The Eyes of Christ
Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7
April 2, 2006
There were two Marines who boarded a train together, one a young man not too long out of recruit training and the other, his commanding officer. They sat across the aisle from a pretty young woman and her grandmother. It was evident that the young Marine and the girl were smitten with each other.
Shortly after the train left the station, they entered the mountains and shortly after that, passed through a long, dark tunnel. It was pitch black. No one could see anything. There in the darkness, came the sound of the smack of a kiss followed by a slap across a face. When the train emerged from the tunnel, the four people sat there without looking at each other and without saying a word.
The grandmother was thinking to herself, “It was very rude for that young man to kiss my granddaughter, but I’m glad she slapped him.”
The commanding officer was thinking, “I didn’t think the young Marine was brave enough to kiss that girl, but I sure wish she hadn’t missed him and slapped me instead.”
The young woman was thinking, “I’m glad he kissed me, but I wish my grandmother had not slapped him.”
The young Marine was sitting there with a smile on his face, thinking, “Life is good. It isn’t often that a Marine gets to kiss a pretty woman and slap his commanding officer all at the same time!”
All sorts of strange things happen when we can’t see. Back in the early 90’s, I was for several years, the Director for our Elementary Ranch Camp down at our Pine Creek Camp west of Lafayette. If you’ve not been there, Pine Creek is a great camp, even if it is a little rustic. It is over three hundred acres of woodland with a couple of large building for group meetings and smaller cabins in the woods for sleeping. As Director for the week, I got to stay in my own room in the main lodge.
We would ride horses all day, learning how to control these animals, how to care for them, and how to clean up after them. Each camper had his or her own horse for the week. Every morning, after breakfast and devotions, we would shovel out their stalls, groom them, pick their hooves, saddle them, and head for the riding arena or the horse trails. By the end of the week, I would always have blisters in places I didn’t think you could get blisters. On the final day, we would always put on a riding exhibition for parents to show them what the campers had learned that week.
The campers and their counselors stayed in the cabins in the woods. After dinner, evening activities, and showers, I would always have a Bible study lesson around a campfire before bedtime.
I remember the first time I did this. The cabins were a quarter of a mile or so from the main lodge where I was staying. When I had finished the Bible study and the campers were off to bed, it was pitch dark. The trees were in full leaf and you couldn’t see the moon or the stars. I had a flashlight, but it didn’t do much good as I tried to navigate that narrow path through the woods back to my room.
The very first time I walked back in the dark, I got hopelessly lost. I wasn’t really panicked. I knew if I didn’t make it back, someone would come along the next morning before breakfast and find me, but it was a little disconcerting. I literally couldn’t see more than two steps ahead of me. Wandering off the trail into poison ivy was the least of my worries. I wondered if I was going to fall off the footbridge that was ahead and end up in the creek.
I received a new appreciation that night, for people who are blind or who don’t have full use of their eyesight. For people who actually are blind, researchers at the University of Southern California may have an answer. They have developed a system known as “Argus” named after the mythological Greek god who had 100 eyes.
Developed for people who suffer from retinitis pigmentosa, or degenerated retinas, the Argus system consists of artificial retinas, tiny electronic eye implants, and a video camera mounted on a pair of sunglasses. So far, the results are promising that this technology might enable some formerly blind people to see.
Blindness is a physical malady. It can also be a spiritual condition. The prophet Isaiah was talking about this blindness when he had a vision of a future when those spiritual eyes would be opened. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light and those who dwell in a land of deep darkness – on them has light shined” (Isaiah 9:2). The sort of darkness that is sometimes found in the lives of human beings needs more than a mechanical or electronic correction. It requires more than artificial eyes. It requires the eyes of Jesus.
The Scripture lesson we read this morning is not usually associated with this time of year. It is generally read and preached during Advent and Christmas, but I think it has some very important things to tell us today as we continue looking at Jesus during our Lenten journey. It is about light winning over darkness. It is about new ways of seeing reality. It is about a new history. It is about new eyes of faith.
Easter morning will be upon us in just a short time. On that day, we will proclaim that we are Easter people, that we believe in the resurrection, that we dedicate ourselves to living like Jesus, and that we will do our best to see things the ways Jesus sees. So the natural question is, “How does Jesus see? What does it mean to see with Jesus eyes?”
