From the Desk of Pastor Toby Powers
Truth Baptist Church
Hwy 78
Bremen, GA
THE FACE OF JESUS
II Corinthians 4:1-6
Intro: Paul writes to the Corinthians while he is under great persecution and stress, yet he says that he has fainted not (v. 1). This is because he has received mercy, and, therefore, he has a purpose in life. He renounced the old way of living (v. 2), and he has purposed to walk in such a way to declare the saving Gospel of Christ to the lost. The god of the world has blinded their eyes that they might not see the light of God’s glorious Gospel, and those of us who have experienced his grace owe it to them to tell them about the joy in Jesus. Therefore, Paul says, there is no need to preach to them about ourselves. We were just as they are… lost and blinded, but the Lord shined in our lives. We must tell them about HIM.
Verse six is what I am really interested in, however. He tells us that as surely as God called light out of darkness in creation, he has done the same in our hearts in conversion. Furthermore, the avenue he used to accomplish this was the “face of Jesus Christ.” This is an interesting phrase. It is through his appearance we can experience his grace. It is through his divine light that we may be converted. He has turned his face toward us… he has revealed himself to us… He has manifested himself to sinful man, and this has changed our lives. I want to talk to you today about this “Face of Jesus Christ.” It is seen in the Word of God as:
I. A Shining Face: “His face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light" Matt. 17:2. On the mountain of transfiguration Jesus took on his glorified, heavenly, majestic form. His face shone as the sun! Through his body showed his divinity. Through his human nature was shown his heavenly nature! He was confirming to the inner circle of apostles (Peter, James, and John) and later through his Word to us his authority as heaven’s representative to earth. Just as he shined in a world of darkness before them that day, there came a day when darkness reigned in my life, yet his face shined upon my heart! He opened my blinded eyes. I came to see his love and his grace!
II. A Set Face: "And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem" Luke 9:51. Isaiah 50:7, “For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.” This phrase “set his face” shows us his determination.
• Though he knew what would become of him, he set his face.
• Though he knew he would be doubted, he set his face.
• Though he knew he would be rejected, he set his face.
• Though he knew he would be arrested, he set his face.
• Though he knew he would be carried from prison and to judgment, he set his face.
• Though he knew the crowd would cry “crucify him!” he set his face.
• Though he knew all his disciples would forsake him fleeing, he set his face.
• Though he knew he would be beaten, spat upon, and mocked, he set his face.
• Though he knew he would be hanged on a rugged cross, he set his face.
• Though he knew he would thirst, he set his face.
• Though he knew he would be buried in a borrowed tomb, he set his face…
• Because he knew that he would rise on the third day, he set his face! Hebrews 12:1-2 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” HE WAS WILLING TO FACE THE SUFFERING IN ORDER TO SEE THE GLORY!
III. A Stricken Face: "And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him. And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?" Luke 22:63-64. Isaiah 50:6, “I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting.” "Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him: and others smote him with the palms of their hands" Matt. 26:67. He was not a beautiful sight to see, but if through the eye of faith you could see his sacrifice for you, you can be redeemed today!
IV. A Secret Face: It was hidden… Why? "Thou hast hid thy face from us.... because of our iniquities" Isaiah 64:7. Isaiah 54:8, “In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.” Deuteronomy 31:17-18, “Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day. Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us? And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.” Deuteronomy 32:20, “And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.” Job 13:23-24, “How many are mine iniquities and sins? make me to know my transgression and my sin. Wherefore hidest thou thy face, and holdest me for thine enemy?” Ezekiel 39:24, “According to their uncleanness and according to their transgressions have I done unto them, and hid my face from them.” Micah 3:4, “Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.” II Chronicles 30:9, “For if ye turn again unto the LORD, your brethren and your children shall find compassion before them that lead them captive, so that they shall come again into this land: for the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him.” The face of Christ, his favor on us, his touch on our churches, and his blessings on our children have been hidden from us because of sin in this generation, but if we will turn to him, he will turn his face toward us in love again!
V. A Stern Face: "The face of the Lord is against them that do evil" I Peter 3:12. Ezekiel 14:8, “And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.” 15:7, “And I will set my face against them; they shall go out from one fire, and another fire shall devour them; and ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I set my face against them.” Jeremiah 44:10-11, “They are not humbled even unto this day, neither have they feared, nor walked in my law, nor in my statutes, that I set before you and before your fathers. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will set my face against you for evil, and to cut off all Judah.” Lev. 20:6, “And the soul that turneth after such as have familiar spirits, and after wizards, to go a whoring after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.” In every case, God set a stern face against the evildoers. God means business about dealing with sin! We all will stand before the Lord in Judgment, and he will not wink on the evil of this world!
VI. Face We Should Seek: "When thou saidst, Seek ye my face: my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek" Ps. 27:8. Psalms 105:4, “Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.” I Chronicles 16:11, “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” Hosea 5:15, “I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.” II Chron. 7:14. If we will seek his face TODAY, WHILE THERE IS TIME, we will see him face to face in glory someday. Revelation 22:4, “And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.” If you refuse to seek him today, there will come a time when you will try to run from his face but will not be able to! Revelation 6:15-16, “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
Conclusion: Our prayer for ourselves should be: "Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; save me for thy mercies’ sake" Ps. 31:16. Ps. 119:135, “Make thy face to shine upon thy servant; and teach me thy statutes.” Our prayer for others should be: Num. 6:24-26, “The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.”
