An Eternal Gaze

Yesterday, we completed our five sessions for Lent on the theme of dedication. The talk was based on Hebrews 12:1-3 where the writer urges us to fix our eyes on Jesus, who is both the author and finisher of our Faith. Everything starts and concludes with him, he suggests: life has both definition and shape through Christ. Without him it is void and empty lacking the purpose that is born from intention. Without such definition we are left to aimlessly wander the earth in search of something that might give life context and colour. Not that we always do a bad job in our search since the creation itself both suggests and sustains something of Creator allowing us to be tantalised by the Divine even if we fail to fully connect with Him.

‘He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.’ wrote the apostle Paul in a mind blazing glimpse of genius. He was writing about Jesus of course, and used part of his letter to Colosse to underline His centrality to life. And it was the issue of centrality that became the theme of our final session for Lent.

When John wrote his Gospel he started it this way, ‘In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God from the beginning.’ In these verses, ‘Word’ is a direct reference to Jesus and in Greek, can be spelt ‘logos’ which when translated can mean ‘word’ or ‘logic’. The meaning throws incredible light onto the centrality of Jesus both for the creation and its creatures. We might choose to paraphrase the verse in this way, ‘In the beginning was Jesus and He was the logic behind the universe. He was both with God, since he was God.’ Interesting stuff…and even more so when you pick up on what Paul wrote. ‘He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.’

From these verses you get the feeling that it’s all about Jesus! Which, when it comes to a talk about dedication means taking time come back to him.

We all have a tendency to stray, which is why we need to ‘fix our eyes’ on him.

That gaze becomes the preoccupation of life. It is a gaze, which for the writer takes us into the mystery of God. Here we are left to ponder not only the brilliance of Jesus but also His humility. After Lent, we enter the week of Passion where Jesus rides a donkey into Jerusalem. From here begins the final countdown that will eventually lead to his death. Our passage concluded, ‘who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, scorning its shame.’ I find it hard to comprehend those words. Their depth, their power, their audacity. It’s shocking; simply shocking. ‘Scorning its shame,’ ….can you believe that?

What dignity, what courage…. what grace.