DO YOU WANT TO SEE?
06th Jun 2018
Many years ago the Lord Jesus asked me the question - “Do you want to see?” On the surface it seemed easy to answer, but He also warned me of the implications of saying “Yes!” Jesus himself could see into the heart and beyond the superficial behaviour of the situations presented to Him.
He declared Himself to be the Light of the World, and in His light we are also enabled to see. However, if we see, we will also become aware of emotions, pain and human suffering, and all we are able to do is to cry out for God’s help for each beloved individual and their situation.
Jesus in John 9 speaks to the Pharisees of their blindness. They were so concerned with the letter of the law they were oblivious to any human emotional need; judging but lacking mercy; so concerned with looking outwardly perfect, but were inwardly rotten.
John 8 reveals this very thing as they set a trap for Jesus. A woman caught in the act of adultery is publicly brought to Him by the religious police seeking to uphold and enforce the law. What does Jesus do? If He fails to uphold the “law” he stands accused, if he endorses the stoning he is in trouble with the Roman authorities.
Put your self in this situation and watch what Jesus did. He saw clearly what was going on; the pride, arrogance and self-righteousness of the accusers, baying for blood. He also saw and felt the terror, shame and humiliation of the woman. He saw the crowd waiting for His response.
Jesus faces her accusers and tells those without sin to throw the stones while he stoops and writes in the dust. He hears them slithering off and becomes aware that only the woman is left, straightens up and tells her to leave her life of sin. What did He see as He looked at her? I’m sure He understood the ‘why’ behind her lifestyle, he saw her shame, humiliation and fear of a painful death. However, His sight came through a lens of love, a lens that saw beyond her behaviour and desperate life, marred and spoilt by sin. He saw she was valuable, made in the image of God and worth saving.
Do you want to see? Unless we see mankind through the filter of God’s love, we will not value and seek to redeem, but will simply condemn and reject like the Pharisees.
by Joyce Sibthorpe
