The Mirror Image

Read Hebrews 1:1-3

1-3 Going through a long line of prophets, God has been addressing our ancestors in different ways for centuries. Recently he spoke to us directly through his Son. By his Son, God created the world in the beginning, and it will all belong to the Son at the end. This Son perfectly mirrors God, and is stamped with God’s nature. He holds everything together by what he says—powerful words! (THE MESSAGE)

The cathedral in Exeter in the UK has a high and long central section. The roof contains wonderful stonework and images. The only problem is that visitors get a stiff neck looking up. So the cathedral provides mirrors for them to hold. As they look in the mirror at eye level, they can see exactly what is far above them.

Which is a bit like what our text is saying about Jesus. He exactly reflects God. As Jesus himself says elsewhere, if you see him you see God. This sorts out Christians from other faiths which worship the one God. We alone reckon Jesus embodies God. We alone believe Jesus is God’s human expression, God spelling himself out in a language we can understand.

God does show himself in creation, in his written Scriptures. He can reveal himself to us through conscience or the presence of others. But his supreme expression of himself is Jesus. The one who was instrumental in creating the world and will rule over a recreated world.

None of us can ‘see’ God. He has no material existence. And his holiness and ‘otherness’ prevent our limited and imperfect senses perceiving him. But God has not stayed hidden but revealed himself to us in Jesus, his mirror image.

Blessings
David Reay