Christ-Like
In the middle of one of the many times Jesus talked to His disciples about the Father, Philip interrupted by saying: “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” (John 14.8) Philip wanted to see to believe. Jesus was surprised at Philip’s request. He responded by saying: “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father…” (v.9) In other words, Jesus was saying: “Philip, you are looking at the Father, when you look at me.” Jesus is Father-like and the Father is Christ-like.
Jesus is the invisible made visible. He explains this by saying: “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” (v.11) When water is muddied, you can only see the surface, but when it is crystal clear you can see what lies on the bottom; no matter how deep it is. What Jesus said and what He did, all reflected clearly the Father. The veil had been taken away. God had become flesh. His glory became visible in 3D. All could look upon Him, all could touch Him. Those that approached Jesus with faith, saw more than just a man. They saw the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Their lives were changed. Their bodies were healed. The dead were raised. His Words burned in their hearts. They followed Him willingly and could not get enough of His presence. Those whose eyes were muddied by their own religious traditions, could only see in Jesus their own reflection. No wonder they rejected His claims to be God.
Faith opens our eyes to see the invisible. At first it is like looking through a clouded glass. We see enough to believe that God exists, that there is more than just the natural and that Jesus is the Savior. Isaiah says it is like having windows of crystal. They are translucent, but not transparent. As one stays gazing through this window of faith an amazing thing begins to happen. Our eyes become clearer and we see what before was just a concept or idea. Faith removes the veil of reason and doubt and as we see Him, we become like Him. Paul writes this to the Corinthians: “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image.” (II Cor. 3.18)
Philip’s request revealed his unbelief. He was so close, but yet so far away. He heard so many words, but not The Word. What was lacking in the life of Philip was the Spirit of the Lord. It is the Spirit of God that opens the eyes of our understanding. It is the Spirit of the Lord that brings us out of darkness and into the light. It is where the Spirit of the Lord is, that there is freedom. It was the Spirit of God that gave Peter the revelation that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the Living God. Without the Spirit, all the disciples could see in Jesus was a prophet, an Elijah or a Moses. As Jesus was Father-like and the Father was Christ-like, the disciples were to be Christ-like as well. But, without the Spirit of God, this was impossible. For this reason, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem until they received the power of the Holy Spirit. For without Him, they could do nothing.
Being Christ-like is reflecting the person of Jesus in your lives. When people look at you, what you do and what you say, they are to see and hear Jesus. Just as God was made visible in Jesus, so Jesus is to be visible in our lives. This is only possible through the Spirit of God who dwells in us. This is the essence of faith. It is the image of God becoming visible to us and through us. It is the Christ-likeness of God making us Christ-like.
Scriptures to meditate on:
John 14.6-10; Col. 1.15; I Tim. 1.17; I John 3.2; Eph. 1.17; Is. 54.12; II Cor. 3.18