Jesus' Eyes

Every now and then there's a theme in my life. Whether it's an idea, a person, a word or a Scripture passage, it comes up, over and over and over again until I learn what I need to learn from it. And then it disappears as quick as it came, leaving just the wisdom or the feeling I gained from it.

These days, it's Luke 5. The paralytic man whose friends drop him through a roof to get him to Jesus. Well, maybe not "drop" but gently lower him down in front of the only man they know who can heal him. Just when I thought I'd gotten what was to be had out of it, it came back up again and I have no choice but to go back through it, wondering, "What am I missing?"

On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. And behold, some men were bringing on a bed a man who was paralyzed, and they were seeking to bring him in and lay him before Jesus, but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins"—he said to the man who was paralyzed—"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home." And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home,glorifying God. And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, "We have seen extraordinary things today."

Yesterday, someone posed this question.

"What did Jesus' eyes look like when He told the man to rise?"

Heart. Stopping.

That's all I could think.

After all this man has been through in his life and on his journey to get to Jesus, living completely dependent on what others could do for him, not experiencing much, trying not to be a burden to everyone in his life...

Then along comes a guy who he believes with some amount of faith can and will heal him.

I have to think this poor man was physically tired and uncomfortable after taking this journey. And I can't help but think of the view as he looked up at his friends, straining to carry him however far they had to. The stress in their eyes as they realized the house was too crowded. The twinkle of the idea to lower him down through the roof. The sweat that dripped down from their eyebrows as they tried to lift dead weight up onto the top of a house.

And oh the shock on the Pharisees' faces as he was lowered down from above. The hint of judgement as they looked at one another. The snickering from skeptics and the condemnation from those who don't believe unclean belongs in the presence of holy.

And the pain in this man's eyes as he questioned it all. The realization that maybe Jesus would laugh too. And the fear that maybe Jesus wasn't actually real. That all of this was in vain.

Then...in a moment, Jesus says, "Your sins are forgiven." I have to wonder if this guy wasn't a little disappointed. He wanted to walk. In my own life, I know that forgiveness is the greatest gift I could ever hope for, but I'm short-sighted. And some days...I just want to feel better.

It takes a lifetime to experience and understand forgiveness. But it would only take a moment to know you could walk when you'd never been able to before.

The Pharisees in the room begin to question Jesus, wondering how he thought he had the right to forgive sins, for they knew only God had that power.

Jesus didn't laugh at them or tell them they were stupid. He didn't throw a lightning bolt and kill them (although that would be kinda sweet). He basically said, "Fair enough...let me show you that I have the power of God."

And then something that I imagine was really beautiful happened...He shifted His attention from these men, from their thoughts and concerns, and looked right into the eyes of the paralyzed man.

I think it must be like those moments in the movies when all chaos around you fades and it's like it's just you and Jesus in the room and the only voice you hear is His as He says, "Rise. Pick up your bed and go home." He's got such confidence, not in your ability to walk but in His ability to heal. There's an inkling of wondering somewhere in the back of your mind that maybe, just maybe, it's not gonna work. But there's just so much strength in the way that He looks at you, in the tone of His voice, the gentleness of His smile, and the hope in His eyes that you're willing to risk the disappointment just for having had this encounter.

The man gets up and walks away. He goes home to glorify God while the rest of the room stands in awe.

I wonder...

There are so many little whisperings that we hear from our Savior, so many thoughts that we trust in, but are afraid of, so many things that He calls us to.

Would it make a difference if we took the time to imagine what it would be like for Jesus to look us in the eye and tell us to do the same thing. Would it be different if we had to look back at Him face-to-face to give our response.