                    [Times Square Church Pulpit Series]

                           The Human Face Of God

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By David Wilkerson
August 24, 1998
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          If you're serious about your walk with God, then you
          want to get to know your heavenly father. And so you
          may study his majesty, his power, his glory. But do you
          know your Lord's human face?

          You may wonder what I mean by this. After all, we know
          God is spirit and that he's invisible to us. Scripture
          states plainly, "No man hath seen God at any time..."
          (John 1:18). So, how can God have a human face?

          I believe part of Jesus' mission on earth was to reveal
          the heavenly father's human face to us. We see this in
          the passage when Christ told his disciples he was about
          to return to the father. He said, "Whither I go ye
          know, and the way ye know" (14:4).

          When the disciples heard this, they were dumbfounded.
          Thomas replied, "Lord, we know not whither thou goest;
          and how can we know the way?" (verse 5). In other
          words: "How can we know where you're going? And if you
          leave us, how will we ever get to the father? You told
          us yourself that you're the only way to him."

          Jesus answered him, "If ye had known me, ye should have
          known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him,
          and have seen him" (verse 7). Philip was befuddled by
          this. He must have thought, "What does Jesus mean,
          we've seen the father? How can we see a spirit? And how
          can Jesus be God, if we can see him? This is all some
          kind of incomprehensible riddle." Finally, he blurted
          out, "...Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us"
          (verse 8).

          Jesus knew Philip's request was sincere, so he answered
          it patiently: "...Have I been so long time with you,
          and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? He that hath
          seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then,
          Shew us the Father?" (verse 9).

          Jesus then turned and addressed all the disciples:
          "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the
          Father in me?..." (verse 11). After saying this, he
          gave them a glorious promise: "At that day [after my
          resurrection] ye shall know that I am in my Father, and
          ye in me, and I in you" (verse 20).

          What an amazing conversation! Christ was telling these
          men, "Look at me! Don't you see I'm God, clothed in
          human flesh? I'm the very essence of the father. All
          that he is - in nature, substance and character - is in
          me. Everything I say and do reveals what he's like. So,
          when I act and speak, you're seeing him at work. I've
          come to earth to show you the human face of God!

          "I realize you can't comprehend all this now. But when
          I'm raised from the dead, I'll show you conclusively
          who the father is. I'll manifest him to you, for he and
          I are one."

          Today, we know Christ's entire ministry was a
          manifestation of who the father is. Jesus did only what
          he saw the father doing, or what the father told him to
          do, and nothing else. In fact, Jesus stated outright,
          "I can of mine own self do nothing..." (5:30). He
          repeats this assertion throughout the gospel of John:

          "I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent
          me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and
          what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is
          life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as
          the Father said unto me, so I speak" (12:49-50). "He
          that seeth me seeth him that sent me" (verse 45). "I
          and my Father are one" (10:30). "...I proceeded forth
          and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he
          sent me" (8:42).

          The apostle Paul confirms this when he says of Christ,
          "...God was manifest in the flesh..." (1 Timothy 3:16).
          Elsewhere, Paul calls Jesus "...the image of the
          invisible God..." (Colossians 1:15).

          A clear picture emerges: God sent his son to show us
          exactly what he, the father, is like. So, to know and
          see God, we first must know and see Christ!

          For centuries, artists have attempted to put a human
          face on God. In paintings and on stain-glassed windows
          in many cathedrals, God is pictured as a scowling,
          white-bearded tyrant in the sky, with lightning bolts
          leaping out of his fingertips. In one prominent South
          American cathedral, he's even shown standing over a
          kneeling mass of people, wielding a huge club. Sadly,
          this is an image shared by multitudes worldwide.

          Of course, we have to acknowledge that God does have a
          severe side. The Lord is just and holy, and he won't
          spare his wrath against hardened, wicked sinners who
          continually reject his gospel. Paul reminds us of this
          severe side of God, which appears hand-in-hand with his
          goodness: "Behold therefore the goodness and severity
          of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee,
          goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise
          thou also shalt be cut off" (Romans 11:22).

          The Greek word for "severity" in this verse means
          "decisive, abrupt, peremptory." In turn, the word
          "peremptory" means "dictatorial, leaving no doubt,
          accepting no excuses." In other words, God will do what
          he says he'll do - and he'll do it decisively!

          Jesus manifested this severe aspect of God's character
          in his walk on earth. For instance, he had no patience
          with hypocrites and Pharisees who mocked the Holy Ghost
          at work in him. And when the religious leaders allowed
          moneychangers to do business in the temple, Christ
          drove them out with a whip, calling them robbers.
          Beloved, that is severity!

          Consider also Jesus' severe words of judgment: "Woe
          unto thee, Chorazin! Woe unto thee, Bethsaida!...It
          shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day
          of judgment, than for you" (Matthew 11:21-22). And he
          said to the scribes and Pharisees, "Ye serpents, ye
          generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation
          of hell?" (23:33).

          Finally, Jesus prophesied with severity to Israel's
          beloved capital: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that
          killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent
          unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children
          together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under
          her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left
          unto you desolate" (verses 37-38).

          Paul confirms this severe side of God, stating, "The
          wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
          ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the
          truth in unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18). The apostle
          adds that God will recompense the wicked for their
          deeds: "Unto them that are contentious, and do not obey
          the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and
          wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man
          that doeth evil..." (2:8-9).

          Tragically, however, many preachers today have done
          away with God's severity. They speak only of his
          goodness and love, never mentioning any penalty for
          sin. In effect, they remove the fear of God from
          believers' hearts, and take away one of the strongest
          motivations to holiness.

          Yet God's word says in no uncertain terms: "...fear the
          Lord, and depart from evil" (Proverbs 3:7). "...by the
          fear of the Lord men depart from evil" (16:6). Paul had
          this fear in mind when he instructed Timothy, "Preach
          the word...reprove, rebuke, exhort with all
          longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2). Paul said
          this kind of preaching was "sound doctrine" - meaning,
          "a healthy, life-giving gospel."

          God's severity is only one side of his human face. The
          other side is his goodness and unconditional love. We
          see this revealed in Jesus' ministry also. Everything
          Christ said and did revealed the marvelous
          lovingkindness of the father.

          I must ask you: Do you have this concept of your
          heavenly father - that he's loving and gracious to you,
          his child? And do you believe that you bring him joy
          and pleasure? Or, do you see God only as a vengeful,
          judgmental father who stands over you, waiting to
          pounce on you when you make a mistake?

          The fact is, God is very concerned about your concept
          of him. And that's why Jesus was so determined to
          reveal the father's goodness toward his children, in
          three special manifestations. John's gospel records
          that each of these manifestations took place after
          Christ's resurrection. And each reveals to us something
          important about our heavenly father:

          The first time Jesus manifested himself, he'd just been
          crucified, and his remaining disciples were scattered.
          But soon the disciples gathered together again, locking
          themselves inside a room "...for fear of the Jews..."
          (John 20:19).

          The Greek word for "fear" in this verse means
          "terrified, frightened, exceedingly afraid." These men
          were paralyzed, gripped by the fear of man. A mere
          knock on the door could make their hearts race; it
          might be Roman soldiers coming to arrest them.

          Yet, Jesus had promised them before he was crucified:
          "...the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto
          you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the
          Father" (16:25). The word "plainly" here means
          "assurance, beyond doubt, visibly."

          Little did these men know, Jesus was speaking of their
          present moment, as they sat trembling in that locked
          room. He was saying, "When you see me again, watch me
          closely, and listen carefully to my words. You'll see
          and hear your heavenly father in me!"

