Focusing Our Spiritual Vision – Part 3

Have you ever met someone who touched your heart so completely that you felt compelled to introduce them to everyone you know? You saw such benefit in the relationship that you simply had to share it with other people? I think those experiences are very rare in life, but I would think we all have at least one in mind.

When I met my future wife, I could hardly contain myself. She lived far away and I met her on a trip to visit my sister. When I returned home, the friend who picked me up at the airport got a real earful about the young lady who had just come into my life. I couldn’t help myself.

The same happened when I met the Savior. When I felt the joy and relief that came from receiving Jesus Christ, I simply couldn’t help telling others about Him. That new relationship was so profound, and abounding with such benefit, that I simply had to encourage others to experience what I had.

I am sure you know the feeling.

Come, See a Man

The Samaritan woman at the well in John 4 had her soul laid bare before the Lord, because in His presence there is nothing unknown. He met her at a time and place where He could deal with her privately, even in the most public of places – a well used by all – because He is merciful in helping those in need. He knows our past, our present, and our future, yet He does not take pleasure in publicly shaming us the way people are prone to do.

He could reveal all that she had ever done, speaking the unvarnished truth, while showing grace and mercy none of us could to such a woman. Her response? “So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ‘Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?’” (Jn. 4:28, 29)

What a response! She had her sin laid plainly before her but responded to His grace; now hers was a soul unburdened by the weight of sin who could point others to Him, even those who before would have mocked and scorned her. Do we desire to see this Man who has such power to take away our sin?

The Lord, the Revealer of hearts, spoke the truth and men hated Him for it, desiring nothing less than that He should die a public and shameful death. The religious leaders of the day feared that this man Jesus would stir up trouble and cause the Romans, who ruled over them, to take away both their place and their nation (Jn. 11:48). They appeased the occupational forces of Rome because this guaranteed them a measure of peace and assurance of their own prominence among the Jews as the religious authority of the nation. They would have nothing to do with this man who could take it all away! 

In self-preservation their judgment was “It is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” (Jn. 11:50). How right they were but so wrong in their motivation. So they crucified the Christ that they might put Him out of their sight and maintain their lofty place among the people. Do we desire peace with men or peace with God?  Do we desire a place of prominence or to give Him all the honor and glory?

How Do We See Jesus?

While on the Cross men derided the Lord Jesus. “All who see me mock me…they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.” (Ps. 22:7-18). How do we see His sacrifice on the Cross for us?

They took Him down and laid Him in a tomb; a tomb that could never hold Him. “Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.” (Jn. 20:1). Do we see Him as the Victor over death?

They saw Him provide many proofs and heard Him teach great things for forty days after His resurrection (Acts 1:1-5). They saw Him taken up, “And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.” (Acts 1:9). Stephen, as he was being stoned to death for declaring Jesus to be the Christ, “saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, ‘Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’” (Acts 7:55, 56).  

The apostle John was privileged to see the Lord in the midst of Heaven (Rev. 5). Where do we see Him today?

God has shown us wondrous things concerning His Son. May we declare, along with the angels on high, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” God will be glorified, He will bring peace, and He will find His good will – good pleasure – in those who trust Christ. May we know that this peace is found in Christ alone and that we are never out of His sight, though our own vision may be dim. Though we may be feeble in our understanding and weak in our faith, may we be blessed to say along with the scriptures, “But we see Jesus.”

I encourage you to introduce someone today to our glorious Savior and express the joy that can only come from knowing Jesus Christ personally. Invite them to “Come, see a man.”