Why Don't We See the Face of Jesus

Proverbs 3: 5-6: Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways be mindful of him, and he will make straight your paths.

This has been a week of violent protest in Ferguson, Missouri. These protest are just a symptom of all that is going on in a world full of hatred, bigotry, and prejudice. Sometimes these bring the inevitable result, violence. The problem is that in situations like Ferguson, all the hate and bigotry is flowing in both directions and then added to by those outside in heaping doses.

We need to be mindful of God; to remember and follow Jesus’ example. If we truly love as Jesus loved and truly forgive as God tells us to then no Christian person should be a bigot or racist. It is sad to say that some people who identify themselves as Christians also have no trouble identifying themselves through their actions and words as bigots and racists.

To be heard in the world, people cry out for justice and recognition of their dignity. This cry is given in the common voice of this world. A voice full of violence and hateful actions. This is the voice that the world wants to hear. It is the voice that is best amplified by the media. Those whose dignity has been stolen (Black, Asian, Middle Eastern, White, Homosexual, Heterosexual, Poor, Disabled, Ill, Female, Male) will put out a voice to the world in a manner that it can be heard. People have trouble hearing the voice of love, the voice of peace, and the voice of justice.

This can be a problem. As Christians, God tells us what is right and Jesus tells us how to treat each other. We learn of justice through our faith. It is sad that as Christians, we fail to tell others what is right and just. We fail to hear God speaking to our hearts. We fail to understand the words of Jesus Christ. We are not to judge others, but should speak to the the world on justice.

If we truly saw the face of Jesus one another then there would not be riots but understanding. There would not be violence but discussions on issues. There would not be bigotry, racism, and prejudice in either direction but the reality of seeing Jesus in others, no matter what our differences are.

Hatred, bigotry, and prejudice are acts of violence. They are violent acts against God; inconsistent with the belief that God created human kind in His image. God is not white, black, yellow, red, green, purple, or any mixture. Jesus was born a man; yet, now one knows exactly what he looked like. But,in these, we try to make him a mirrored image of ourselves. Jesus Christ's Gospel of love has spread to the entire world. In this world, too many have sinned against His name by narrowing this love to their personal agenda.

People call themselves Christian because they want to be like Christ. If they are anything but accepting and loving of another person, then they need to examine themselves as Christians. Our identification with Christ today exist in a world that is full of us, so we loose our way in being a Christian. We need to ask are we showing the world the face of Christ in us or are we reflecting the ugliness of the world. Eventually, everyone will stand in love before Christ. Maybe we will not find him because we are looking for ourselves. 

Prayer:  God our Father, Heal the broken, re-unite those separated, and enrich us through your eternal wisdom. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.