Daily Lesson for March 4, 2019

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Hebrews chapter 1 verses 1 through 3a:

“Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. 3He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being . . .”

And John chapter 1 verse 14:

 “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.”

The great Quaker thinker and writer once said the truly radical claim of Christianity is not so much that Jesus was like God but rather that God is like Jesus.

This is indeed true. Christians believe God is like Jesus; and if we want to understand who God is — what kind of passion and character God has — then we look to Jesus.

And this is radical because it in fact circumscribes what we might say about God. It is fashionable to talk about God as vast and mysterious and absolutely beyond all our conception. This much is true; but it risks also speaking of God in all kinds of ways that are beyond Jesus.  All kinds of horrible things have been done in the name of God; but it is harder — or at least it should be — to do such things in the name of Jesus.

We near the end of the Epiphany Season. Epiphany means “light” or “revelation”. Jesus was the revelation of God on earth. Jesus was “the exact imprint” of God’s very being the Lessons today say. This means Jesus must shape and circumscribe our God language. When we think and speak of God, we as Christians must think and speak of Jesus. And if we can’t imagine saying what we say about Jesus then we shouldn’t ascribe it to God. 

We all remember the old question WWJD? — What Would Jesus Do? It’s what Jesus did do that teaches us who God is. God is kind; we see this in Jesus. God is merciful; we witness this in Jesus. God is love; we know this because of Jesus.

God is like Jesus. And Jesus must temper and shape our thoughts and words about God.