Paul says that if we would know God, we should look to Jesus, “the image of the invisible God,” because in Jesus “the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.”  (Colossians 1:15a, 20) 

Jesus reveals the nature of God and discloses what God is up to in the world.  Because of what we have seen in Jesus, we trust that God seeks out people like you and me to draw us into intimate relationship.  We know that God loves us, and that God’s love is not safe or limited, but sacrificial, reconciling and life-giving.

It’s good to remember that Jesus reveals God, but when you read the Gospels and think about Jesus, also remember that Jesus reveals humanity – what we are and what we can be.

What if God’s presence in the world is not just a spiritual, intangible thing?  What if Jesus demonstrates that the way we get to know God is ‘in the flesh’?  What if God comes to us incarnate every day, not just in the long-ago story of Bethlehem?  God in the next cubicle.  God on the bus.  God beside you in bed.  God mixing up your drive-thru order.  God in a refugee camp.

Maybe the stories we treasure of Jesus who heals and casts out demons and feeds the multitudes are revelations of what happens when humans allow God to work through us creatively.  You and I breaking the power of evil, bringing healing and hope, sustaining the world’s deep hunger.  You and I: the image of the invisible God.

And when we look at Jesus, we dare not look away from ourselves on the cross, sacrificing ourselves as the price and proof of love.

Christ is the image of the invisible God and the image of the elusive truth of humanity as well.

Prayer:  God reveal yourself in me as you make me truly, fully human.  Amen.