If we want to know what God is like, we must look at Jesus.
Not rumors about God.
Not fears about God.
Not the enemy’s accusations against God.
Jesus.
The Bible says:
“No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is Himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.” John 1:18 (NLT)
Jesus did not come to make the Father love us.
He came because the Father already loved us.
He did not come to calm down an angry God.
He came to reveal the heart of the God who was already reaching for His lost children.
Jesus is God made visible.
The Bible says:
“Christ is the visible image of the invisible God.” Colossians 1:15 (NLT)
That means when we watch Jesus, we are actually watching God and learning what God is like.
When Jesus touched the leper, God was showing us that He is not afraid to come near the unclean.
When Jesus forgave the guilty, God was showing us that mercy is real.
When Jesus welcomed children, God was showing us that the weak and small are safe with Him.
When Jesus wept at Lazarus’s tomb, God was showing us that death wounds His heart too.
When Jesus ate with sinners, God was showing us that He is willing to come close before people have everything figured out.
Jesus did not merely talk about God’s character.
He lived it.
Jesus Revealed the Father’s Heart
One of Jesus’ disciples once said:
“Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” John 14:8 (NLT)
Jesus answered:
“Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father!” John 14:9 (NLT)
That sentence changes everything.
If we want to know how the Father feels about sinners, we look at Jesus.
If we want to know whether God is compassionate, we look at Jesus.
If we want to know whether God is patient with our weakness, we look at Jesus.
If we want to know whether God is willing to forgive, restore, and save, we look at Jesus.
Jesus did not reveal a kinder heart than that of the Father.
He revealed the Father’s heart.
The Father and the Son are united in love, purpose, mercy, and truth.
God is not divided against Himself.
Jesus said:
“The Father and I are one.” John 10:30 (NLT)
So when Jesus bends down to lift the fallen, the Father’s heart is being revealed.
When Jesus speaks peace to the ashamed, the Father’s heart is being revealed.
When Jesus stretched out His arms on the cross, the Father’s heart was being revealed.
The cross is the clearest picture of God’s love.
There, sin showed what it does.
And God showed who He is.
Sin lies, wounds, accuses, betrays, mocks, tortures, and kills.
Love forgives, suffers, gives, rescues, and refuses to let go.
The Bible says:
“But God showed His great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” Romans 5:8 (NLT)
God did not wait for us to become worthy before He loved us.
He loved us while we were still sinners.
Jesus gave Himself willingly. His life was not taken from Him against His will. He chose to come. He chose to serve. He chose to suffer. He chose to die so that we could live.
Jesus said:
“No one can take My life from Me. I sacrifice it voluntarily.” John 10:18 (NLT)
At the cross, we see that God would rather suffer for sinners than abandon them.
We see that His justice does not ignore sin.
We see that His mercy does not abandon sinners.
We see that His love is not merely a feeling.
It is action.
It is sacrifice.
It is rescue.
God Is Not Like Satan Said He Was
Sin began with a lie about God.
The serpent made Eve question God’s goodness. He made God sound restrictive, selfish, and untrustworthy.
That lie has never stopped.
Many people still imagine God as harsh, cold, controlling, or eager to punish. They may use religious words, but deep inside they are afraid of Him.
Jesus came to expose that lie.
He showed that God is not selfish. He gives.
God is not cruel. He heals.
God is not distant. He comes near.
God is not proud. He kneels to serve.
God is not eager to condemn. He came to save.
The Bible says:
“God sent His Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through Him.” John 3:17 (NLT)
This does not mean God will never judge evil. It means His first desire is not destruction.
His desire is salvation.
He wants His children back.
He wants trust restored.
He wants sin ended.
He wants love to fill the universe again.
So when someone asks, “What is God like?” the best answer is not complicated.
Look at Jesus.
He is the clearest picture of the Father.
He is God’s heart made visible.
