Where's Jesus? Jacob and Esau Meet (Genesis 33)

Jacob and Esau are brothers, but Esau had desired to kill his brother - not only had he bought the birth right, but he had stolen the blessing of his father, Isaac.  Because of this, Jacob had been sent away to find a bride from his mother's kin in Haran.  But now they are meeting again.  Jacob has been gone for a long time; his last family interaction was with Esau consoling himself with the thought of killing his brother. And now, Esau is en-route to meet him.

Where is Jesus in this story?  It may be hard for us to imagine, but I believe Jesus is pictured here as Esau.  Where Esau had been ready to kill his enemy, the one who tricked and lied, so too Jesus is ready to destroy all who persist in sinful wickedness.  The Word says, "God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ" (Romans 2:16) and "I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war" (Revelation 19:11).   Jesus is the great judge ready to destroy all who have wronged him and failed to love and worship with all their heart, soul, mind and strength.  (Revelation 19 records the scene is HDTV.)

But the beautiful gospel twist of the story is that the anger of the brother is quelled.  Esau, instead of killing his brother, runs towards him and embraces him.  He welcomes him home.  Jacob says, "[He] received me favorably" (Genesis 33:10b).  Such is the gospel.  God will receive us favorably when we come in the name of Christ, when we come as repentant sinners, understanding the pain, agony and hatred we rightly deserve from our God, but also ready to submit to his rule.  Like Jacob who bowed low seven times, so we bow low before God and he lifts us up and kisses us when we "receive the one he has sent," Jesus, as our sacrifice of atonement.  

And when this happens, then we too can say like Jacob, "just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord" (Genesis 33:15b) and we will experience the rest and reconciliation that comes at the hands of being forgiven and accepted again into the family of God.  "For to see Christ is like seeing the face of God, now that [he] has received [us] favorably" (Genesis 33:10, compare with John 14:9).  

Just as Jacob experienced reconciliation with his brother, let us experience the ultimate reconciliation that comes from being reunited to our Lord, through Jesus Christ, the Son.  This is where I see Jesus in the reconciliation of Jacob and Esau.