Well, there are clues – four of them in fact – in the lesson from Isaiah this morning. The clues are found in the four names which Isaiah gives to the child who is sent to occupy the throne of David: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.
First, having Jesus as our Wonderful Counselor means that we don’t have to try to figure things out all by ourselves, but have his wisdom and insight on which to draw. A few weeks ago, I gathered with eight pastors and our District Superintendent over morning coffee and donuts. We were talking about some new ways of doing ministry in the city and if there were ways that we could work together. One of the ideas with which we all agreed, was that there are times when it would be helpful to have. It would be very beneficial to have some people who we could call with questions and concerns, people who could offer sound, reasonable advice, people who could help us ask the right questions, people who would have a heart for pastors and churches, people who would have fresh eyes and new ideas for doing ministry.
Such a group of people could coach us through the challenging times of ministry, and as such, would be an asset to all of us. Even more than that, however, is the ability of Jesus to see things as they really are, and to offer us a way through the darkness. Jesus, the Wonderful Counselor can give us new perspectives on life, living, and ministry because he sees things from the perspective of eternity.
Seeing through the eyes of Jesus, we glimpse the Wonderful Counselor who teaches us the new ways of the kingdom.
Seeing with the eyes of Jesus helps us perceive the power of a Mighty God. This is the Mighty God who breathed the creation into being, who put men and women on the earth to steward that creation, who provided us a history, who drew us together in community. This is the Mighty God who came to earth in the form of an infant. Sure, a baby doesn’t look too powerful or too mighty or too capable. But this baby was different. This baby would grow and would challenge the systems of hatred and idolatry, sin and death. In deference to our President, Jesus is more than a favorite philosopher. He is the Mighty God who holds the fate of whole nations and races in the palm of his hand.
Seeing with the eyes of Jesus helps us take note that the Devil hasn’t a chance against this Mighty God. Martin Luther wrote these words in his hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God.”
And though this world with devils filled should threaten to undo us, we will not fear for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us. The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; his rage we can endure, for lo his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him.
Seeing with the eyes of Jesus means that we can see a Mighty God who is there with us when we are doing battle with all sorts of troubles such as: temptations, obstacles, setbacks, rejection, disappointments, or crushing loss.
Looking at reality through the eyes of Jesus enables us to have a clear vision of our Everlasting Father. One of the disagreements that Toni and I have had over the years has been the use of masculine language for God. She tells me that we have to be careful because there are many women who have had abusive fathers, or absent fathers, or cold and uncaring fathers. She says that we have to find language that doesn’t immediately turn such women off from the church. I understand that. I really do.
My response has always been to acknowledge the reality of far-less-than-perfect fathers. Of course there are fathers who do great damage to their daughters. Of course there are fathers who don’t understand that it takes more to be a dad than just to donate some cells.
But let me tell you about our Everlasting Father, a God who is much more than any earthly father. Let me introduce you to an Everlasting Father who will not abuse, who will not deny, who will not neglect, who will not run and hide, who will be there through thick and thin. Let me tell you about an Everlasting Father who cares for such insignificant creatures as sparrows, and such insignificant plants as lilies. Having Jesus eyes enables us to see our Everlasting Father who is willing to give everything for our safety, security, and salvation.
Finally, seeing with the eyes of Jesus enables us to see the Prince of Peace. Goodness knows we have to have a new vision of peace. There is a lack of peace in our families, in our communities, in our churches, and in our nation. Seeing with the eyes of Jesus helps us to find new ways to mediate conflict, new ways to listen to each other without fighting, new ways to get along in community.
Seeing with the eyes of Jesus helps us envision national policy that which seeks justice and righteousness for the poor, for the downtrodden, for the outcast. It helps us envision the reality of spears which are beaten into pruning shears and swords which are turned into plowshares and nuclear arsenals which are forsaken that others might have bread to eat.
I believe that in this season of Lent – in all the seasons of the year – we need vision correction. We are too often farsighted, or shortsighted, or just plain blind to the reality of God’s kingdom. As we make our way to Easter, may we seek new vision through the eyes of Jesus.
