It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Here am I and the children whom God has given me.”

 

Ok…a warning to my friends and family who aren’t a Jesus lover…this is a Jesus post….:)

 

 

In Glee a year or so ago (or maybe even more) there was an episode called “Grilled Cheesus.”  Finn Hudson is having a rough time of it and makes a grilled cheese sandwich to look down and find the above picture.  Jesus has appeared.  He is so hungry that he eats one half of the sandwich and then continues to pray to the grilled cheesus throughout the episode.  It becomes a go to type of situation.

 

This morning has got me to thinking about the different ways we try to see Jesus…and the different versions that we picture of him.  We see this image…

 

And something like this might be your go to image. But there are so many more images out there. Let me give you a few alternatives…

 

 

 

You get the idea…there are sooo many images of Jesus out there.  Just google it and take a gander.  Plus people see Jesus in so many locations like a sandwich or…

 

 

 

 

I even have Jesus stuff…a flashlight, stuff to make holy toast with the image of Jesus, a mug where a holy figure appears, etc. We want to see Jesus in many different locations and ways.

 

Hebrews presents us with different ways to see Jesus, as a pioneer of salvation and a perfecter of faith. Jesus, in order to get to this place, has become human. That is what the whole story is about…Jesus was human and can connect to us in that way. We don’t need him in toast, we need him as brother, argues the author of Hebrews.  Jesus has become all of these things to us because he knows what it means to live, to suffer, to die, and to be with other people.  He knows what it means to live out life, to talk with others, and to feel.  According to Hebrews, our God did all of this so God could connect to us. Therefore, we won’t see Jesus in wood…we will see Jesus in each other.

 

That is good news to me.  It means I don’t need to hold the perfect image of Jesus because I can see Jesus in the human experiences. It means that I don’t need to say magical words to have relationship with God, I can experience God through what it means to be human. It means I don’t have to have it all perfect because Jesus knew what it meant to be a human being who makes mistakes.

 

Where do you see Jesus? And what is your favorite image?

 

Peace,

Court