Like Son, Like Father
The other day I came across the picture of an old friend who I had not seen for many years. I knew his family and had seen him grow from child to teenager.
In this picture he was now a young man. What struck me, was that he looked just like his dad did when he was younger. I had to take a double look to confirm it was him, and not his father!
You may have family or friends like that too? The ones where a daughter or son look very similar to their parents’ younger self!
It’s not only external similarities. There can be a certain look, a way something is said, or even just a movement that the offspring does, that is just like their parents. From time to time, I have seen this kind of thing in my own children!
In the Bible, the Apostle Paul wrote this about Jesus…
“The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
In other words, he is saying, if you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. I think this is really helpful, as God is invisible! However, there are a lot of eyewitness accounts of Jesus, recorded in the first four books of the New Testament.
These books (also known as Gospels) help to paint a picture of Jesus, when he lived in First Century Israel. And as Paul wrote, when we see what Jesus is like, we then get a picture of what God is like. So, thinking about life today, consider the following…
What’s God’s view on money – look at Jesus
What does God think about justice – look at Jesus
Does God heal – look at Jesus
These are just three random examples! Let me encourage you to read, and re-read, the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. You will discover Jesus and what he was like. That is the ‘image’ of the invisible God!
God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader