Seeing Jesus in One Another

 Seeing Jesus in One Another

Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.  Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  II Cor 5:16-17 (NASB)

The NASB "recognize" in the above verse is the Greek word "eido," which means "to see." But like the English verb "see," eido can mean "to see with the eyes" or "to see with the mind, to understand."  Thus some translations have "from now on we see no one according to the flesh," or "from now on we know no one according to the flesh."  And while "no one" could apply to how we as believers look at anyone, believers or non-believers, the next verse suggests that the primary application is to other believers, those who are in Christ.  We are to recognize or see the new creation that Jesus has created that person to be. And since that new creation is in the likeness of Jesus, we can discern not only Jesus' work, but Jesus Himself.

Over a period of three years in the first century, the apostles saw and heard Jesus. They knew him through their senses and through the ways their minds processed the information gained from their senses.

After Jesus ascended into heaven, the apostles and all other believers found a new way to know Jesus.  They still “saw” Him and heard Him, but it was through their life in Him and His life in them via the Holy Spirit.

Just as the apostles physically saw and perceived Jesus during His life on earth, we see and perceive one another.  But everyone who has been born again is a new creature, old things passed away, new things have come.  We need to activate that same means of seeing and hearing from our position in Christ at His throne to know each other.  That’s how we are to discern Christ in one another.   

This idea of recognizing or seeing Jesus in one another is central to II Corinthians 5:16-17, but also based on the many verses (~200) that speak of our life "in Christ." We have been raised with Christ and seated with Christ in the heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6) and from that position we see things differently, just as from a mountain peak we see things differently from the valley below.  We see things with the "eyes of our heart" which has been enlightened (Ephesians 1:18).  We see God putting all things under Christ's feet.  We see through the eyes of faith, using His word to discern His work and His presence around us.

Then another set of verses, although fewer that those which speak of  believers "in Christ," are those that speak of Christ in us, His life in us, His work in us, such as Col 1:27, "Christ in you, the hope of glory," or  II Cor 13:5, "do you not recognize that Christ is in you..." or Gal 3:27, " For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ."

Other passages could be cited to also support this idea of seeing Jesus in one another. Jesus said that He would build His church (Matt 16:18).  How does Jesus build His church? - perhaps the major way is through believers.

Seeing Jesus at work around us causes us to praise Him.  Seeing Jesus in one another and seeing Him work through one another not only causes us to praise Him but encourages the body of Christ, as we share with them how we see Jesus in them and working through them.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

140 Years of Jesus in Idaho Falls, 1882-2022

Statements 1882 - Jesus sent a 48-year old divorced woman with a 13-year old daughter to the bleak desert town of Eagle Rock to pray, share the gospel with every person in the community, organize and raise funds to build the first church building, organize and teach a Sunday school, start the first school and the first library, and work for justice and morality in the community.  1883 - Jesus expanded His church in Idaho Falls through the organization of Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church.   1884 - Jesus provided a place for His people to meet through the completion of the first church building in Idaho Falls.  1885 - Jesus continued to instruct the youth of the city through the opening of the Eagle Rock Academy, led by the pastor of First Baptist Church, who wrote to the people of Eagle Rock, “I have come to Eagle Rock to give my time, my talent and my energies to the advancement of the religious and educational interest of the town and county.”  1886 - Jesus protected workers a
Read more

Seven things Jesus did in 2023 through the Look Up Tour with Will Graham

  ·         Jesus reminded His church of His mission to seek and save the lost and that He makes His disciples fishers of men. ·       Jesus answered prayers for salvation of the lost throughout the region (see notes 1 & 5). ·       Jesus brought 110 churches in SE Idaho and Western Wyoming together to work with each other for the sake of the gospel (see notes 2 & 6). ·       Jesus prepared and encouraged more than 1300 people to share their faith (see note 3). ·     Jesus brought thousands of people to the three meetings in Idaho Falls to hear the gospel (see notes 4 & 6). ·       Jesus displayed the unity of the body of Christ in and around Idaho Falls by pastors and other leaders working together before, during and after the meetings September 23 & 24. ·       Jesus saved hundreds of people (see notes 5 & 6). Notes and sources (1)  Monthly prayer meetings were held at different churches in Idaho Falls and in other cities starting in November, 2022.
Read more

Rev. George D. Peacock, The Shepherd’s Dog

Image
  O n March 1, 1956, the whole community of Idaho Falls gathered to give the body of Rev. George Peacock a loving burial as messages arrived from all over the country. [1] “With the passing of the Reverend George Daniel Peacock, a great Missionary Era of the West is forever closed.   And his name will stand with the names of Whitman and Spaulding and Sheldon Jackson, Samuel Wishard, Henry F. Kendall and others who had energy, vision, courage; and who were driven by a Spirit not of themselves to push out the outposts and help build Christ’s Kingdom in the West.   His requiem is one with Paul’s: ‘I have fought a good fight’ – handicapped and imperfect – ‘I have fought a good fight.’ Church, on your knees to pray that you lose not the Missionary Passion such as lived in him! ”    --- Joseph I Gulick, God’s Missionary (from message delivered at Rev. Peacock’s funeral) [2] Joseph I. Gulick was Idaho Falls’ Presbyterian Church’s longest serving pastor, 36 years, and a friend of Geo
Read more