          Suddenly, a knock came on the door. It was Mary
          Magdalene - and she exclaimed, "I saw the Lord! He
          spoke to me! He said to tell you he's going to ascend
          to the father. And he called him 'my father and your
          father, my God and your God'" (see 20:17-18).

          The disciples listened with curiosity - but they just
          didn't get it. They now knew Jesus was alive - but they
          couldn't comprehend his resurrection. So, instead of
          going outside and proclaiming, "He's alive!", they
          remained huddled together all day.

          That same night, Jesus appeared among them in that
          locked room: "...Jesus...stood in the midst, and saith
          unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said,
          he shewed unto them his hands and his side..." (verses
          19-20).

          What an amazing thing to behold! Jesus suddenly
          appeared among the disciples - and when he did, he
          didn't speak a single word of rebuke or condemnation to
          them. Instead, he said simply, "Peace to you." By this
          he meant, "You're living in fear because you're not
          walking in the light. But I say to you, there's no need
          to fear. Have peace!"

          It's important to remember here Jesus' previous promise
          to his disciples: "After my resurrection, I'll come and
          reveal the father to you." Now, at this very moment,
          something was happening in that room that had to do
          with a revelation of who God is. And the first thing we
          notice is Jesus' offer of peace. He was revealing the
          nature of our heavenly father: God's first words to us
          are never words of condemnation, but of peace!

          Luke gives us an expanded picture of what happened. He
          says when Jesus appeared, the disciples "...were
          terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had
          seen a spirit" (Luke 24:37). But Jesus urged them,
          "...handle [touch] me, and see; for a spirit hath not
          flesh and bones, as ye see me have" (verse 39).

          Jesus wanted them to know not only that he was God, but
          that he was flesh and bone as well. Even when he later
          ascended to glory, he never gave up his humanity. He
          was spirit, yes - but he remained a human being, just
          like us. And so, today, we can know that even in glory,
          our Lord is touched with the feelings of our
          infirmities.

          Next, Jesus explained from the scriptures his mission -
          why he had to be crucified and raised from the dead.
          Then he showed the disciples his nail-scarred hands and
          his wounded side, telling them, "I want to reveal
          something to you about the father. All of these things
          - my death, burial and resurrection - point to one
          thing." "That repentance and remission of sins should
          be preached in (my) name among all nations..." (verse
          47).

          Jesus said it was all about reconciliation! I ask you -
          what does this reveal about our heavenly father's
          nature? It says he's like a father who has lost his
          children - and is so determined to be reconciled to
          them, he gives up his own life for them, in his son.

          Paul writes: "...God was in Christ, reconciling the
          world unto himself..." (2 Corinthians 5:19). "All
          things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by
          Jesus Christ..." (verse 18). "...be ye reconciled to
          God" (verse 20). The word "reconcile" here means "to
          restore divine favor; to remove all hostilities." Paul
          is saying, "Be reconciled to God by coming back to his
          grace and mercy!"

          Do you want to know God's heart toward you? Then listen
          to Jesus' words in that locked room: "Look at my scars,
          my nail prints, my wounded side. I've done all this by
          the will of my father - your father - to reveal his
          heart toward you. He wants to restore you, to remove
          all walls and barriers - to reconcile you to himself.
          Forgiveness is now provided, because my blood has paid
          the price. Now, be reconciled to God!"

          If you think God angrily pulls away from you every time
          you fail - if you think his love turns to displeasure
          each time you sin - you don't know the father's heart
          at all. You simply can't know him until you know he
          wants to reconcile you to himself. He wants you to be
          one with him - enjoying his blessing and favor!

          Jesus' second manifestation took place for the sake of
          one disciple - Thomas. Thomas wasn't in that locked
          room when Jesus first appeared. But he later joined the
          disciples, and they tried to explain to him what
          happened:

          "The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have
          seen the Lord. But he [Thomas] said unto them, Except I
          shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put
          my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my
          hand into his side, I will not believe" (John 20:25).

