By Pastor Chuck Rhein

I met a man who hadn’t looked at himself in the mirror for ten years when we were first introduced. He obviously shaved and brushed his teeth but couldn’t bring himself to look at himself directly because of self-loathing. And I wonder what it would be like, if, for only a moment, what it would have been like for him to see just a glimpse of what Jesus sees when He sees this man. According to Isaiah, Jesus didn’t have spectacular eyes like a celebrity outwardly but imagine with me what it could be like to see what Jesus saw.

During the time of Christ’s ministry/27-29 AD, you and I would have seen Blind Bartimaeus as an older blind beggar, but Jesus called him a man of faith: “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” In that culture, an adulterer was worthy of death. We refer today to people that are guilty of crimes a bevy of names, but what did Jesus call the adulterer the Pharisees brought before him, caught in the act of adultery? A woman. It’s funny, but, Jesus didn’t see a leper condemned to die. He saw a man restored. In death, he referred to Lazarus as sleeping. It, therefore, begs the question, what does Jesus see that I need to see?

God saw Gideon (while hiding) as a mighty man of valor.

He saw David as a king when he wasn’t even considered a choice by his family. The Lord looked into the heart of the rich, young ruler, a man possessed by his possessions, and loved him. People groups that were considered lower than Gentiles in polite society, the Samaritans, caused Jesus to create a divine appointment to see her when other people avoided even walking through Samaria.

I think it’s safe to say, to establish, that the eyes of Jesus Christ see more than we can ever fathom. Therefore, consider this prayer,”

Ephesians 1:17– 19 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe.