A Deeper Conversation: Emma and Daniel
Setting: Emma and Daniel, close friends and members of the same church small group, are sitting at a cozy coffee shop after a Bible study session. The topic of Jesus’ role in revealing God and humanity’s identity came up, sparking their curiosity. They dive into a heartfelt discussion.
Emma: So, Daniel, I keep thinking about what we touched on in small group—how Jesus shows us who God is and who we’re supposed to be. It’s kind of mind-blowing, right? Like, how does that even work?
Daniel: Totally! It’s like Jesus is holding up a mirror to both God’s heart and our true selves. I mean, Genesis says we’re made in God’s image, right? Like, we’re supposed to reflect Him and even co-rule the earth with Him. That’s huge!
Emma: Yeah, Genesis 1:26-27, right? We’re created to be like God in some way, to represent Him. But, honestly, I look at my life—my impatience, my stress—and I’m like, “This doesn’t feel very God-like.” How do we even get there?
Daniel: That’s where Jesus comes in, I think. The New Testament calls Him the “exact representation” of God—Hebrews 1:3, I believe. So, if we want to know what God’s like, we just look at Jesus. His compassion, His justice, His love—it’s all God on display.
Emma: Okay, that makes sense. Jesus is like the perfect picture of God. But how does that connect to us? Like, I get that He shows us God, but how does He show us who we’re meant to be?
Daniel: Great question. I was reading Romans 8:29 the other day, and it says God’s plan is to shape us into the image of His Son. So, Jesus isn’t just the image of God; He’s the model for humanity. We’re supposed to become like Him—His character, His way of living.
Emma: So, it’s not just about being vaguely “godly” but specifically Christlike? Like, loving people the way Jesus did, serving others, forgiving even when it’s hard?
Daniel: Exactly! Ephesians 5 talks about imitating God by walking in love, like Christ. Jesus shows us what it looks like to live out God’s character—think about how He washed His disciples’ feet or stood up for the outcasts. That’s the kind of life we’re called to.
Emma: That’s beautiful but also intimidating. I mean, Jesus is perfect. How am I supposed to live up to that? I’m not exactly out there performing miracles or being perfectly humble.
Daniel: I hear you. But it’s not about doing it on our own. Paul talks about the Holy Spirit transforming us into Jesus’ image—like in 2 Corinthians 3:18. It’s a process. The Spirit’s working in us, bit by bit, to make us more like Christ.
Emma: Okay, that’s encouraging. It’s not all on me. But still, why is Jesus the key? Like, why not just try to be good people without all this focus on Him?
Daniel: That’s where Jesus’ own words hit hard. In John 14:9, He says, “If you’ve seen me, you’ve seen the Father.” He’s not just a good teacher; He’s God revealed. And because He’s fully human too, He shows us what a human life fully surrendered to God looks like. It’s like He’s the bridge between God’s nature and ours.
Emma: So, Jesus is both the ultimate revelation of God and the ultimate human? That’s wild. It’s like He’s showing us how to be what we were always meant to be—before sin messed it all up.
Daniel: Totally! And Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that in Christ, we’re a new creation. The old, broken version of us is gone, and God’s making us new—new in the way Jesus is. It’s like a reset button for our identity.
Emma: I love that. It’s like Jesus is the blueprint for both God’s heart and our purpose. But, you know, sometimes I wonder—why is it so specific to Jesus? Couldn’t someone else try to be like God in their own way?
Daniel: That’s a deep one. I think about Satan’s story here. Isaiah 14 describes how he tried to “be like God” by exalting himself, grabbing for power. It was all about pride. But Jesus? Philippians 2 says He didn’t cling to His divine status but humbled Himself, even to death on a cross. That’s the difference—Jesus shows us that being like God means humility, love, and obedience, not trying to steal God’s glory.
Emma: Wow, that’s such a contrast. Satan wanted to be like God to make himself higher, but Jesus shows us that being like God means serving others, lifting them up. It’s the opposite of what the world tells us about greatness.
Daniel: Right? And that’s what makes Jesus’ way so radical. He shows us that true humanity—true godlikeness—is about laying down our lives for others, just like He did. And the Holy Spirit’s in us to help us live that out, day by day.
Emma: This is really sinking in. So, Jesus reveals God’s heart—His love, His holiness—and He also reveals my true identity as someone being shaped into His likeness. It’s like a double gift: I get to know Him and find myself in the process.
Daniel: You got it! It’s like Jesus is the lens through which we see both God clearly and ourselves clearly. And the more we look at Him, the more we become who we’re meant to be. Paul says in Philippians 1 John 3:2 that one day, when we see Jesus fully, we’ll be like Him. That’s our hope!
Emma: That’s so beautiful. It makes me want to look at Jesus more—in the Gospels, in prayer, in everything. I want that transformation. I guess the challenge is figuring out how to live it out now—how to reflect Jesus in my everyday life.
Daniel: Totally. Maybe it starts small—loving the people around us, serving without expecting applause, trusting God’s Spirit to guide us. Like, what’s one thing you think Jesus could do this week to be more like Jesus?
Emma: Hmm… I’ve been kind of short with my coworker lately—she’s been getting on my skin. Maybe Jesus would would show me patience, like how He was patient with His disciples even when they didn’t get it. What about you?
Daniel: For me, I’ve been super focused on my schedule. I think Jesus might would challenge me to slow down and notice people—like how He stopped for the woman at the well. Let’s hold each other accountable!
Emma: Deal! This conversation’s got me so pumped. Jesus isn’t just showing us God—He’s showing us who we can become. I’m going to dig into some of these verses later and see what else I can learn.
Daniel: Same. Let’s keep talking about this stuff—it’s too good to just let it sit. Another coffee next week?
Emma: You’re on!
- Created in God’s Image to Co-rule:
- Genesis 1:26-27: “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over… all the earth.’”
- Psalm 8:5-6: “You have made them a little lower than the angels and crowned them with glory and honor. You made them rulers over the works of your hands.”
- Jesus as the Exact Representation of God:
- Hebrews 1:3: “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.”
- Colossians 1:15: “The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.”
- Created to Be Like Christ:
- Romans 8:29: “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.”
- Ephesians 4:15: “We will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
- Mimicking God’s Character:
- Ephesians 5:1-2: “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us.”
- 1 Peter 1:15-16: “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.”
- Jesus as Our Goal and Example:
- Philippians 2:5-8: “Have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage.”
- 1 Peter 2:2:21: “Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.”
- Holy Spirit’s Transformative Work:
- 2 Corinthians 3:3:18: “And we all… are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”
- Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, good,ness, faithfulness, goodness.”
- Jesus Declares He Reveals God:
- John 14:9-7: “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.”
- John 1:18: “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”
- New Creation in Christ:
- 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
- Galatians 6:15: “Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is the new creation.”
- Being Like God Through Jesus:
- Colossians 3:3:10: “You have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
- 1 John 2:6: “Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
- Satan’s Counterfeit vs. Jesus’ Example:
- Isaiah 14:12-14: “How you have fallen from heaven… You said in your heart, ‘I will ascend to the heavens; I will raise my throne above the stars of God.’”
- Philippians 2:6-7: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing.”
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