The Kiss

Mary, did you know?

When you kissed the face of Jesus…,

You kissed the face of God.1

"Reading” through a neurobiology textbook, I came across a strange illustration. The image was an artist’s rendition of the human body, obvious because it had the requisite parts--head, hands, feet, eyes, nose mouth, ears. But the picture was a gross distortion of an actual human figure. If an artist tried to sell a painting done in a similar manner, he would be laughed out of the gallery with garbage thrown at him as he fled. As I read farther, however, the distortions became clear. They were meant to convey information, not just present a horrific view of the human body. The torso, arms, legs neck and back of the head were small, sometimes tiny, in relation to the whole. Other parts, the big toe, the face, the fingertips, were vastly enlarged. The lips were largest of all, dominating the whole image.

This type of picture is called a "homunculus," designed to convey, graphically, some aspect of bodily function. In this case, nerve sensitivity is portrayed. It is far easier to visualize the facts than to read a list. It was such a compelling image, I still remember its details from 30 years ago.

No wonder people like--no, love--to kiss!

The lips are enmeshed in a dense network of sensory neurons. They can detect the slightest breeze and hurt in like proportion when struck. Their sensitivity is designed to discriminate between food and non-food. They are an early-warning system for dehydration. In all languages, lips change shape to form words, enabling communication.

Of course, the greatest, most pleasurable use of the lips is kissing.

It is obvious that I cannot kiss myself, though I tried, in Junior High, on the nested thumb and forefinger of my right hand. I can assure you, if you didn’t conduct this experiment, that it is a highly unsatisfactory substitute for the real thing.

Scripture has many instances of face-to-face meetings between God and humankind. In the beginning, He walked with the first pair. Later, he appeared to Abraham, Moses and many of the prophets. Then He appeared among us and we saw and touched Him.

It was common in ancient times, to kiss in greeting those with whom one was familiar. Isaac asked Jacob to “come near so I may kiss you.”2 Judas kissed Jesus in betrayal.3 Jesus remonstrated with Simon the leper for not kissing Him in greeting.4 Paul admonished early church members to “greet one another with a holy kiss.”5

The Western world has debased kissing to a mere prelude to the act of love-making. It is no longer that general greeting of all those within our circle of friendship. For example, one day my father was greeting church members at the door. My mother, coming later, entered and my dad, being nearly 6’4” picked her up and bussed her on the lips. Being the prim and proper woman she was, she scolded him. With feigned innocence, he said, “the bible tells us to greet one another with a holy kiss.” She uncharacteristically responded. “that was no holy kiss.”

The phrase, “face-to-face” in scripture can be interpreted as “mouth-to-mouth” or a kiss. Moses talked with God “face-to-face.”6 Paul says, “…For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.”7

The God of the universe, the Creator and Sustainer of all, the God who ate and slept and walked on this earth and Who died for us, comes to us face-to-face--close enough to kiss in greeting, in friendship, in relationship. We, created in His image, when we greet one another, speak face-to-face, we are “kissing” the face of God in the image of our brother or sister.

What a privilege it is to be in His presence both within our spirit and in your presence, dear ones.

Face-to-face we meet Him in a kiss of peace and relationship. Face-to-face I meet and greet you in a warm kiss of friendship and fellowship. I turn outward and open my arms to embrace and kiss the face of God in my fellow human beings.

10/2/17

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1 adapted from “Mary, did You Know?” Songwriters: Lamont Savory / Buddy Greene / Mark Lowry / Courick Clarke / William Barclay / Wayne Buchanan

lyrics ? Capitol Christian Music Group

2 Genesis 27:26

3 Matthew 26:48

4 Luke 7:44

5 1 Corinthians 16:20

6 Exodus 33:11

7 1 Corinthians 13:12