Seeing the Lord Jesus
Now there were certain Greeks among those who came up to worship at the feast. Then they came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, "Sir, we wish to see Jesus." (John 12:20-21 NKJV)
We see a lot of hatred, violence, war, and new diseases on the news and in our communities today. Sometimes one wonders if it would be possible to find an uninhabited island somewhere where one could live and be a society drop out. But you know and I know that people are looking in the wrong direction for solutions to our dysfunctional societies. People are looking to men and not to the Lord. Many people in the Bible looked in the right direction and seeing the Lord for them was always a blessing.
The Shepherds
The shepherds became evangelists, telling others about the birth of the Lord after they saw Him. The Bible says, “Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds (Luke 2:17-18 NKJV).”
Simeon
Simeon had been told that he would not see death until He had seen the Lord’s Christ. The Lord fulfilled His promise to him and he was then prepared to die. Seeing the Lord the way Simeon saw him will always be the first step in preparing to die. Simeon said, "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation (Luke 2:29-30 NKJV).”
Zacchaeus
This man was little and had to make an effort to see the Lord. He climbed into a sycamore tree in order to see Him. As a result he was blessed with the Lord’s salvation and he was able to show the Lord hospitality. We read, “And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature (Luke 19:3 NKJV).” And again we read that the Lord said to Zacchaeus, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. (Luke 19:9-10 NKJV).” He was a fellow Jew and even though he was considered to be a sinner because he was a tax collector, he was “saved.”
The Disciples after the Resurrection
We read that the Lord appeared to His disciples in a room where the doors were shut for fear of the Jews after the crucifixion. I am sure that they wondered if they would be the next martyrs since they had publicly followed the Lord. When they first closed themselves in, they were not convinced that the Lord had been raised from the dead. They thought He was dead and their expectations for the future had died with Him. But their sorrow was turned to joy when they saw the Lord. We read, “He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord (John 20:20 NKJV).”
Us
We read, “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9 NKJV).” And again we read that we should be “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV).” This look saves when the look is a look of faith. This look is a look that encourages us in a dark day. This look causes a true believer to worship.
Which Vision will be Yours?
I am glad that I have seen the meek and lowly Jesus. I have trusted in His mercy. I can only ask my reader if you have gotten a vision of the Lord who saves or are you waiting for a vision of the Lord who will righteously judge you for your sins which could have been forgiven? That vision involves wailing for those who see Him. You can read all about it in the “rest of the story” found in the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. I personally can say like the hymn writer:
O joyous hour! when God to me
A vision gave of Calvary;
My bonds were loosed—my soul unbound;
I sang upon redemption ground.
We who believe have seen Him on the earth, on the cross and we will see Him in glory. What a sight that will be! Seeing the Lord Jesus gives hope and makes life worth living.
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of June 3, 2018