We will always keep looking at Him

Looking at Jesus. How do you do that? When do you do that?

Mary says in this part of The Chosen, "We will watch, and watch and watch, forever I think." You literally never get tired of Jesus.

For Jesus' followers, of course, that was very literal. Watching His hands, what He did. How He did it. Watching His words. How did He speak? After all, a follower wanted to imitate the master.

Today - as followers of this same Jesus - we too want to see what He does, how He speaks. So that we know how to follow Him. We don't see Him as literally as we did then, but we do see Him. Don't we?

In the text we reflect on today there is a call, "Look to Jesus" or "Let's keep our eyes on Jesus." That's something we need today, too. Looking at Jesus. Keeping Him before our eyes. How can we do that?

Two suggestions:

1. You see Jesus when you look at what He has done in the past. Hebrews 12 follows chapter 11 where you see an impressive list of heroes passing by. All kinds of people who turned to God in the various situations they were in. In their lives you see God at work. Looking at it that way encourages you, because what God did in the lives of Noah, Abraham and Gideon, Jesus wants to do in your life too. Look at and learn from those who have gone before you!
2. You see Jesus throughout the Bible. But you meet Him in a special way in the gospels. Do you see Him? He was a human being like us. Talking, eating, doing miracles, taking time, touching, enjoying, crying. He knows it. He sympathizes, understands you and is - even now - close to you. To look closely requires time. Time and rest. It is important to take that time. The disciples left everything behind so they could be with Jesus, have time with him. Discipleship is not a "remote study" but a close relationship. So, look a lot at the Jesus you encounter in the gospel.

Mary said, "We will always keep looking at Him." As you do that you will find that looking at Jesus changes you. I think that is one of the keys to how you put verse 1 of Hebrews into practice.

Take the following questions to ponder:

• How do you view Jesus?
• Do you recognize the two suggestions? Which one appeals to you the most? How do you put that into practice?
• "Looking at Jesus changes you. What do you notice about that?
• How does Jesus become greater for you? What things do you have to put away from yourself? What may you put on from Him?

Prayer:

"Lord, there is so much that demands my attention, but I would like to look at You. You are faithful. You are "firm and sure." You are the foundation on which I can stand. Help me Lord to always look to You and would You please change me? I would like You to become more in my life, so I may become less. Lord, I want to lay down ... [become concrete]. Lord, thank You that You see me and walk beside me. Amen."