The express image of the Father
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high (Hebrews 1:3 KJV)
Jesus is the express image of the person of the Father. Every human being is made in the image of God irrespective of gender or race. However, the scripture emphasizes that Jesus is the image of God. This by itself would not be strange to us because He was a human being. However, Hebrews 1:3 above further add a subtle but profound detail that distinguishes Jesus from every other human being. The KJV version above uses the word “express” which means the exact or perfect. Man in general is the image of God. Jesus, however, is the express image of God.
It goes further to tell us in what that image consists. He is the express image of God’s person or being, which was revealed in His character and personality. Jesus was the exact representation of the Father in human flesh. That means if the Father came down miraculously and became transformed to a human being in the sight of everyone, He will act and talk exactly like Jesus.
Notice it was not Jesus’ skin color, eye color, size or even Jewishness that was the image of God. It was in His Person, His character, behavior, way of thinking, speaking and acting. The Father was revealed and manifested in the personality of Jesus. If you ever doubt what God is, or what He is thinking or would do, just look at Jesus in the Gospels and you will see the Father acting and speaking in a way that all human beings can clearly see.
MEDITATE
What revealed the Father in the life of Jesus?
APPLY THE WORD
Let this truth sink into your heart. As you read the Gospels, remember you are reading Father God in human flesh. What does God think about sickness in your body? Look at the Gospels and see Jesus’ attitudes towards disease. What does God think about poverty and lack in your life? Just look at Jesus. Many strange thoughts and doctrines about God’s will for circumstances will correct themselves if only we start seeing the Father in Jesus.
PRAY
Ask the Lord to open your eyes to see the Father revealed in Christ, and Christ in the scriptures!
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