One day at work I came across a coworker who was going through a difficult time in her life and appeared to be very sad, quite, preoccupied and withdrawn. Her eyes were downcast and seemed to be void of light. Though she didn’t speak much, she communicated volumes to reflect her mood and emotions. I couldn’t help but notice that her eyes could not contain the message, which she refused to speak with her mouth. This experience reminded me of a proverb about how the eyes are the windows of the soul. I began to think of the truth in that statement and how much is revealed of a person through the eyes. The Bible says that the eye is the light of the body (Luke 11:34). This can explain how we are able to share our feelings or possibly even our personal convictions without speaking a word. Sadness, pain, joy, fear, anger, love and hatred as well many other emotions or even ones mental state can be seen through the eyes of that person. This shows how the mind and body affect each other and how hiding ones true feelings or even personal character may prove difficult at times.
Eyes: Windows of the Soul
Have you ever spoken with someone who had expressive eyes? As they recall a story, did their eyes seem to accentuate the very point being made by the verbal communication given? Imagine living during Jesus time on earth as one of his disciples, privileged to personally observe him speaking, teaching, and healing. What message would his eyes portray to you? Envision being able to have a conversation with him as the disciples did. Would you see passion in his eyes to strengthen the reality of his message and give insight to its true meaning of power and potential to change lives? I think you would. The Bible continually speaks of the love of Christ. The book of John is considered the book of love because it describes the love Jesus had for all mankind. How can a heart so full of love and compassion refrain from flooding the eyes with a reflection of the same?
The Eyes of Jesus
To see the expressive eyes of Jesus, you merely have to choose one of the many compassionate stories in the Bible and step into the shoes of the main character. Take, for instance, the story of the widow’s only son. When Jesus saw the widow in pain, he had compassion on her and told her not to cry. Because he had love for her and felt her sorrow, he touched her sons’ coffin and gave the command that brought him back to life (Luke 7:13-15). Imagine being that mother looking into the eyes of the one who gave you the gift of your son-alive! Another report tells how he responded when confronted with the death of Lazarus. Jesus saw his sister weeping, was troubled in spirit and wept also as he called Lazarus to come forth-raising him from the dead (John 11: 32-44). How his eyes must have danced with joy to be able to give such restoration to these people whom he loved so much. He was fully committed to sharing in the lives of those around him and openly expressed his love and compassion for them.
His Ministry
His entire earthly existence was dedicated to love, life and giving both to others. How could anyone ever find any wrong in that? The religion scholars did and wanted him stopped at any cost. They decided that the only price sufficient was to forever extinguish the eyes that sparked life to the hopeless and shed light in dark places. The eyes and life of Jesus became the payment they required (John 19:7). The life that lived for others and began on earth for the purpose of bringing hope to the world was not welcomed and suffered for it. The suffering was brutal and did not only encompass physical beating but scorning, ridicule and persecution from Roman soldiers (Luke 22:63-67). While enduring this torture, he also faced abandonment of those he considered to be his closest companions-the result was isolation and loneliness. During each ordeal he presented love and compassion that, I believe, could not be contained by his eyes. This expression of intense love for us and for God’s will was evident in his eyes even though his flesh caused him to feel every hurt just as deeply as any one of us would. How do I know? The Bible states that when Jesus was taken to the high priest house, Peter (one of the twelve disciples) being close enough to see him, denied Jesus to the crowd outside. Immediately, Peter was convicted with one look from the loving eyes of Jesus and he began to sob from the grief of his betrayal (Luke 22:54-62).
The Trial
During the arrest and trial of Jesus, the ones who received the benefit of his love the most were the same ones who were demanding his crucifixion while the soldiers took joy in mocking and beating him (Luke 23:23). Throughout it all he never spoke a word in retaliation and continued to regard them with love. This love was apparent even amid the excruciating pain of hanging on a cross by nails driven through the hands and feet. First, when Jesus gazed down at his mother with eyes of compassion as he said to his disciple John to care for her as his own (John 19:26-27). Then, as he saw past his own suffering and considered with mercy the ones directly responsible for his anguish as he prayed on their behalf for God’s forgiveness (Luke 24:34). It seems that anyone would find it nearly impossible to even imagine looking at someone who caused so much misery with love or mercy-but Jesus did. Love continued to radiate from his presence when he turned eyes full of grace to the thief on the cross next to him as he reassured the man of his eternity (Luke 24:39-43).
What He Can Do For You
He still restores us today with mercy and grace that flows through eyes of love, which he reveals to all who have the desire to know him. He blesses that desire with the ability to envision his eyes covered in blood and swollen but full of love as he hung on the cross for the very ones that put him there-all of humanity. The eyes that wept with compassion, convicted with truth, healed with grace and renewed with hope. Those eyes can do the same today if we permit ourselves to be drawn as so many were all those years ago. So allow yourself to be drawn to the eyes of hope, truth, grace and mercy-the eyes of love.
copyright Morning Glories 2009
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