Reading: John 14:7-11; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
In an earlier meditation, we read from Hebrews 1:3 that Jesus Christ is the express image of the Father (30 October: God’s image – Father-Son). God reveals Himself to us through His Son. We cannot see God, the Father. But God the Son assumed human nature and in Him God revealed His love to us.
In John 14:7 the Lord Jesus says to His disciples: “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.” And in verse 9: “He who has seen Me has seen the Father”. Jesus Christ, Himself being God, the second Person in the Trinity, came to reveal the love of God the Father which He has for His creation. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).
God is love (see 1 John) and He reveals Himself to us in sending His Son into this world.
Jesus Christ came to assume human nature. He came to fulfill in our place all the righteousness which God’s law requires of us. That is: He took upon Himself God’s punishment for our sins, and He also fulfilled God’s law perfectly. And that all in our place.
Mankind was created in God’s image, to reflect God. To show God’s love for His creation. Mankind failed, because of his self-love and pride. Jesus Christ came to finish the work that mankind could not do. He came in our place, He the express image of God. Taking the place of us, created to be God’s image.
The work He did on earth, He did as a human being. He fulfilled the cultural mandate. He gives life to all those who believe in Him and He gathers for Himself a church chosen to everlasting life. It is this people that will fill the new heaven and the new earth. All through Christ’s work of salvation.
Christ also restored the authority of mankind over this creation. During His work on earth, He showed that He had authority over nature: over the wind and the water, over sickness and death, even over demons. He is restoring this creation and is preparing the New Jerusalem. He went up to heaven to prepare for us a place to live, in the New Jerusalem.
He also defeated the great enemy: Satan. He fulfilled the task of King: mankind did not protect this creation from Satan’s hate. Christ came to make good what Adam destroyed by his failure to act as king. Christ defeated Satan and took away from him all power and dominion. Now to Him is given all authority in heaven and on earth.
In 1 Corinthians 15:24 Paul writes that at the end of time, Christ will “deliver the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.” And in verse 28: “Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.”
Christ, the Son of Man, the express image of God. We, created in God’s image, by Christ restored in our position as God’s image, together with Christ, united with Him to one body.
When time ends, then there is no image of God anymore, but God will be all in all. How that will be, we don’t know. We will be transformed from natural to spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:44,49,52), from mortal to immortal.
“For in Him we move and live and have our being.” (Acts 17:28). Now already. Life is impossible without God. Life is only possible in God. When time ends and every sin will be removed from this creation, then God’s goal will be reached: God will be all in all. Then our work will be finished, as God’s image. Then we may rest from our works. Then also Christ’s work will be finished, as God’s express image. Then there is no need anymore for the image of God. Then we will see God face to face. God will dwell in our midst, God will be all in all. The glory of God is our highest aim.
Key text: 1 Corinthians 15:28b: then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
Meditation: God will be all in all. That is our highest aim. The goal of this creation, the aim of our redemption. It is not about ourselves. It is not about our eternal life. It is all about God’s glory. The focus in the new life will not be our eternal well being, but God’s infinite glory. Consider: what is for you the main reason to look forward to the return of Christ?