Artistic revelation

Ruth Kennedy June 24, 2024 7 6

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Luke 10: 21-22 (NIVUK)

21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, ‘I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

22 ‘All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’

When an artist creates an optical illusion, the purpose is to create images which coexist but cannot be seen at the same time by the same set of eyes — and sometimes a prompt is needed for one of the pictures to be revealed. They can be fun. They can be frustrating! But once you have seen both, typically you can’t ‘unsee’ them. What ‘things’ have been hidden from the wise and understanding which take a prompt, a revelation, to see?  What is it that God the Father would keep as unexpected gifts that once we see them, they can’t be unseen?

Theologians and commentators have much to say on that question; God’s truth, grace and hope, His dominion and authority in the present to cite a couple. And I wonder if it is relevant that Jesus uses the word ‘Father’ 5 times in this short prayer. Is God as our Father one of those things too?

This concept of God as Father was not hugely embedded in Judaic history, theology, and tradition. God is specifically called by the name Father only 15 times in the Old Testament and sometimes that is within the narrative of orphans and adoption. The beautiful term ‘Abba’, used by little children to call their earthly fathers, which Jesus used, was revolutionary. Jesus was very intentional in his teaching that this is who Father God is to Him and to us. God had always been Father but they just needed it pointed out to them so they could see it.

The Holy Spirit reveals to us that God, the Father, Abba as Jesus called Him, is always here and once we have seen God as our good Abba, we can’t unsee that. Surely we don’t want to unsee that?

Today, take a moment to look at the picture of God you have in your heart and let the Holy Spirit reveal the Father to you. Look on Him as a little child might look at their dad as Jesus did. Let Him show you a fresh revelation of our Father of love, hope and glory which you then see all through this day.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit, you are the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Come do a work in us today and give us a fresh revelation of God our Father. The Father of our Lord Jesus. A revelation of the Father’s heart for us which has always been here and now that we see it, we can never unsee it.

Father we love you, we worship and adore you, glorify your name, Abba, in all the earth.

Amen.