He is waiting for your gaze to meet His.

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Contemplating the Face of Jesus (Part 1)

The epicenter of all beauty is the face of Jesus Christ. All beautifully created things originate in His beauty.  The cosmic standard of beauty, and the light of the glory of God are in the face of Jesus Christ.

Every attempt, for over 2000 years, to depict the face of Jesus has fallen short. This is not the lack of artistic talent. In the face of Jesus is the glory and perfect goodness of God. It is no wonder, then, that no human ability can accurately represent Him. From great master artists, to Sunday School books, there is a stereotype of a bearded man with scars and a long white robe. But how do you capture the glory of God?

“His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire.” Rev. 1:14

The face of the Resurrected One shines. But more than that, it radiates His otherness – there is no trace of death in Him. From the dawning of the second Genesis that He began when He emerged from the tomb, until today, His face has not aged or tired. He is the Sabbath, the perfect rest of God. His passionate devotion to the Father is in His eyes – they look like flames. All His human features are ordinary. But His glory makes them magnificent. 

Thus the LORD used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. (Exodus 33:11)

Rather than being afraid of the face of Jesus, when we see His face, we know we are absolutely loved. Seeing His face awakens ultimate reality in us. We can finally stop running, because face to face with Him is our true home. He looks so completely satisfied when He looks at us, and His kind face invites us to find all satisfaction in Him. 

When we see His face, it is like knowing His love for the very first time, and yet realizing we have always known it, but been asleep or distracted. Every question, every doubt, every religious demand is quieted by the look of welcoming tenderness on His face. Because, when we see the face of Jesus, we are seeing the face of God. “But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 2Cor. 3:18

His face is the face of us all. He took on our humanity in the Incarnation. Yet, His face is the unique and holy image of the Father. Like us in all things but sin, His face felt wind and rain, water for washing and oil for soothing. His face was kissed by a betrayer, bruised by soldiers’ brutality, and restored by Resurrection power. 

This relationship of face to face is what God wanted from the beginning. Didn’t He say, “Let us make man in our image…” and commanded His people not to have any other gods “before His face”.  This was because the only face God wanted before Him was ours. This intimacy of friends, of covenant companions was always God’s plan. There is no word in Hebrew for “presence”. The idiom is “face to face” when referring to standing before God. And in that place of “face to face” we are transformed. “But we do know that when it is finally made visible, we will be just like him, for we will see him as he truly is.” 1 Jn. 3:2

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The Kindness of Jesus

“Do the riches of his extraordinary kindness make you take him for granted and despise him? Haven’t you experienced how kind and understanding he has been to you? Don’t mistake his tolerance for acceptance. Do you realize that all the wealth of his extravagant kindness is meant to melt your heart and lead you into repentance?  But because of your calloused heart and refusal to change direction, you are piling up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed.” Rom. 2:4-5

There is nothing harsh about Jesus. Nothing jagged or damaged that angrily demands anything of us  – He only gently invites us in. There is a tenderness inside His power. We expect rebuke, but He comes with compassion. We expect punishment, but He brings restoration. 

He knows the most intimate thoughts of humanity, even the most vile and perverted. Yet He cherishes all of us. It is this undeserved and unconditional tenderness that leads us to repentance. His patient kindness conquers and melts the hardest heart. He is so eager to express His extraordinary kindness that He offers it to all, at every turn. His default is mercy, for who can stand before Him on the Judgment Day without it?

“When Moses encountered the I AM in the wilderness, “…the Lord passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in faithfulness and truth;”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭6‬ ‭NASB

But which one of us would offer mercy, new every day, to those who reject us, or curse us or hate us? Yet, He kindly holds out His holy heart for just the moment the prodigal will come to his senses. He offers His magnificent kindness to come along side the degenerate who wants to be free.

The kindness of Jesus is the bright star that can lead you home to His heart. Never consider it weakness on His part.  It is our saving strength, and the power that holds the universe together.  

Let His extravagant compassion melt your heart and lead you to change your ways. He’s on your side. He wants you to be free. This is the time to let His kindness lead you home to love. But if you reject it, we are all warned that we are piling up wrath for the day of judgment. 

So, say yes to His kindness, beloved. He is not going to hurt you; He wants to save you. He is not going to lecture you; He is going to sing over you. He is not going to shame you; He is going to call you His own.

“Our faith guarantees us permanent access into this marvelous kindness that has given us a perfect relationship with God.” Rom. 5:2 TPT

Taken from “Contemplations of Jesus” – my upcoming book, due Fall 2025

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The Holy Waiting

We sing songs about waiting. So did the psalmist. ‘How long O Lord?” (Psalm 13:1). We struggle in the delay. We begin to doubt and lose vision as time passes and our cries seem unheard above.

But what about His waiting? His beautiful heart longs for our presence, our companionship with Him in the quiet place.

Jesus waits for our gaze to meet His. He gave all so there would be no hindrances between us, no delays in our response to His call to come and eat, and rest.

Perhaps He sings a song over us, “How long, my love?”