December 20
We See the Glory of God in the Face of Christ
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. 2 Corinthians 4:6
Where do we look for light in our lives? We may look for light in the face of a child, but then the child shows us another face at 3 in the morning! We may look for light in the face of our work, but then our energy dwindles and the glory of productivity fades. We may look for light in the face of pleasure, but pleasure always ends.
Do you see the problem? We may look for light in many things, but often that glory is a fading glory. Sometimes we look for light by saying, “Look at my great life, look at my great works, look at my great abilities.” But what does the apostle Paul say? Very simply, he says, “Look at my Jesus.”
At creation, God spoke the words, “Let light shine out of darkness,” and this dark world was flooded with light. Two thousand years ago, God again spoke the words, “Let light shine out of darkness,” and he flooded this world with the light of his Son.
God’s glorious light is found in the face of Jesus, yes, even as an infant in a manger. Jesus’ face is the message that God thinks your life is more precious than his own. Jesus’ face is the message that the one who didn’t need to die chose to die because he loved you so much. Jesus’ face—the face that smiled to bless the little children, the face wet with tears at the death of his friend, the mouth that spoke the words, “It is finished,” all in love for you—this face is the face of God.
Just as God spoke, “Let light shine out of darkness” at creation and at Jesus’ birth, so there is a third time those words rang through eternity with no less impact. And he spoke them just to you. Do you remember God’s words? “I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” With that, Jesus’ face smiled on you with eternity-shattering light. With that, he spoke the most powerful words to you: “I forgive you.” Now, we have light.
See God’s glory in the manger this week and live in that light!
Dear Jesus, let your light shine in my heart as I see your glory in the manger this week. Amen.
Rev. David Scharf serves Martin Luther College as a professor of theology.
