Rachel Whisman

Five years ago, I learned how to chop an onion without tears rampantly rolling down my cheeks. It was a breakthrough on my end and I didn’t need a chopper to complete the task. Someone taught me and it revolutionized the way I cooked from then on. The other night I got to carry on this teaching to another person. I described where to cut and where not to cut. How to handle the knife and how not to handle the knife. At first, I tried to explain using words and I thought that would suffice. Yet it came across better once I showed her by leading by example. Through that, my friend’s confidence was more sure. Her execution although not precise, got the job done. 

Isn’t that what we need, to be led by example? Not merely words to communicate directions, but how much better is it when someone physically shows us how to do something? When someone meets us where we are and teaches us with truth, gentleness, encouragement, and even correction. God gave us that when “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to us by our fathers by the prophets…” (Hebrews 1:1). He showed us who He was through these fathers and prophets as they led the people although not perfect by an means. God still used them. He also declared His glory in a burning bush, pillar of smoke, tabernacle, and temple, but we always wanted and needed more whether we knew it or not. God could have continued to do that, but He didn’t. He used all these to point to the one who would finally come on earth, “but in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son.” (Hebrews 1:1). We got Jesus. We received God in the flesh to show us everything that we needed to know. 

As I watched my friend chop her way through an onion, Hebrews 1:3 blazed into my mind, “He is the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of his power.” Christ, the physical embodiment of God. Jesus, “the word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14). I might have taught my friend to chop onions by example, but Christ taught us who God was by being Himself. And folks, we do not get just one Gospel to get to know Him, but four. Intimately and up close. He came to show us who God is and do we look intently at Christ or just give him a cursory glance? Have we lost our awe in this realization? Do we seek to kindle our heart’s affection? Do we ask in prayer, “Lord, please show me who you are in your word”? 

If your heart has grown cold these questions can help aid in piquing your curiosity as you read. Ask for the Father’s help in prayer, and put yourself in the scene and observe.

Who is He talking to? Where is He going? What is He doing as He is going? How does He respond to others? What do others say about Him? Would I have been confused? How would I have responded to his remarks? Who are the people that are believing? Who does not believe in Jesus? Is He answering their questions? What is Jesus not saying? When is he quiet? When is he talking? What does He keep repeating? What did he see? 

My prayer is that we will be curious and always learning from Jesus. He has led us by example and will continue to do so. May we be all the more eager to listen to what He has told us and watch with interest as we read through the pages of scripture. Would we always be left in awe that God would come down to us in the form of a human to display His love and redemption for us. May we respond in worship by being that example to others as His redeemed children.