          The Greek word for "thrust" here means "push violently
          and forcefully." Thomas was saying, "I won't believe
          he's alive until I can push my fist into his side." He
          was speaking tongue-in-cheek, of course, as an
          expression of total unbelief.

          As I read Thomas's words in this passage, an anger
          rises up in me. I want to say to him, "You ungrateful,
          unmindful man! How can you doubt the word of the risen
          Lord, after all the miracles you've seen? Jesus himself
          told you he'd rise up on the third day!"

          Yet, the moment my anger flares up, I realize, "Oops -
          I'm describing me!" Often in my life, when crises arise
          but I see no evidence that God hears my prayers, doubts
          come flooding in. I'm tempted to think, "I can't just
          walk around in the dark. If the Lord expects me to keep
          trusting him, he needs to show me some kind of sign."

          This must have been Thomas' thinking. But now, once
          again, Jesus appeared in order to reveal to his
          followers - and to us today - the human face of God:

          "After eight days again his disciples were within, and
          Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being
          shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto
          you" (verse 26). Again, Jesus offered peace. Then he
          said to Thomas: "...Reach hither thy finger, and behold
          my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into
          my side: and be not faithless, but believing" (verse
          27).

          Seeing Christ, Thomas exclaimed, "...My Lord and my
          God" (verse 28). Jesus answered him, "...Thomas,
          because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed
          are they that have not seen, and yet have believed"
          (verse 29).

          What is the lesson here? What does Jesus want us to
          learn about our heavenly father? It is this: God takes
          great pleasure when we trust him without needing
          evidences for belief!

          Jesus was saying to Thomas, "When will you stop needing
          signs to believe in me? You've seen my life. You've
          watched me go into the mountains to pray. You know I
          never make a move without consulting the father. Well,
          he's your father too, Thomas. And without faith, it's
          impossible to please him!

          "You just called me your Lord and your God. But if I'm
          truly God to you, then let me be God to you. Live
          wholly dependent on me! I can't be God to you until you
          resign all things into my hands, with full trust and
          confidence."

          As we ask the question again - who is God and what is
          he like? - we see he's a father who not only wants to
          reconcile us to himself, but he also wants to rule over
          our lives with his love, wisdom and power.

          So far, Jesus has taught us two lessons through his
          manifestations, lessons about his reconciliation and
          his rulership. Now, here's the lesson of his third
          manifestation:

          Scripture says, "After these things Jesus shewed
          himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias;
          and on this wise shewed he himself" (John 21:1). "This
          is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his
          disciples, after that he was risen from the dead"
          (verse 14).

          Here's the setting: Peter and the other disciples were
          gathered together - still confused, still lacking
          direction, still reeling in their minds over all the
          events they'd seen. Peter felt it was all so far above
          his head, he declared, "I'm going fishing!" (see verse
          3). Quickly, all the other disciples jumped up and
          said, "We're going with you!"

          Now, these men weren't just going fishing for the
          night. No - they were saying, "This stuff is too heavy
          for us. All these events, all these doctrines Jesus
          talks about - they're beyond us. We're going back to
          our old occupation."

          Scripture says, "They went forth, and entered into a
          ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing"
          (verse 3). "But when the morning was now come, Jesus
          stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it
          was Jesus" (verse 4).

          Once again, Jesus manifested himself to his disciples
          for a purpose. He was going to show them one last,
          important truth about their heavenly father. The story
          is familiar:

          The disciples had struggled all night but caught
          nothing. And now they were tired, hungry and
          frustrated. Then, suddenly, they heard a voice yelling
          at them from the shore, about three hundred yards away,
          saying, "Have you caught anything?"

          They answered, "No, we haven't had a bite all night."
          Then the voice came back to them: "Throw your nets on
          the other side." They did - and they hauled in a catch
          that was so heavy, it almost tore their nets!

