Biblical Perspective on Seeing Jesus as He Is
The biblical concept of "seeing Jesus as He is" encompasses both present spiritual discernment and a future eschatological vision. In the present age, understanding Jesus involves recognizing His divine nature and His role as the full revelation of God [12]. The apostle Paul challenges believers to move beyond superficial appearances, urging them to consider that just as they belong to Christ, so too does he [1, 2]. This implies a deeper perception of Christ's authority and identity that transcends outward judgment.
Scripture presents Jesus as the "author and perfecter of faith," upon whom believers are to fix their gaze [3]. This "looking to Jesus" is an act of faith that acknowledges His preeminence and His work on the cross [3]. The New Testament consistently portrays Christ as God, referring to Him as Jehovah, the First and the Last, and the image of God [4, 5]. To see Jesus as He is, therefore, means to apprehend His divine excellency and glory, recognizing Him as one with the Father [4].
However, the ability to perceive Jesus fully has varied. Tertullian noted that Jesus was seen differently by various individuals, appearing as more than one thing depending on the perspective [7]. Augustine observed that during His earthly ministry, Jesus was "latent in weakness" and not fully known by those who loved their sins and rejected the Physician [8]. Even after His resurrection, Christ appeared in various forms, sometimes in "another shape," to accommodate the dispositions of those to whom He revealed Himself [10].
The ultimate vision of "seeing Jesus as He is" is reserved for the future. Augustine taught that believers will see Him as He is in eternity, a blessed transmigration from this world [11]. This future vision involves seeing God Himself, who is light, with purified minds, a capacity not yet fully possessed in the present [9]. This eschatological hope contrasts with the limited, often veiled, understanding available in this life, where hypocrites, for example, are described as willfully blind and unable to come before God [6].
Sources
- 2 Corinthians “Do you look at things only as they appear in front of your face? If anyone trusts in himself that he is Christ’s, let him consider this again with himself, that, even as he is Christ’s, so also we are Christ’s. -- 2 Corinthians 10:7”
- II Corinthians “II Corinthians 10:7 (LEB) — You are looking at things according to appearance. If anyone is convinced he himself is Christ’s, he should consider this concerning himself again: that just as Christ himself is, so also are we.”
- Hebrews “looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. -- Hebrews 12:2”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Excellency and Glory of Christ, The — As God -- Joh 1:1-5; Php 2:6,9,10. As the Son of God -- Mt 3:17; Heb 1:6,8. As one with the Father -- Joh 10:30,38. As the First-born -- Col 1:15,18. As the First-begotten -- Heb 1:6. As Lord of lords, &c -- Re 17:14. As the image of God -- Col 1:15; Heb 1:3. As creator -- Joh 1:3; Col 1:16; Heb 1:2. As the Blessed of God -- Ps 45:2. As Mediator -- 1Ti 2:5; Heb 8:6. As Prophet -- De 18:15,16; Ac 3:22. As Priest -- Ps 110:4; Heb 4:15. As King -- Isa 6:1-5; Joh 12:41. As Judge -- Mt 16:27; 25:31,33. As Shepherd -- Isa 40:10,11; Joh”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Christ is God — As Jehovah -- Isa 40:3; Mt 3:3. As Jehovah of glory -- Ps 24:7,10; 1Co 2:8; Jas 2:1. As Jehovah, our RIGHTEOUSNESS -- Jer 23:5,6; 1Co 1:30. As Jehovah, above all -- Ps 97:9; Joh 3:31. As Jehovah, the First and the Last -- Isa 44:6; Re 1:17; Isa 48:12-16; Re 22:13. As Jehovah's Fellow and Equal -- Zec 13:7; Php 2:6. As Jehovah of Hosts -- Isa 6:1-3; Joh 12:41; Isa 8:13,14; 1Pe 2:8. As Jehovah, the Shepherd -- Isa 40:11; Heb 13:20. As Jehovah, for whose glory all things were created -- Pr 16:4; Col 1:16. As Jehovah, the Messenger of the covenant -- Mal ”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Hypocrites — God knows and detects -- Isa 29:15,16. Christ knew and detected -- Mt 22:18. God has no