When Jesus looks at his children he sees their heart. In 1 Samuel 16:7, the Lord said, “I do not judge as people judge. They look at the outward appearance, but I look at the heart.”
Jesus also sees their needs. As a result, Jesus felt unmatched compassion for the poorest of the poor and the sickest of the sick. Philippians 4:19 promises to meet those needs by saying, ” And with all his abundant wealth through Christ Jesus, my God will supply all your needs.”
Jesus, called the Word in John 1:1, is God and was with God at the time of creation, and then he became human and walked on Earth with those he created. Matthew 1:23 declares that “he will be called Immanuel (which means God is with us).”
Jesus as the Shepherd
Jesus sees himself as the shepherd and men are his flocks. Like a shepherd, Jesus knows his sheep need to be fed and watched over. In John 10:14-15 Jesus says “I am the good shepherd. As the Father knows me and I know the Father, in the same way, I know my sheep and they know me.”
Because he was who he truly was, God, he lived without sin the entire time he was on Earth. He witnessed the sinful nature of those he came to save, yet he willingly allowed himself to be crucified. 1 John 3:5 supports this. “You know that Christ appeared to take away sins and that there is no sin in him.” That act demonstrates how Christians should try to live if they are trying to live as Jesus did. If they want to see things the way he did, then they have to understand and obey the Father’s will. Children of God are to sacrifice everything for those in need, and, no matter what personal plan they may have for themselves, they are to obey their Father.
Christians are to love those who need love, even their enemies. They are to tell those who do wrong that they are forgiven. Matthew 5:44 directs Christians to “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” Followers of Jesus must tell them Jesus loves them and Jesus wants them to see his love in believers so that they will want what Christians have. These are all things believers learn as they walk along the road Jesus showed them.
I am the vine; you are the branches
John15:5 says “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
Jesus is showing Christians how they become linked when they accept him as he really is. He is Lord. He is the Savior. And he is the vine. As the vine grows and as the church grows, there are more and more branches, and each of them has the power to radiate light into the darkness. The more light shines, the more fruit will come from it. The more people will come to know him and will be saved. The last line says, apart from Jesus Christians can do nothing.
Learning to see things as Jesus saw them is a process, but it is one worth living. When he is in you and you are in him it changes the shape of your heart. You look at the less fortunate in a different way. You feel for them. You see that they have value and that they have potential. Jesus will bring you to a place where you will simply love and serve those that need you. You will not do it to earn a place in heaven. No, you will do it because Jesus changed your heart and you simply love him for it. You will love and serve because you want to continue the work Jesus started. You will learn to see as Jesus sees.
