You’ve Got His Face

I’ll reward him extravagantly—the best of everything, the highest honors—because he looked death in the face and didn’t flinch, because he embraced the company of the lowest.

Over the years since my husband’s death, I’ve marveled to see his attributes emerge in our children. One child mirrors his quiet steadiness; another has his knack for fixing things. It brings me joy to see the many ways that my husband lives in those he loved most.

After we lose a loved one, we often go looking for his or her attributes in ourselves or those around us. We encourage a friend with “You’ve got your mother’s eyes” as she grieves the death of her beloved parent. We remind a colleague that she’s got her sister’s wit or his best friend’s knack for hospitality. These resemblances can give us courage or comfort as we rebuild our lives after loss. They anchor us in those relationships that must now live on in our memories.

As Israel waited in captivity for rescue, Isaiah prophesied that a Savior would come who looked like them. They were stuck in a mess from which they couldn’t escape, but a Messiah would arrive who both deserved the greatest honor and would endure the deepest pain. He’d keep company with the lowest because he had chosen to be like them in every way. Israel’s entire hope rested on this promise. One day, their rescuer would be both “Mighty God” and a man “acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 9:6; 53:3, ESV).

Many years later, the New Testament writer of Hebrews recalled these promises given to Isaiah and connected them to the man Jesus. Jesus was the fulfillment of this promise, the writer asserted, the one made like us in order that we could be made like him. Jesus knew what it was like to face dying. He knew what it was like to grieve. And most glorious of all, Jesus knew what it meant to rise again. Through his death on the cross for our sins and his resurrection from the grave, Jesus would fulfill all of Israel’s longings for freedom—and all of ours. In his resurrection, he unlocked the possibility of resurrection in our lives too.

Jesus walks beside us through grief, not as one who has a head knowledge of loss but as one who understands it in every corner of his being. His restored humanity offers us a glimpse of the new life we can live after loss. Today, rejoice that Isaiah’s prophecy has been fulfilled. Hallelujah, Jesus came to take on our face and take our place!

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.

A Prayer: God, I praise and thank you for your great plan of salvation. Thank you for coming in Jesus to become like me in every way. Thank you for understanding my pain and lifting me to new life through your resurrection. When I feel isolated, help me to remember that you understand every part of what it means to be human. Refresh me with the truth that you know what my life is like. Empower me to live for you, bearing your face to those I meet. Amen.

An Activity for Today: Psalm 145 instructed Israel to tell God’s wondrous acts from one generation to another. God’s people were to be storytellers and story-keepers, introducing him to those who would never see the Red Sea split or find manna outside their tents.

You can be a storyteller and story-keeper too. Today, be the curator of your relationship and share about it with someone who didn’t know your person. Over lunch with a colleague, weave in a funny story about Grandpa. On the car ride home from school, tell your kids stories of Mom’s culinary exploits, extravagant meals she made when they were only eating baby food. When we tell stories, we remember that grief is more than just sadness. It is a multifaceted experience that can include joy, respect, and sweetness also.

A Song to Encourage Your Heart: “There Was Jesus” by Zach Williams and Dolly Parton