his eyes

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that you always look at the lost and broken through the eyes of love.  Help me to see the love you have for me in your eyes today, so that I might be able to love others the way you want me to.  Amen.

Scripture: John 4:17-18

Journal: What do you think was in the eyes of Jesus as he said these words to the Samaritan woman at the well?  How did he see her?  How does he see you?

Reflection: “You are right when you say you have no husband.  The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you have right now is not your husband.  What you have said is quite true.” John 4:17-18)

What do you think was the look in the eyes of the Savior as he uttered these words to this lost and thirsty woman?  Was it a look of disdain and judgment and disgust?  Or was it a look of compassion and longing and tenderness?  How you answer that question tells you so much about what you really believe to be true about God.  And that is significant. 

If we are consistent with the Jesus we see in the rest of the Gospels, I think it had to be a look of love.  Rarely did Jesus ever look at the lost and broken with a look of disdain, so I think it had to be a look of desire and of invitation and of delight.  Because I do not think he said these words to shame her, but to awaken her.  It was his way of saying to her, “You have not yet found your beloved, and he is the one standing right in front of you.”  Because more than anything else, the story of God is the story of a lover in constant pursuit of his beloved.  Do you believe that?  Do you believe it for this woman?  And do you believe it for yourself? 

What do you think the eyes of Jesus hold as they look at you?  How could it not be love?

Pray

Closing Prayer: Lord Jesus, forgive us when we believe that you look at us through the eyes of criticism or anger or disgust.  Help us to see ourselves as you see us, as your beloved.  Only then can we see others that way as well.