This has been on my mind a lot these the past couple of days and I felt like I should write about it. Lately I've been studying the New Testament in greater depth with the intent to recognize more of the attributes that make up the character of Christ. I read a book a few months back that inspired this. The book was "The Way Back to Heaven" by S. Michael Wilcox. In it Wilcox writes about seeing with the eyes of Jesus. He brushes upon several accounts in the New Testament when Christ sees those who are a great way off, those who are alone in the sycamore tree, those who are toiling in the wind. Reading about this sparked a desire for me to learn of the eyes of Jesus and understand more how he sees us. What a beautiful and humbling experience it has been to find the way in which Christ beholds His brothers and sisters.
On Sunday in Sacrament Meeting, one of the speakers shared the story of Christ healing the ten lepers that prompted this post (Luke 17). During the time of Christ's ministry, those who had physical limitations, such as leprosy, were cast out and considered cursed. The people thought the physical or mental limitations indicated, or even derived from, spiritual problems. This tragic misconception changed the whole way they treated their brothers and sisters. They saw only the outside layer. Christ, however, saw what was underneath the surface. The physical and mental limitations of others never altered or determined how he viewed them. Each was a beloved son or daughter of our Heavenly King no matter what.
In Mark 1:40-41, a single leper came to Jesus to be cleansed. The account reads that Jesus was "moved with compassion" for the man. In the eyes of society, this man would be cast out and condemned, but in the eyes of Christ, this man is made clean and cured. How often are we "moved with compassion" towards those who are at a mental or physical disadvantage? I'm not only referring to obvious handicaps, but even those who we might be tempted to get annoyed or impatient with. Do we view them as less than us? Do we place our judgments according to their immaturity or ignorance? That is the moment we need to stop and ask ourselves, "Lord, is it I?" What am I doing that is blinding me from the worth of His children? "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God" (D&C 18:10). Then why not in our sight? What is preventing us from seeing them through His eyes?
As we look beyond the physical and mental limitations placed before us, we won't see defeat. What will we see? Beyond bodily disfigurement, mental disorders, emotional anxieties, or temporal conditions, we will see the rudiments of God's children in the eyes of our brothers and sisters. We will see the spiritual capacities of each precious individual. We will see the spirits that live and thrive inside them--the spirits that will not die. We will see the true identities and destinies of all our Father's children. We will see the potentials of every one of them. We will see them as our brothers and sisters in Christ, for each one of us is a beloved son or daughter of God.
Below is a video of Christ healing a man born blind. It depicts perfectly what I'm trying to say here. While the Pharisees are blinded to the man's physical disadvantage, Christ reaches out to heal him because he sees inside of him his true worth. This he does to each of us. Let us emulate His example and do likewise to our brothers and sisters. "As we emulate His perfect example, our hands can become His hands; our eyes, His eyes; our heart, His heart" (President Uchtdorf).
One other aspect of this video that I love is the way the blind man's view changes. When he opens his eyes and views his reflection, it's as if he is a new man. After being healed by Christ, he recognizes that he has worth and he has potential. How important it is that each of us comes to this recognition.
"If only we understood who we are and what is in store for us, our hearts would overflow with such gratitude and happiness that it would enlighten even the darkest sorrows with the light and love of God.....You are no ordinary beings. You are glorious and eternal...I plead with you, just look into the water and see your true reflection...when you look at your reflection, you will be able to see beyond imperfections and self doubt and recognize who you truly are: glorious sons and daughters of Almighty God" (President Uchtdorf).
I share my testimony that each of us is glorious and eternal. We are so much more than our temporal limitations, for our spirits are infinite. Our Heavenly Father has a divine plan for all of His children. He wants us to return to Him and to become like Him and He has given us the way. Let us follow the example of His son, Jesus Christ, and we truly will reach our divine potential. Our Father in Heaven loves us deeply and purely. He knows us, He loves us, and He wants us back. Christ is the way back. I pray we can each make Christ the center of our lives and, by so doing, that we can develop the eyes to see others as He does. I know He is my Savior and my Redeemer. I know He bore my sins and carried my sorrows and that He did it willingly because He loves me. And the sweetest joy is the knowledge I have that He lives today. I so testify in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
For now,
Alyssa
