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“And he (Jesus) sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.” (Mark 12:41)
I love going up to Pearl Street in Boulder to people-watch. Whether it’s someone who has memorized the boundaries of every zip code in the US or the performance of a freelance musician, there’s always something interesting to observe. I enjoy people-watching. But, did you know Jesus enjoyed doing the same thing? Mark recorded, “And he (Jesus) sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums.” (Mark 12:41) Jesus sat down and watched the people. He took in the temple scene – noticing the people going about their everyday routines. However, Jesus didn’t just watch the people, he saw them. He saw each individual. He saw their joy and their pain. He saw their value. He saw their life.
It’s astounding that Jesus, the King of the universe, sees people. It’s shocking because typically the more important people are, the less they see other people – they are the central point of focus. But this isn’t the case with Jesus. He’s the most significant person to walk the face of the earth and he sees “the least of these” (Matthew 25:40). The gospels often recount this particularity of Jesus. In Matthew 9:36, we read, “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” This is Jesus’ regular pattern. People are oppressed, abused, or take advantage of and Jesus sees – and steps in to become their shepherd. Jesus transcends the social structures, the typical ways we as human beings allot value and worth, and he sees into the soul.
When we think about Jesus seeing people, it can be easier to believe that he sees everyone else – it’s much harder to believe that he sees us. It can be hard to believe that he sees our brokenness, doubts, regrets, and fears. Today, remember that he sees, and like a shepherd, steps in. As followers of Jesus, we’re first called to receive this love from Jesus, but then we’re called to give it. The harassed and helpless catch the eye of Jesus and they can catch our eye, too, if we’re willing to see. Recently we heard from Jeff Brodsky of JOY International – he’s a man who sees. Spend some time on their website intentionally seeing the broken he is working with – www.joy.org. Pray for fresh eyes and a soft heart.[/vc_column_text][us_separator height=”25px” size=”custom”][vc_column_text 0=””]
By Ryan Paulson
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