“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:2
A friend of mine
birthed a baby boy on Sunday—a 9 pound, 2 ounce, chubby, cuddly,
near-‘bout-perfect human being. Because we don’t live in the same town, I
haven’t seen him yet in person, but thanks to technology, the pictures keep
coming—and almost all of them are the same. A parent, grandparent, aunt,
uncle, or friend is holding that sweet baby and staring. In only a few of
the shots is the full face of the adult visible because their eyes are focused
on the infant. The photo isn’t about them but him. They just happen
to be the ones privileged at the moment to have him in their arms.
If the story sounds
familiar, that’s because it is. The virgin Mary had a baby boy—a cuddly,
crying, absolutely perfect human being, and since none of us lived during that
time, we haven’t seen Him in person yet, but, thanks to the timeless Word, the
pictures keep coming—and almost all of them are the same. An amazed Mary
and Joseph stare at the miracle in the manger. Breathless shepherds gawk
at God wrapped in strips of cloth. Wondering Wise Men gaze on the
greatest gift ever given. We are told little about them but much about
Him because all eyes are focused on the infant. They just happen to be
the ones privileged at the moment to be in His presence.
But the album
doesn’t end in Bethlehem. Every turning page brings a scene of someone else
seeing Jesus. John the Baptist cries out that he is looking at the Lamb of
God. Nicodemus sneaks a visit at night and leaves seeing the Light.
Fishermen abandon their nets when they notice Jesus waving them His way.
Zaccheus climbs a tree to catch a glimpse and gets a guest. Bartimaeus shouts
out for sight, and his first look is at His Lord. The centurion watches
Christ die and declares Him divine. And at the sound of her name, Mary
Magdalene’s weeping eyes look straight into those of the resurrected King.
No one who truly
sees Jesus stays the same, and while our sight of the Savior isn’t physical
(yet), the eyes of our hearts have been opened to view Him through faith. “Though
you have not seen him, you love him. And even though you do not see him
now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,
for you are receiving the goal of your faith—the salvation of your souls”(1 Pet
1:8-9). Because of this great grace, each moment of every day,
especially these days as we contemplate the marvel of the incarnation, “let
us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith”(Heb. 12:2).
No matter where you look, no thing or no one will ever be
more beautiful than Jesus.
Never stop staring.
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