What do you see when you look at you?

The scribes and the chief priests … asked him, “… Is it lawful for us to give tribute to Caesar, or not?” But he perceived their craftiness, and said to them, “Show me a denarius. Whose likeness and inscription does it have?” They said, “Caesar’s.” He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” And … marveling at his answer they became silent. Luke 20: 19-26

Perhaps more than in other non-island jurisdictions, Jersey folk look at each other – and at themselves. They look. But what do they see? Maybe you will agree with the following analysis which suggests that “what you see when you look at you” is, for Jersey folk, one of only three possibilities. First possibility. “When I look at me I see an amazing living being who is able to decide for itself and to love and hate and choose between good and evil. I see that the ME has come about through evolution over billions of years. I see that I am a person who has evolved from apes and lesser animals. I see that humans are getting better – but only terribly slowly – and that in the meantime we are all hurting each other. In short, I hope that humans won’t destroy themselves totally. But I know that I’m going nowhere – that’s why I’m making the best of life – until death comes to me.”
.	‘If God is God and man is made in his image then each man is significant.’ (Os Guinness, author and social critic)
Second possibility. “When I look at me I also see an amazing living being who is able to decide for itself and to love and hate and choose between good and evil. But I see that originally human beings were created by God as perfect and glorious beings – in the image of God – and very good in every possible way until. Until they wanted to go their own way. When I look at me I see that I am part of the most serious problem that now affects all human beings in the world. Everyone’s desire is to get ahead and not to be taken for a ride – or for granted. That me first has damaged – is damaging - terribly the whole world.” Third possibility. “When I look at me I see an amazing living being and seek happiness. I don’t want to be troubled about who or what I am at the moment – maybe later.” Leaving aside the third possibility folk, the alternative explanations of who I see when I look at me both make sense. Both allow for the fact that humans are wonderful beings. Both allow for the fact that there is a great deal of evil done by these marvellous beings called humans. But.... But there is a major, major difference between the two viewpoints. That difference has to do with “hope”. First possibility. “When I look at me I see no hope for me personally because I’m subject to death. I try not to think about that. I also try not to think about the fact that, having come into being by chance, humans have no real need to act morally or ethically – if they can get away with not doing so. I’m not sure why I do good to others. I’m not sure where goodness has come from.” Second possibility. “When I look at me I see a wonderful future. This is because I have found a way back to God my creator through Jesus Christ, Son of Man, Son of God.”
.	‘Jesus Christ never met an unimportant person. That is why God sent his Son to die for us. If someone dies for you, you must be important.’ (M C Cleveland)
A way back? But what will happen to me? Take a look at the incident recorded by Luke, Jesus’’ biographer, around AD 65. Jesus was in Jerusalem and it was the final few days before he was executed as one of the worst of criminals. The crafty religio-political leaders wanted to trap him as an enemy of Caesar and procure his execution. He didn’t fall into that trap. If a denarius (worth about £50 in Jersey today) had Caesar’s picture on it and carried Caesar’s name, give it to him by way of taxes. But, Jesus said, render to God that which has God’s picture on it and that which has God’s name on it. That is to say, Jesus asks me, made very good in God’s image, to render me to God. “Render?” The original Greek word is the verb apodidomi: (a) to deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own. (b) to pay off, to discharge what is due. (c) to give back, to restore. What happens then? What happens when a person restores to God that which carries his image and his name? That’s the most wonderful thing of all. Truly, truly mind-blowing. Ask.

Richard Syvret

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