One of my favorite Christmas songs is Mary Did You Know? by Mark Lowry. The song asks Mary if she knew that the baby boy born to her was the many things that Jesus eventually became. We know that she understood Jesus was the son of God and that her baby was the promised Messiah because the angel Gabriel told her,
"He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. 33 "And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end." [Luke 1:32-33 NKJV]
Joseph and Mary both knew who this very special child was to be. Luke recorded in 2:33, "And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him."
One of my favorite lines in the song is, "When you kiss your little baby, you kiss the face of God." This causes me to realize that when Mary was looking in the eyes of her baby boy she was looking into the eyes of the Great I AM, which is the last words of the song.
It makes you wonder what it would have been like looking into the eyes of Jesus?
The Bibles says the eyes are the lamp to the body (Luke 11:34-36).
William Shakespeare once said “The Eyes are the window to your soul.”
If you were to look into Jesus' eyes, what would you see?
You would be looking into eyes that shows us the soul of Jesus our Savior.
I think you would see compassion, forgiveness, understanding and love.
These are the character of Jesus, seen in the Fruit of the Spirit, (Galatians 5:22).
I think if you were to actually look into the eyes of Jesus you would be looking into the eyes of our Heavenly Father, reaching out to you, ready to forgive all your trespasses, all of your internal struggles, and all of your human desires.
You would be looking into eyes that wants to show you all the marvels of the universe.
You would be seeing His desire for you to know and understand what it is like to be sinless.
You would be looking into eyes that longs for you to grow and become like Him.
As you continue to look into His eyes, your soul would melt away all the dross that holds you back, and you would be so inspired that there is nothing you can't do because you have now looked into the eyes of the Almighty God!!
If we can't be where Jesus is, how can we look into the eyes of Jesus?
Look into the Word of God and you will be looking into His eyes.
Look in the Gospels and read the things about Jesus, you will be looking into His eyes.
Look in the book of Ephesians, you will be looking deep into the soul of who Jesus is.
When John the Baptist wanted to be sure that Jesus was the Christ, his answer back from Jesus was, "Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them", [Luke 7:22 NKJV]. When John looked into the eyes of Jesus, John was able to see the passion he had for doing these things. If we were to look through the eyes of Jesus we too would see His passion to do these things.
Looking Through Jesus' Eyes
As we are looking into the eyes of Jesus, what is it that He sees in our eyes?
Does he see?
Does he see people who would lie and cheat each other more than people being kind and understanding?
Does he see families falling apart because of selfishness and pride?
Does he see parents who will not discipline their children?
Does he see children who will not honor their parents?
Does he see hatred instead of love?
Dishonesty instead of truth?
People wanting instead of giving?
Does He see love coming out of your eyes, or does He see the darkness that has engulfed you because you really do not know what it is like to look into the eyes of Jesus?
Do you even notice those around you?
Are you so busy in life you do not see what Jesus sees?
I means those you work with, you go to school with, that you are sitting next to in church.
These could be your friends or acquaintances.
They could be family members who are hurting and just want to be understood.
Do you even notice!!!!
Or are you so wrapped up in your personal concerns you haven't noticed anything else?!!
At what point can Jesus look into your eyes and see His character living in your soul?
At what point can Jesus look into your eyes and see that you are a living, walking, testimony of the blessings of God?
What will it take to change you so when Jesus looks into your eyes He sees you have surrendered to His passion and His character. He dwells in us through salvation and His Spirit empowers us through baptism of the Holy Spirit. Because we have Jesus in us, we can become like him and live in his character.
You can start seeing things through Jesus' eyes.
You can notice those who are in need.
You can have compassion for people of different skin color, different social structures, different mindsets.
You can reach beyond your own world and make a difference that changes societies, and changes the outcome of history.
You can be the blessings people right now! Where you are!
You do not have to have large amounts of money.
You do not have to have high levels of education.
You do not have to be the greatest in leadership abilities nor be an innovator of great things.
You only have to let what is in you through the Holy Spirit come out and you will change the world you live in.
It's up to you!
When you look into the eyes of Jesus Christ, it will change everything.
See, a baby changes everything. When Jesus came as a baby in Bethlehem, it changed everything.
"Lord Jesus, thank you for coming as a child and changing our world. Thank you that if we take the time and make the effort, we can look into your eyes and be transformed into your image. May the Holy Spirit make us aware that we are looking into your eyes through the Bible and help us to understand how, in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!"