It was CS Lewis who first suggested that the accounts of Jesus’ life leave us with 3 options as to the true identity of Jesus: He is either mad (utterly self-deluded), bad (a charlatan who set out to trick people into following him for his own purposes) or God. Imagining, as many people seem to do today, that Jesus was just a good teacher won’t do. As Lewis put it: “He simply didn’t leave that option open to us.”
But do we, I wonder, really grasp the truth of Jesus’ identity? If we’ve started to understand something of the greatness of God (see last week’s reflections), have we been able to recognise that the power, might, holiness and beauty of God the Father also apply to Jesus- God the Son? Perhaps it’s harder to see the full divinity of Jesus because we see him in the gospels as fully human. Yes we see his miracles which point to his power and authority; we see his compassion and see something of God’s love and mercy; we read his teaching which points us to the wisdom of God. But does the humanity of Jesus get in the way of us acknowledging his deity and coming, like the wisemen, to kneel in adoration and worship before him?
So for this week’s Lent reflections, here are 4 passages to help us meditate on Jesus, the second person of the Trinity, in all his majesty and glory.
Colossians 1: 15-23. Notice how Paul describes the divinity and mission of Jesus. What amazes you most about God coming in the flesh? Praise God for it!
Mark 1:21-28. I’ve stood in the synagogue where this took place. Jesus showed divine power and authority in time and space. Imagine you were there. Be amazed.
Isaiah 52:13-53:12. By the Holy Spirit, Isaiah saw the suffering of Jesus in prophetic detail. Look for the words ‘He’, ‘us’ and ‘our’, + meditate on what Jesus did for you.
Revelation 1:9-18. John saw the risen Christ in all his glory and one day we will see Jesus too. Meditate on that day + praise God for the certain hope we have in Jesus.