When I see Him... I have a Question or two for Him...

6 When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean.7 And when he learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. 8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. 9 So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. 12 And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. (Luke 23)
Herod had been waiting for this.  Pilate had not. Both had lots of questions for Jesus. They did not like the answers, or lack of them.  Every now and then we meet a person who holds a grudge with God and wants to "ask Him a question or two..."  Sometimes we may feel like that ourselves.  What is our motive? Do we think we could run the world better? Do we think we are more righteous?  Do we want to always be in control?  Herod did.  He asked his questions. He did not get the answers he wanted.  But then again, did he want to hear what Jesus had to say?  Do we?

Seeing Jesus as The Son

28 Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen. (Luke 9)
Why is this event so pivotal in the ministry of Jesus?  The key three disciples were able to see Jesus not just as a great man of prayer, not just as a great prophet and leader like Moses and Elijah, but for Who God showed Him to be and announced Him to be: God's Son - the one to listen to and follow.  It was a loud, exciting experience, followed by a silence of appropriate awe.  That's what it's like when we see Jesus for Who He truly is - God's Son, the Chosen Savior, the One we need.  Choose to see Him today for Who He is. 

Why Do You Want to See Jesus?

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him. (Luke 9)
Luke throws this little paragraph in as a sidenote before jumping back into the chronological narrative of Jesus' sending out the twelve and their report upon returning.  He leaves us hanging with this statement: "Aand he (Herod) sought to see Him."  Herod loved entertainment.  That's part of the reason John the Baptizer ended up dead.  When Herod heard the John might have risen from the dead, he wanted to make sure Jesus was not John, to make sure John was dead.  And if He was not John, maybe the entertainment value would be even higher.  We do not know the full value of Herod's desire, but we come to see over time that it was not so he could trust Him, learn from Him or worship Him. Many beleive that seeing is believing - that if they saw Jesus, and what He did when He walked the earth, or perform the miracle they want, they would believe in Him.  In essence, they want to see Jesus so He can do what they want.  Why do you want to see Jesus?  To get what you want, or to get what you need?  

When Darkness sees the Light

26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 When Jesus had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” 29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) 30 Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission. 33 Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. (Luke 8)
There is no dimmer switch with Jesus.  When the demon-driven man saw Him, the evil spirits within the man could not help but immediately respond. Light hit them like the Sun appearing suddenly and overwhelmingly. There was no place for darkness to hide. The only choice was to run toward Him or away from Him.  Change, beginning at that day forward, was imperitive.  The first order of business was to clean house, which Jesus did.  In our culture, and in our lives, we are so used to shades of gray and shadows slowly disappearing, allowing our eyes to adjust to the light, and see only what we want to see.  Sometimes what we need is a rude and sudden awakening that moves us to action, for the Light to arrive so suddenly we can see things, and ourselves, as thye really are, and take prompt action.  May He shine in our hearts and lives today. 

Seeing Jesus' Silent Actions...

36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” (Luke 7)

People had heard Jesus speak, and heard about the things He had done, and were impressed and inquisitive about the who, why, and how of His person. This leader was impressed enough to request a personal audience with Jesus in His home.  He watches as this "siful" woman comes and lavishes her adoration and affection on Jesus. He wonders in his heart why Jesus allows this. I wonder in my heart why this woman felt liberty to come into the man's house in the first place; had she been there before on other "business"?  Jesus' seeminly passive response to the woman stirs visible questioning in the man's mind, which brings Jesus' response without being asked.  What is thought-provoking is not only what Jesus says and does, in accepting her worship and forgiving her sin; it is also in what He does not say or do.  Going along with His message is that He does not offer Simon forgiveness, reinforcing the message of grace He had been preaching and demonstrating.  What He does not do speaks as loudly as what He says.  He is worthy of worship. He forgives the repentant. He is not impressed by our self-righteousness. 

Seeing Skinny Jesus

6 On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. 2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why are you doing what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath?” 3 And Jesus answered them, “Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him: 4 how he entered the house of God and took and ate the bread of the Presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those with him?” 5 And he said to them, “The Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.”

