Behind the mask

Our heroes often wear masks, so we don’t know who they really are. Like Spider-Man and Batman and the Green Lantern and Zorro… and, of course, the original masked man, the Lone Ranger.

We benefit from their kindness — they frequently save the world from bad guys like the Penguin and the Joker and various cattle rustlers — but we don’t know them. They may be our heroes, but our knowledge of them is limited.

There’s a sense, maybe, in which the same could have been said about God.

In the Old Testament we learned about him, we saw how his people would benefit from his kindness, but we couldn’t experience a personal relationship with him.

It was like he was behind a mask. On Christmas Day, the mask was removed. He revealed himself to us fully and completely, so that we may know him as he really is.

This is why, when Philip asked Jesus to reveal the Father, Jesus said…

“Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)

God’s plan is not to be our hero. He wants to be more than the one we call on in times of trouble. He wants to be our constant companion, our Father, our friend. He wants us to know him personally.

This is made possible through his Son, Jesus Christ, who came into this world two thousand years ago.

This is why we celebrate his birth.

Peace, Skip

James“Skip”French is the pastor of Highland Christian Church located at 1500 Forest Hills Blvd. in Bella Vista. Opinions expressed are those of the author.