The Face of Jesus

"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 the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."—2 Corinthians 4:6

Some years ago, a test was given to incoming freshmen at a church-related college (not CRC). The questions dealt only with elementary questions about the Bible, such as: Where was Jesus born? Who was the successor to Moses? What book tells the history of the early church?

The answers revealed much ignorance and darkness, such as: Jesus was born in Rome, his mother's name was Gabriel, the earliest of the four gospels was Genesis, the exodus was the return of the Jews to Palestine after World War II, the ten commandments were given by Jesus from the Mount of Olives, Jesus was betrayed by Samson and died at Bethlehem.

The average grade on the test was 10 percent and the highest was 34 percent. Over half of the students left three-fourths of the test unanswered. Such is the ignorance of the Bible in our country. The results are sad. 

But God is the "Father of lights." He sent the Light of the World so that the "people that sat in darkness have seen a great Light."

We look to Jesus and see that he is indeed the Light of the world. That light was concentrated in his face. Sometimes it was a sad face as when the rich young ruler turned his back on Jesus for love of his possessions. Once it was a bright shining face as on the Mount of Transfiguration. Once it was a face with tears on it, as he wept at the grave of his friend Lazarus. It must have been an angry face as he denounced the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders as recorded in Matthew chapter 23. When he was about to be crucified, his face had blood on  it from the crown of thorns on his head, there was spit on his face, and his face was struck with fists. 

But the day is coming when every eye will see him, with his face shining like the sun in all its brilliance, and eyes like blazing fire. (Revelation 1:7,14,16)

May his light shine in our hearts until we see him face to face!