I had been studying passages about seek God’s face, and thinking about the face of Jesus. For weeks a thought in the back of my mind said, “You should preach on The Face of Jesus.” Then we made a visit back to our former church in Ellensburg.
A friend of ours had painted a beautiful portrait of Jesus and surprised us with it while we were out to lunch. I was flabbergasted. It definitely tipped the scales for preaching on seeking His face. Back in Goldendale I invited members of the congregation to bring to Sunday worship portraits of Jesus. Several did. We set them up on easels and tables with images of Jesus. Naturally there were many artist’s concepts of what He looks like. I shared images from great artists over the centuries who has attempted to present Jesus on canvas.
Unfortunately the portrait given us suffered damage in a move. Grateful the face was not damaged. I like the picture our friend, Joseph painted. The person in the painting was solid and darker, more olive complexed. He is somewhat in shadow. I have the impression he is able to stay in the shaddows or come out into light. I can picture him putting on a smile or putting up a confrontation.
There was no one present with Jesus to take a snap shot or a video. If we had such recordings they would rock our spiritual world as most of the faces we have of Him are of our own construction. Our sense of the intonation of His words are also largely from our own imagination.
I’ve often prayed, “Dear God, let me know you as you really are, and not simply as I have conceived you!” Of course we have no business trying to conceive God. He is the One who conceived us!
May you gain a wonderful, vivid view of our Redeemer’s face today as you seek Him, and find Him!
Steven C Johnson
LandingStripEnterprises.com
Paul Wilber, “Show Me Your Face!”