FIRST TIME I SAW YOUR FACE
by thebaileydrink
Ps.24:6 – Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob.

I wonder what Mary thought the first time she saw the face of her son Jesus? How much did she comprehend? Did she know He was her Creator? Did she know He was her Savior? How did she sort out the emotions of mother and worshiper?

And what about Joseph? Did He know he was being protected by the One he was protecting? Did Joseph realize that his son was providing for him, or did he have it backwards?

Then there was the shocked faces of the shepherds peering into the stable crib. Did they know that this was the King of kings in such a humble abode? Did they recognize deity cloaked in the body of infancy?

And who could forget old Simeon who had been waiting for this day for years. How did he know who this little baby was? Was it something in his face that grabbed his attention? This was Simeon’s defining moment. This was the messiah, a supernatural birth, a sign to be spoken against. Now he could go home in peace.

So on and on it went. Peter saw Him differently that first day, smiling at the boat sinking load of fish. The leper saw His face through a stream of tears of joy. The paralytic saw His face and found strength to pick up his pallet and walk. Mary Magdalene saw His face and found courage and grace to walk out of her world of darkness. The Gadarene madman saw His face and felt peace for the first time in his life. The little boy who gave up his lunch saw His face and began to shout and laugh for joy. Bartimaeus saw His face, it was the first time he had seen anyone’s face. The Centurion at the cross saw His face and knew this was the Son of God. Have you ever seen His face? That’s what Christmas is all about. God became a man so that we could see the face of God. One glimpse of His radiance and you will be forever changed. Here is a poem I recently wrote about the first time I saw His face.

THE FIRST TIME I SAW YOUR FACE

THE FACE OF A BABY

IN DIM STABLE NIGHT

THE FACE OF AN ANGEL

IN TRANSFIGURED LIGHT

THE FACE OF REDEMPTION

IN THE LIGHT OF THE SON

THE DAWN OF NEW HOPE

MY DARKNESS NOW DONE

THE FACE OF RESURRECTION

MAKES DEAD THINGS LIVE AGAIN

THE FACE PIERCED MY DARKNESS

MY NEW LIFE DID BEGIN

WAS IT THE FACE OF A BABY

IN THE MANGER THAT NIGHT

OR THE FACE OF CREATOR

THE GIVER OF SIGHT

IT WAS THE FACE OF THE SAVIOR

THE ETERNAL SON OF MAN

CLOAKED IN AN INFANT

GOD’S SHOCKING GOSPEL PLAN