Week 6—Wednesday Matthew 7:24-27
Week 6—WEDNESDAY
THE SIGN WAS A BABE
We are studying the fact that the Christian faith deals with the total life including the material. When the announcement was made that Jesus was born, the angels said to the shepherds: “And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe” (Luke 2:12). The sign was a babe. The Muslims of India claimed they had seen the name of Mohammed written in the clouds—a sign that Mohammed would conquer the world. The sign was a name written in the clouds. This was the Word become word. But the Christian sign was a Babe—the Word become flesh. And that is the difference between the Muslim idea of revelation and the Christian. The Koran was dictated by God—and that would be the Word become word. In Jesus the Word was not dictated from heaven—it was lived out on earth—it was the Word become flesh.
When Jesus stood on the Mount of Transfiguration, there appeared Moses and Elijah talking with him. Moses represented the Law, Elijah the Prophets, and Jesus represented the New Revelation. The Jewish heart of Peter wanted to build three tabernacles and keep all three on the same level. But a cloud overshadowed them (a cloud overshadows those who put Jesus on a level with others), and a Voice out of the cloud said: “This is my beloved Son, listen to him” (Mark 9:7). The Law was fulfilled in him, and the Prophets were fulfilled in him. But they were not only fulfilled, they were superceded, for the Law and the Prophets were both the Word become word. Jesus was the Word become flesh. Hence, final. The Voice said, “Listen to him,” for when once you’ve heard the Word become flesh, then the Word become word loses its taste. You’ve tasted the real.
Of one modern author it was said: “He wanted to do good in a world of dreams.” Jesus was not a dreamer—he was a doer, and a doer amid very real relationships. And you always saw something more than the deed. Through the concrete shone the universal. Through the deed of a Man was revealed the heart of God.
O Jesus, I see you and I see more than you. Through your earthly attitudes and actions shine eternity. I see everything in seeing you. Through the earthly lattice of your life I see the Face of God, and what I see sets my heart aglow to see more—to see all. I see only glimpses, but I love the Key! Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: The signs of my being a Christian will be concrete actions and attitudes.