Eyes of Jesus
The story of Jesus washing the disciple’s feet in John 13, has always spurred my thinking. It has especially since we have entered into the time of year of giving and receiving.
I was wondering, as I read the story, what were the disciples thinking. The towel and basin of water were undoubtedly at the door. It was the custom of every house and every guest room to place these items by the door. So, I believe, it is a logical assumption to say that the disciples saw these items as they entered the upper room. But, equally obvious is that the thought of any one of them using them personally did not enter their minds.
However, when Jesus saw these items, He apparently saw them from a totally different perspective than His companions.
Perhaps Peter spoke for all of them when he said, ‘thou shall never wash my feet.’ Such a task was too utterly debasing for him to even consider, and he wrongly assumed that Jesus would never use them. He saw the same things Jesus saw, but Peter saw them differently.
Virtually everything Jesus saw, He saw as a means of ministry. Remember, He said He came not to be ministered unto, but to minister. He came not to be served but to serve. When He saw a boat He thought of how to use it to help others. When He saw a small lunch of fish and bread…yep! Your right. He thought of others. All that He saw, He used as a vehicle to meet needs or teach a spiritual truth.
How differently most of us think. When we see these items (think shopping) we have an inclination to think first of ourselves (we say, boy, I wish I could have that) rather than how it could meet the needs of others. YEP, I’m guilty.
So, maybe this should be our morning prayer, every morning, “Father, give me the eyes of Jesus”. Look around. What do you see? Who do you see? How can we help others?
Jesus even saw people in the same purposeful and constructive way. Think of the woman at the well. When He met her He didn’t see her as a vehicle to satisfy some manly selfish urge, rather as someone who could bring an entire town to salvation.
II Corinthians 5:17 says, “therefore, if any one be in Christ, they are a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”
All things? Yes even our eyes.
Let us make this our prayer, “Father, help us to see through the eyes of Jesus”.
I am praying for you and your family,
Leonard Navarre
Lubbock, TX