pleasure in -- Isa 9:17. Shall not come before God -- Job 13:16. Described as Wilfully blind. -- Mt 23:17,19,26. Vile. -- Isa 32:6. Self-righteous. -- Isa 65:5; Lu 18:11. Covetous. -- Eze 33:31; 2Pe 2:3. Ostentatious. -- Mt 5:2,5,16; 23:5. Censorious. -- Mt 7:3-5; Lu 13:14,15. Regarding tradition more than the word of God. -- Mt 15:1-3. Exact in minor, but neglecting important duties. -- Mt 23:23,24. Having but a form of godliness. -- 2Ti 3:5. Seeking only outward pur”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 4: Tertullian IV, Minucius Felix, Commodian, Origen — CHAP. LXIV. (part 1): Although Jesus was only a single individual, He was nevertheless more things than one, according to the different standpoint from which He might be regarded; [1] nor was He seen in the same way by all who beheld Him. Now, that He was more things than one, according to the varying point of view, is clear from this statement, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life;" and from this, "I am the bread;" and this, "I am the door," and innumerable others. And that when seen He did not appear in like fashion to all t”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 7: Augustine — Homilies on John — HOMILY IV. (part 6): walked here Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ in the flesh; He was God, He was latent in weakness.(2) And wherefore was He not known? Because He reproved all sins in men. They, through loving the delights of sins, did not acknowledge the God: through loving that which the fever prompted, they did wrong to the Physician. 5. For us then, what are we? Already we are begotten of Him; but because we are such in hope, he saith, "Beloved, now are we sons of God." Now already? Then what is it we look for, if already we are sons of God? "And”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 1: Augustine — Confessions, Letters — LETTER XCII. (A.D: 408.) (part 2): by which all those things which are now in the hearts of men concealed shall be made manifest ? who can with our weak faculties even approach it ? Truly that Light is God Himself, for "God is Light, and in Him is no darkness at all;" 4 but He is the Light of purified minds, not of these bodily eyes. And the mind shall then be, what meanwhile it is not, able to see that light. 3. But this the bodily eye neither now is, nor shall then be, able to see. For everything which can be seen by the bodily eye must be in s”
- theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Manifestation of the Resurrection, Art. 4: Article: Whether Christ should have appeared to the disciples "in another shape"? I answer that, As stated above (Articles [1],2), Christ's Resurrection was to be manifested to men in the same way as Divine things are revealed. But Divine things are revealed to men in various ways, according as they are variously disposed. For, those who have minds well disposed, perceive Divine things rightly, whereas those not so disposed perceive them with a certain confusion of doubt or error: "for, the s”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. XXV.--OF CHRIST'S SUBSEQUENT MANIFESTATIONS OF HIMSELF TO THE DISCIPLES, AND OF THE QUESTION WHETHER A THOROUGH HARMONY CAN BE ESTABLISHED BETWEEN THE DIFFERENT NARRATIVES WHEN THE NOTICES GIVEN (part 26): there shall we see Him as He is.(5) Then, also, will there be for us the more blessed transmigration, from this world into that eternity, if we embrace His precepts so as to be counted worthy of being set apart on His right hand. For there, those on the left hand shall go away into eternal burning, but the righteous into life eternal.(”
- Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 1:19: 1:19 God in all his fullness emphasizes that God has chosen to reveal himself fully in Jesus Christ. Seeing Jesus and understanding him therefore means seeing and understanding God (see John 14:6-11). The false teachers seemed to be saying that Christians needed to look to other spiritual beings to find out more about God (see Col 1:16, 20). But Christ is sufficient for all our knowledge of God (cp. 2:8-9).”