Because you have seen Me, do you now believe? (John 20:29)
The last time the Shroud of Turin (believed by Christians across the world to be the burial cloth of Jesus) was on display was 2015. It is usually only displayed every ten or so years because of its fragile nature. My husband and I were there with a pilgrimage tour to see it and we will forever be grateful for that. After seeing it, I believe it is truly the cloth in which Jesus was buried. It bears His entire image, which, when he rose through it, was made by his light, as if in a negative…including His face.
SEEING THE FACE OF GOD
When we travelled to the Holy Land in Israel in 2023, we visited the where they had a replica of the Shroud on display along with a full statue of Jesus that was made by using the image on the shroud. Here we saw what Jesus actually looked like, his face carved in bronze. I could truly picture the face of Jesus for the first time. And I have heard it said by theologians that if you’ve seen the face of Jesus, you’ve seen the face of God since they are One.
This coming Sunday we celebrate the feast of the Holy Trinity, three persons in one: God, His Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, who Jesus sent to His disciples, and to us. Since we are all made in God’s image (“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in OUR image, in OUR likeness…So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (Gen. 1:26-27) I believe we can “see” God any time we choose to look upon other people as children of God, or as if they were the image of Jesus. But do we?…
BEING THE FACE OF GOD
We also just celebrated in the church the feast of Pentecost, or the 50th day following the resurrection of Jesus, the day where the Lord called the Holy Spirit to descend upon his disciples gathered to give them peace and courage to spread the Good News of Jesus rising from the dead. We are also called to “bear witness” or to BE JESUS to others (which involves looking at others as children of God. But how?
Know the Word to Spread
We can’t give away what we don’t have, right? Which means, if we are to evangelize others, to spread the Gospels and be like Jesus, we need to know His words – recorded in the Bible. I try to read at least one passage every day and to meditate on it, or “soak it in” so that it comes to me when I need it. Throughout this Easter Season we have been reading in the Acts of the Apostles, which also teach us how to live as disciples.
Spread It Like Your Life Depends on It
Because it does. Jesus called each and every one of us to spread His word, and to let people know that the way to heaven and eternal life is through Him. If we fail in this mission or ministry, we may not reap that reward. Jesus commands us, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” (NIV Matt. 28: 19-20) Sure, it’s not easy. But we can’t let fear about what others think or say about us, or timidity, or a lack of knowledge get in our way. We are given opportunities every single day to be God’s hands, feet and face here on this earth.
Know Your Role to Spread It
So maybe like me, you’re a writer…spreading God’s messages through your books. Or you are otherwise creative, spreading the face of Jesus through your art, photography, music or media. Perhaps you run a business in a Christian manner, or show up for work and try to be the face of Jesus to others. Or maybe as a teacher, parent or grandparent (yes even in today’s society) you can spread the Good News to children. You may be the only face of God someone sees, the only words of God they hear. The ways are endless, but I believe we are called by God in a special way to SEE and BE the face of God.
Dear Lord, please give me the courage, in my words and deeds, to see your face everywhere I go…and to be your face to others. Amen.
