THE VISIBLE GOD

One thing that set Israel's God apart from all others wasn't that there was just one of them (in contrast to polytheistic religions), but also that he was pure Spirit.

When Greeks and Romans built their temples, they installed a representation of their god within. However, when Israel constructed the tabernacle (and later the temple), no images were to be seen because God has no physical form. Too (I think J. I. Packer said this), making an image detracts from the overall character of God. A bull may illustrate strength, but it cannot show love and mercy.

When God revealed himself to Moses, it was from within a burning bush. At Sinai, it was a consuming fire. God reminded his people that no form was seen, although a voice was heard. To know anything about this invisible God, he has to reveal himself to us in ways that we can understand.

So Scripture, a revelation of his will in written form. Helpful for sure, as it tells us how to live and gives us assurances that he is really there. But if he would appear and show his presence, we would literally die.

Jesus came to show an approachable God, one who can meet us where and as we are. When Philip asked Jesus to "show us the Father", Jesus chided him by saying, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."

An astounding claim--and yet, Jesus being God in human form revealed God's character to those around him. Holiness, love, wrath, mercy, grace, compassion, forgiveness--we see these expressed in Jesus as he lived his life among us as he made his Father (and ours) known.