6 On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. 7 And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find a reason to accuse him. 8 But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. 9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored.11 But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus. (Luke 6)

When you are looking through a slitted box or bag or any other headcovering, you can only see a sliver of the big picture.  That's the way these religious leaders were with Jesus. They only saw Him with this narrow view they had created to evaluate life and criticize others.  They viewed him as a Sabbath-breaker challenging their authority.  They were right on the latter, but not the first.  They missed God's view of the Sabbath, and his view on the sanctity of human life, as well as how He viewed them and their self-perception. Jesus invited them, and invites us to take off the bag and the the way God does - to view ourselves, others, and Him and His will in a whole new light - full daylight. May we see Jesus not as a skinny Sabbath-breaker, but our great big God. 

Seeing and Trusting

12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy.And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” 13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Luke 5)
"When he saw Jesus..."  This man had a choice of responses: run and hide because he was a leper; shout at Jesus to watch out; run to His feet and bow down in faith.  We always have choices when we see Jesus has come our way.  Often, we choose to run away.  This man believed Jesus could and would. He also believed in the sovereignty of God - not in a negative way, that God would heal him if He so chose to in some arbitrary way, but positively - that God always can, but He wants and deserves to be asked.  Come, bow down, ask, then go and show, so others can see what Jesus can do too. 

The Sight and Sound of Jesus

31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region. (Luke 4)
They saw Him coming.  The demons controlling and contorting the man saw Him coming toward them and they reacted.  When all was said and done, this sighting brought a wave of sound that preceded Jesus. People heard about Him, so that when they saw Him they were prepared to listen to Him and see what He could and would do.   We often say "seeing is believing", but Paul makes it clear that what leads to salvation is not the seeing as much as the hearing of the Word of God.  People need both. They need to hear the Good News of the Gospel, and they need to see Jesus in us.  Let's make sure both happen. 

All Eyes on Jesus

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
    and recovering of sight to the blind,
    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?”  (Luke 4)

Jesus had returned to His hometown, taught in the synagogue, and made this bold statement about His identity.  He received mixed reviews.  Many marveled at His wisdom; some sought to kill Him; most could not see past His identity as the son of Joseph to the fact that He was the Son of God.  Who do you see when you look at Jesus, revealed in the scriptures, to your heart and mind?  Do you see Him as your Deliverer, who sets the captives free, your Physician, who gives you spiritual sight, and the One through Whom God gives all spiritual blessings? Take a second look. 

Helping Others See Jesus

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. (John 1)
Why am I here? John the Baptizer had no problems answering that question. His calling was to prepare people to receive Jesus, and when he saw Him, to point people to Him.  In a sense, that is why all followers of Christ are still here on earth and did not either go with Him when He ascended, or since then, when we have trusted Him as Savior.  We are here to help others see Jesus and decide to follow Him too.  Our question for the day is this: "Do I help others see Him and run to Him, or run from Him?"

Seeing Jesus Differently

41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day's journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.48 And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” 49 And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?” 50 And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man. (Luke 2)

Joseph and Mary had been entrusted with the care of Jesus. Now, twelve, Jesus had come to a point where he was somewhat considered a spiritual "adult", and expected to act as such. There was no such thing as the transition of being a teenager or adolescent; you began to take more responsibility for oneself. When Jesus came up AWOL, His parents began the search, only to find Him exactly where they should have.  Observing Jesus TEACHING the teachers in the temple, before they say anything, "when His parents saw Him, they were astoninshed."  What a reaction to Jesus. They saw Him differently than before. Had He changed overnight? Doubtfully. They were now able to see Him more for Who he really was.  Often, we can get into this rut of thinking we have seen everything there is to see and know about Jesus. We need to keep coming back to see more of Who He is, what He does, and how we fit into His life.  Then, we, like Mary, will treasure these things in our hearts, and appreciate Him more. 

Being in the Right Place to See Jesus

36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2)
Timing is everything, so we are told.  But often that saying gives the impression that it is by mere luck or chance that we are in the right place at the right time. Rather, it is a matter of continually seeking the Lord, His will, and living in service and obedience so we will find ourselves in the right place.  Anna was there "at that very hour" because she was faithfully there.  Many times, we do not know what God has for our day, but if we will seek Him, learn to listen to His Spirit, care about others, and seek to serve Him and them, He will "send" someone our way; we will see them where and when He wants so we can help, share Christ, or encourage them in their journey.  Where will the "right place" be for you today?