          As John looked down at all the fish swirling in the
          water, he said to Peter, "It's the Lord. Only he could
          perform this kind of miracle!" Peter knew it was true -
          and immediately he jumped into the water and swam to
          shore, while the others followed in the boat. When they
          arrived, they found Jesus cooking bread and fish for
          them to eat.

          What an amazing scene! Not long ago, I heard a young
          southern preacher describe the passage this way: "We
          serve a God who's so concerned for his children, he
          cooks biscuits for them!" When I heard this, I
          whispered to myself, "Yes, Lord! You're a God who cooks
          breakfast for your people. You're concerned for our
          welfare, our jobs, our families - everything about us!"

          After the disciples had eaten, Jesus proceeded with his
          last manifestation of the human face of God. Once
          again, he never uttered a single word about the
          disciples' forsaking his call and turning to their old
          occupation. Instead, he looked at Peter and asked him,
          "Peter, do you love me?"

          Now, many sermons have been preached about this, to try
          to learn why Jesus asked Peter this probing question
          three times. I believe Christ simply wanted once more
          to show us something about the father. And the lesson
          here is this: Our heavenly father is all about
          relationship - about loving us, and about us loving
          him!

          Peter answered, "Yes, Lord - you know I love you." But
          he must have been in deep despair, thinking, "I may
          look bold on the outside, but inside I'm a jellyfish. I
          actually denied and cursed the God of glory. I can't go
          back to being a fisher of men for Jesus' kingdom. I'm
          not worthy."

          Jesus interrupted his thoughts by repeating the
          question: "Peter, do you love me?" He was saying, in
          other words: "Peter, this is what God really wants from
          you. It's not about your wisdom, your willpower or your
          works. All he wants is for you to love him more than
          anything in the world!"

          Peter answered, "Lord, you know I love you." But he
          still must have been thinking, "There's too much to
          understand. All these doctrines are too deep, too
          difficult to grasp. Others may get them, but they're
          beyond me. Sure, I have zeal, but it's without
          knowledge. I'm just an uneducated fisherman. I don't
          even understand the leading of the Lord. How could ever
          I live wholly dependent on him?"

          Finally, Jesus asked the disciple a third time: "Peter,
          do you love me?" And I believe this time, Peter got the
          message. Suddenly he saw that knowing the father was
          about more than reconciliation and rulership. It was
          also about having a relationship with him!

          So, we return to our question a final time: Who is God,
          and what is he like? He's a God who wants you to
          receive his love - and in turn he wants to be loved by
          you!

          I once asked Nicky Cruz, the former gang leader who now
          has preached Christ for some thirty years: "Nicky, how
          did you make it all these years?" He promptly replied,
          "One simple secret - I love Jesus! I've been to hell
          and back, but I'm in love with Christ."

          In turn, how do I know God loves Nicky? I know it
          because Jesus has said, "...he that loveth me shall be
          loved of my Father..." (John 14:21).

          God's very nature is love. John writes in his epistle:
          "...God is love. In this was manifested the love of God
          toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son
          into the world, that we might live through him...And we
          have known and believed the love that God hath to us.
          God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in
          God, and God in him...We love him, because he first
          loved us" (1 John 4:8-9, 16, 19).

          Dear saint, I pray that God's Spirit will guide you in
          appropriating these lessons from Jesus' manifestations.
          Remember these three words: reconciliation, rulership
          and relationship. And know that they show you the human
          face of your heavenly father!

          He seeks to reconcile you to himself. And he wants to
          rule over you in love. Finally, he loves you. So, will
          you accept his love - and will you love him in return?

          This is knowing the human face of the father!

          ---
          Used with permission granted by World Challenge, P. O.
          Box 260, Lindale, TX 75771, USA.

          This material is solely for personal use and is not to
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          on its web page. You are free to download, copy, print
          and distribute this material, so long as you do not
          post it on a different Internet site. You may, however,
          link this site to reference these messages.

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