It is always dangerous to come up with a metaphor that describes the Trinity. Sooner or later, you’re bound to commit some kind of heresy if you take the metaphor far enough. So as I get into this, please don’t read too much into this metaphor.

Consider the endeavor of making a film. It usually starts with a producer. This is someone with the resources, financial and otherwise, to begin the hefty work of producing a film. That producer will inevitably work with a director. This director is someone who frames the shots, who oversees what the audience is seeing. And, of course, there is at least one actor – the person on the screen. As you watch the movie, the person who you pay the most direct attention to is the actor. Everything is done to put that actor on screen to deliver the performance so that you can see them. The producer and director on the other hand are usually regulated to text that rolls over the screen at the beginning and/or end of the film.

In our Christian faith, Jesus is like this actor. He is the one that we see. He is the one who does the stuff. He is born in Bethlehem. He heals the sick. He preaches to those who need to repent. He dies for our sins. He raises again from the tomb. He ascends into heaven. God the Father has a few “cameos,” especially in the Old Testament, but it notoriously difficult to see – but yet, we get the idea that He is like the producer. He is in charge of the entire production of our salvation. The Spirit likewise has His cameos in places like Jesus’ Baptism and Pentecost, but even there He is more mysterious than what we would sometimes hope. But the goal of the His part of the production is accomplished, the director’s role – that we see Jesus clearly.

Once we see Jesus, we can begin to bring glory to the Father and to the Holy Spirit. We see in Jesus the reason for praise: that this Triune God sent the Son to deliver us from our sins and give us eternal life. In a movie, once you watch the actor, you can develop an appreciation for the way the director orchestrates the shooting. Once you see the actor, you can praise the foresight of the producer for making the performance happen. Likewise, when we see Jesus – we see God in His Triune glory at work.

As we see Jesus, we see all of God at work in the greatest production ever made – the salvation of mankind, and our hope in the Resurrection.

This week consider reading the 2nd Article of the Creed and its explanation in your catechisms to learn more about Jesus.