GodReflection: What Make God Smile?

I feel a pull from my soul to raise a key consideration as I close this series of posts on God’s smile. It is the idea that we can most readily see God’s smile through the lens of Jesus’ humanity.

Over the past few days I’ve experienced another of my “aha moments.” The stimulus comes from my attempt to write over the last weeks on the concept of God’s smile. I’ve skated around this reality throughout the series but see the need to address it in a more direct fashion.

As I imagine God’s smile I find that I have two basis resources at my disposal. Since Scripture doesn’t provide direct statements that describe the face of God my imagination and glimpses of His countenance rely upon the tenor of the Bible and upon Jesus the son of man who portrays God’s image.

Although I don’t struggle with Jesus’ Godhead divinity a part of my “aha moment” came with the realization of how difficult it is for me to comprehend his humanity. I have trouble envisioning Jesus as man. I want him to be Son of God not son of man.

In Richard Rohr’s book Breathing Under Water I discovered in a clearer manner a stark reminder of Jesus emphasis on the importance of his humanity. Rohr rightly points to Jesus adopted designation taken from the prophet Ezekiel as he calls himself more often than not a, “son of man.”

Is it possible when I tend to limit Jesus’ to his God-nature that I miss the primary lesson taught by his humanity? That is—how to live as human. Isn’t there a sense that the entirety of Scripture is God’s instruction on how to be human?

A part of my aim on planet earth is to learn how to do human well. Therefore, maybe I should make a greater effort to imagine Jesus humanity. What was there about this man’s walk that drew others toward him? What should there be about my walk that draws others toward him?

My guess is that we twenty-first-century humans aren’t that much different from our first century cousins. I doubt that our natural tendency is the attraction and draw to his instruction. The truth is no human being has the ability to perfectly follow what Jesus teaches. Surely people weren’t attracted to standards they could not meet. There must have been something more. What drew people to Jesus?

Is it possible that intrigue with someone who was a perfect human was at the core of what attracted people to Jesus? Never before had anyone encountered perfection in a person. This was new and unique.

What would it have been like to grow up in the same neighborhood with Jesus as a little boy? I suspect the kids on his block liked to play with him. I wonder how many times Mary answered the question, “Can Jesus come out to play?”

His perfection as a human-child must have enhanced the times with his neighborhood friends as they played ball in the streets. I can see the appeal of a friend who treated everyone right. Surely Jesus loved and stood up for each of his playmates. He was a friend’s friend. I bet each one considered him as their best friend.

When I encounter Jesus as an adult I find him in the presence of tax collectors and sinners. When I read Luke’s historical summation of Jesus childhood: And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52), I must assume that others liked him as a person. My best guess is they were drawn to him because of the manner in which he lived as a complete and perfect human man.

Jesus was at the heart of the story of God as told throughout Scripture. The totality of God’s story is instruction on how to live as humans on planet earth.

The birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension of the human Jesus is that heart of that story. For it is through the human Jesus that the smile of God is seen.

As with each God Reflection series of posts this one on God’s smile is far from complete. Has it sparked any insights for you? What would you add that I have overlook?
Stay tuned.

Dr. Gary J. Sorrells
A GodReflection: Human Jesus is the Smile of God.

Gary@Godreflection.org
http://www.GodReflection.org
http://www.MakeYourVisionGoViral.com