Have You Seen Him Lately?
When Jesus walked the earth he was seen by sinners, saints, rich, poor, insiders, outsiders, Jews, gentiles, believers and non-believers.
In John chapter 1, he records, “The Word(Jesus) became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory.”
The comprehensive expression of the GOOD NEWS was revealed when Jesus became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
And we have seen his glory.
I think of the woman at the well, the shame of five failed marriages, an outcast in her own village, soul parched and empty, going back to tell them about this man she had met, transformed by his gentleness and grace, embraced by salvation’s story, declaring His kindness is better than life and this Samaritan woman sees the love of God in all its glory.
I think of the Prodigal son, ashamed of his past, hopeless in his present and fearful of his future, sitting at the banquet table set for his return, overwhelmed by his father’s unreasonable mercy, renewed by his Abba’s love and this rebellious, forgiven prodigal sees the redemptive gospel in all its glory.
I think about Zaccheaus, insecure, empty, shallow, crooked, betrayer of his own people, sliding down the lookout tree as fast as he could, generosity springing forth out of his bones, transformed by God’s patience, going home to have dinner with the giver of undeserved gifts and this remorseful tax collector sees how comprehensive, expansive and glorious God’s glory is.
I think of the woman, ashamed of her past, tears in her eyes, anointing the feet of the one who did not judge her. And while the religious voyeurs are scoffing and condemning, hearts of stone, the son of man looks deep in her eyes and for the first time there is a man who does not want to take something from her but wants to give her everlasting worth and she is restored by her master’s touch and this abused woman experiences forgiveness through the comprehensive, redemptive glorious gospel and she experiences his glory.
I think of 10 men, full of sores, untouchable, being touched by Emannuel, God with us, no longer exiled, future renewed, dignity restored by Jehovah’s power. Yet strangely, only one comes back to thank him and this grateful, healed man experiences the comprehensive, redemptive glory of the Gospel of Jesus.
I think the same gentleness and grace, the same unreasonable mercy, the same undeserved gifts, the same everlasting worth and healing power is available to every broken, rebellious, wayward, ailing, greedy, lust-filled, wronged and mistreated person today when we choose to SEE and RECEIVE HIS GLORY.
Have you seen Jesus and his glory lately?
Today, we see Jesus dwelling among us and glimpses of his glory through people of faith.
Today we see the comprehensive expression of GOD’S GLORY at work where God’s will is being done on earth as it is in heaven.
When a man, homeless, broken by drugs, hopeless about the future is served, loved and given shelter, we see the hands and feet of Jesus, dwelling among us and in a tender, affecting way, we have seen his glory.
When children and families, devastated by poverty and COVID, in the closed garbage dumps of Tijuana, Mexico are daily fed gourmet meals and shown deep value and love, creating hope and safe community, it shines God’s glory in a forgotten, forsaken place.
When families experiencing loss, receive gentle love and deep care by a group of selfless volunteers called the grief share team, amidst the sadness and tears, we see the hands and feet of Jesus, dwelling among us, and in a heartbreaking, counterintuitive way, we have seen his glory.
When the homeless receive daily meals and are loved unconditionally, at the Upper Room in Placerville, California, while being invisible to most of the world, they find hope and dignity and it’s where they meet Jesus and His glory.
When single mom’s, in Folsom, California, dealing with addiction, are mentored, helped with recovery and are invited into a safe, God-honoring community, cycles of poverty, abuse and addiction are broken, and His glory brings restoration to broken families.
When neighbors, in Orangevale, California, struggling with food insecurity, show up to a local food bank and are shown dignity and given healthy, life-giving food, the royal law takes place, and with neighbor loving neighbor, they experience His glory.
When broken couples get fixed, wandering students find direction, empty bellies get filled, tired hearts get renewed, restless souls find peace, guilt ridden lives get set free, and lonely wanderers find a home, over and over, we see the hands and feet of Jesus, dwelling among us, and in obvious ways and not so obvious ways, we have seen his glory.
HAVE YOU SEEN HIM LATELY?