As a pre-teen boy, I hated when someone pointed out that I looked a lot like my mother. I love my mother. She is a good-looking woman, but… I was a BOY! And, she, well, was a girl. I didn’t want to look like a girl! But, the power of those Romanian genes dominated. I have the same facial structure, the same hair and the same body-type as all my mother’s family. Aside from that very crucial boy-girl thing, I was pretty much the spitting image of my mom.
Being made in the image of my mother carried with it certain expectations. When we were with my father’s family, everyone would comment, “Oh, it’s easy to see who you belong to! You look just like your mother!” And in so many ways, I suspect my parents wished I would act a bit more like her and her family as well. Being made in one’s image implies certain qualities.
On the most fundamental level, this is true for each and every human being—not that we physically look like our parents, but that we are made in Someone’s image. According to the very beginning of the Bible, that image-maker is God Himself. In Genesis 1:26 it says, “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.’” We are made in God’s image. But what might that mean?
Throughout the history of God’s people, various ideas have been put forward for what constitutes the image of God—what part of the human is the image of God? Most quickly dismiss the physical: it is not as if God has a physical body, and humans are simply “littler versions” of a big, bodied God. Various positive options are often advanced: we image God in our use of language, in our spirituality, in the ability to reason, in our personal relationships, in our intellectual capacity, and in our ability to make moral judgments.
While the root or source of God’s image in Mankind might be ill-defined, the actual meaning of the image in humans appears more explicit in the Scriptures.
- Man represents God (Genesis 9:6). Like a statue is a reminder of a distant reality, we are created to be God’s representatives in this world—to show forth God’s godliness in all things.
- Man resembles God (Psalm 94:4 and Genesis 1:26-28). Like a child looking like his parent, we are created to resemble God in all that we do—spiritually, functionally and perhaps even physically.
- Man reflects God (James 3:9). Like the reflection in a mirror, we are created to present God to the world—looking at a human being should draw one to the Maker/Imager Himself.
- Man relates to God (Mark 12:15-17). Like a son is connected to his parents, we are created to connect back to our God—bearing His image ties us to our Lord.
To be made in God’s image sets us apart from all the rest of creation—no creature bears God’s stamp as we do. This grants us immense privileges, and, of course, great responsibilities. To image our Lord in this world is a blessed task, and we begin to fulfill it as we worship Him together. I look forward to seeing you in worship this week!
In preparation for our gathering, read Mark 12:13-17.
- The Pharisees and the Herodians were on completely opposite sides of almost everything—religion, politics and culture. What does it mean that they are joined up here?
- Can we learn anything at all about Jesus or about ourselves from the flattery in verse 14? Clearly something is wrong here, but what?
- Where is the “hypocrisy” in verse 15? What is hypocritical about their question to Jesus?
- Jesus asks for a coin to be brought to Him… is there anything remarkable about that? Is it fair to draw any conclusions from this?
- We are told in verse 17 that Jesus’ answer/response to His questioners caused the questioners (and one assumes, the disciples and others in the crowd) to “marvel.” What is so awe inspiring about Jesus’ answer?
By Henry Knapp