The Face of God The Face of Man

The Face of God; The Face of Man “Nothing that belongs essentially to the human experience was exempted in the Incarnation, except sin-which is what Christ came to save us from. So in Christ God is born, God grows, God learns, God labors, God sweats, God sleeps. Finally in Christ we find a God who weeps, suffers, and most astonishingly of all, a God who dies! Whatever it means for a human being to experience death, God in Christ has experienced.” Brian Zahnd In the Incarnation Jesus showed us both God and how to be human…to renew both creation and our vocation Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” And he said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?” Gen.3:8-11 The lost beauty of God’s good creation is what is recovered in the Incarnation. The beauty of the image of God marred in man through the Fall is what the Incarnation redeems. Human value is derived from the image all humans bear- The Imagio Dei. “Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.” After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Mt.16:28-17:1-2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. I Jn.3:2 So then if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things passedaway; behold, new things have come-into-being. II Cor.5:17 So then if anyone is in Christ, new creation. The old passed-away; behold, new have come-into-being. II Cor.5:17 In the church, the future is now For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. II Cor.4:6 Opposing Kingdoms In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. John 1:1-5,9 Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you. II Cor.5:17-20 (The Message) How the Incarnation brings salvation to the world For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. Jn.1:16 Two glass spheres, one full, one empty, but they are connected at a single point. It is at this single point that the fulness of one sphere (divinity) flows into the emptiness of the other (humanity). “In the mystery of the Incarnation God increases what is ours without diminishing what is His.” Gregory the Great …he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way. Eph.1:20-23 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Eph.3:17-19 The mission of Jesus was the bringing of kingdom of God. The church is to proclaim and model the kingdom of God Through the Incarnation, the Word of God came into the world to bring the world light and life—the light and life that is salvation. BUT there is also a great darkness, a malevolent darkness, a darkness that ruled the world, a darkness that kept humanity enslaved to death. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. John 1:4,5,9 “The light of God was a life—a human life—a life that would show us two interconnected things that we did not know: what God is like and how to be human. To get the latter right , we must get the former right.” Brian Zahnd Jesus’ preparation for His ministry….Satan’s dark alternatives Mt.4:1-11,17 Bread (felt needs)…John 6:14-15; 24-30 (context) Circuses…(If you’re God, prove yourself) When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. Luke 23:8 Empire…( Exercise your power…take the world) To Jesus, the end does not justify the means. The wrong means will give you wrong ends Like Adam who chose power over yielding, Jesus would have corrupted himself For us what is the temptation of bread? Circuses? Empire? What does “In the church, the future is now” mean? For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isa.9:6 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:14 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Jn.14:27 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” Jn.20:21 “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. Jn.12:23-26 “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him. Jn.12:23-26 The Spirit Himself bears-witness-with our spirit that we are children of God! And if we are children, we are heirs also. We are heirs of God, and fellow-heirs of Christ, since we are suffering-with Him in order that we may also be glorified-with Him. Rom.8:16-17 (DNLT) The Spirit Himself bears-witness-with our spirit that we are children of God! And if we are children, we are heirs also. We are heirs of God, and fellow-heirs of Christ, since we are suffering-with Him in order that we may also be glorified-with Him. Rom.8:16-17 (DNLT)