Removing the Lens

Removing the Lens
 
Have you ever wondered if you see Christ clearly, the way He really is according to the scripture, or if you see a distorted version of Christ based upon wrong things you have been taught/learned or experiences you have walked though that cause you to see Christ a certain way?
 
Many of us would say, “I’ve read the Bible and so I know who Christ is; I know what He is like.”, but my question to you is: What if you read the Bible with a particular lens on? What if you see and interpret the word of God through a filter you have picked up?  

Maybe you walked through an experience in life where you didn’t see the sick person you loved healed, so when you read out of Isaiah 53, “by His stripes you are healed”, you struggle to see Christ as the healer. Or, maybe, you write it off and say, "that’s only talking about spiritual healing, not physical". Maybe your dad wasn’t there for you growing up, maybe the word father invokes feelings of pain, regret, disappointment, or rejection. When you read the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 it’s hard for you to see a father who isn’t disappointed or angry with his son who has returned home, and it’s even harder to see a father who is over joyed that his son has returned.    
 
The 12 apostles and the majority of the early disciples, just like any Jewish boys, grew up reading, studying, and memorizing the Old Testament scriptures. Some walked with Jesus and others observed from afar much of what Jesus did for three and a half years, and after all that many still didn’t recognize that Jesus is the Messiah prophesied and spoken of all through the Old Testament scriptures.  
 
“And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” – Luke 24:25-27
 
This Luke passage is an encounter Jesus had with two of his disciples on a road to a village called Emmaus, this took place after His death, burial, and resurrection. These disciples walked with Jesus for many years but didn’t see that Jesus was the Christ. How is that possible? Could it be because they had an idea about who the messiah was going to be or what He would be like that was contrary to truth? Is it possible that they had a distorted view of scripture based upon tradition, teaching, or influence they picked up along the way?  
 
The question remains, how do we see Jesus rightly? How do we take off any religious glasses or filters we have picked up along the way? Really all through the scriptures, even in that Luke 24 story, it wasn’t until Christ, or the Holy Spirit opened the eyes of believers to see, that Christ was seen rightly. It’s not until hearts are humbled, people repent/change, and let go of old mind sets that Christ is clearly seen.  
 
 
Here are a few things that can help us see Christ rightly:  
 
Come to the scripture like a child. Let’s come humbly, eager to learn and see Christ afresh, laying aside our preferences and options and let’s desire the pure milk of the word. Read: Matthew 18:2-4 & 1 Peter 2:2  
 
Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to fill us, let’s be asking God to grant to us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ, and let’s be leaning into the Spirit of truth to lead us into all truth. Read: Ephesians 5:18, Ephesians 1:17, & John 16:13
 
Let’s be staring at Jesus the perfector of our faith, let’s be meditating on His word, and let’s be spending time in prayer and waiting on the God! Read: Hebrews 12:2, Psalms 119:97-99, Jeremiah 29:12-13
 
Let’s make sure that things are right between us and God and between us and others so no sin, bitterness, anger, lies, etc.. can get in the way of seeing God rightly. Read: James 4:8, Matthew 5:23-24, & Romans 12:18, Matthew 6:14-15
 
 
Blessings,
 
~Timothy Glasgo