We are in the home stretch of our Advent journey through Luke’s gospel. Today we are reading chapter 20. Take out your wallet and look at the faces of people who appear on those dollar bills and coins. How many faces do you recognize?
In this chapter, Luke records an event where scribes and priests approached Jesus and asked him if they were required to pay taxes to Caesar. Jesus asked them to show him a denarius. This small silver coin represented a day’s wages in that time. Jesus asked his audience, “Whose face appears on this coin?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
Then Jesus said, “Give to Caesar what carries his image. And give to God what carries his image.”
What carries God’s image? A dollar bill, a dime? No. In John 14:19, Jesus gave the answer: “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” Jesus was the image of the Father.
But you and I also carry the image of the Father. Way back in Genesis 1:26-27, God said that he made man in his own image. You and I carry the image of the Father imprinted in our souls. And what carries his image belongs to him.
Just as a child has features and habits that resemble those of his parents, so we each have features that reflect the image of our heavenly Father. What aspects of the Father’s face do others see in you during this season? Will others recognize him as easily as you recognize the faces on your coins?
