"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known" (John 1:18).
What does God look like? The Bible doesn't leave us to wonder about the answer to that question. Nearly 2000 years ago a little baby was born in Bethlehem who forever answered that question. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. Hebrews 1:3 calls him the "shining forth of the glory of God."
If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. Does God have a name? Yes. His name is Jesus. In him the abstract becomes concrete. When I look at Jesus all those theoretical ideas about God suddenly become reality.
-God now has hands.
-And feet.
-And eyes to see.
-Ears to hear.
-Lips to speak.
-God has a voice!
-He speaks a language I understand.
I see him touch a leper, and I know no one is too dirty for him.
I see him pause to speak to a beggar, and I know he's never too busy for me.
I see him feed the multitudes with loaves and fishes, and I know he can supply my needs.
I see him with the towel and the basin, and I know no job is too menial for him.
Finally I see him hanging on the cross, suspended between heaven and earth, beaten, bruised, bloodied, mocked, scourged, spat upon, jeered, booed, hated, attacked, scorned, despised, rejected, crucified. When I hear him cry out, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do," I suddenly understand that Jesus has no enemies. In Jesus I discover a God who takes people seriously. He never treats people casually. He never brushes them off. He never says, "You're a loser." He's a God who cares enough to get involved in this ugly, twisted, unredeemed world.
What does God look like? Take a look at Jesus and you have your answer.
Lord Jesus, if you had not come, we would not know the Father. Open our eyes that we might see how much God loves us. Amen.
If you enjoyed this Advent devotional, would you consider partnering with us through a year-end gift so that we can continue to offer free biblical resources on the Internet?