“And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “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.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”
Mark 1:23-25
Current National Geographic documentary, One Strange Rock, is a story about the earth from the perspective of the only people who have ever left it. Astronaut and MIT astronautics professor Jeff Hoffman shares his unique knowledge and experience seeing the earth and the sun from outer space. This Bible story from Mark testifies to the way Jesus, the son of God who came down from the spiritual realms of heaven and went back again, sees us. In this passage Jesus sees a man living in the conflict of two spiritual worlds.
The man is at the mercy of an unclean spirit from the kingdom of darkness. He is also at the mercy of Jesus who has all authority over the Kingdom of God and Satan’s world. The unclean spirit obeys Jesus’ commands and the man is restored. The man is made new, healed from his oppression, and brought out of the darkness into the kingdom of light. Jesus came to make lives whole again and bring restoration to heart, mind, strength and soul.
Jesus sees humanity with his father’s eyes. Jesus sees us as we were created to be, not by the sin that entangles us or the things we think define us. Though Peter stumbles, Jesus sees him as the rock the church will be built upon. Though Saul persecutes him, Jesus sees the apostle Paul who will take the gospel to all the Roman Empire. Though a woman is labeled unclean by others, Jesus sees her when she touches him in a crowd, heals her and calls her his daughter.
Jesus sees you. He sees more than the things that oppress you; he sees your true identity. Jesus sees all God made you to be, and the process he is bringing you through. He sees all the good works he has gifted you to do. The places we live need to see the transformation that wholeness brings into the lives of Jesus’ followers. In prayer, ask for the Father’s eyes, to look at others with his eyes and see what he sees. After looking at others it might be easier to look at yourself and see yourself as God sees you.
By Donna Burns
