How Do You See Jesus?

Have you ever read a book that just resonated with you on a deeper level?

This year, I’ve rediscovered my love for reading and have spent time in almost every fiction and non-fiction genre. And while some books are more memorable than others, a few have truly changed how I view certain aspects of my life.

I want to introduce you to one of those books.

In Rebecca McLaughlin’s book, Jesus Through the Eyes of Women, she uses Jesus’ interaction with women to show us the truth about who He is and how we, as believers, should see Him in light of this. If you aren’t familiar with the book or haven’t read it yet, I highly suggest picking up a copy here and moving it up to the top of your reading list.

Now, this book isn’t just about women or for women. This book is for all individuals, no matter what season of life they find themselves in. This book is for those who need healing, forgiveness, and those who are stressed or don’t feel seen.

When we look at Jesus through His mother’s eyes, we see that God grabs ordinary people to be His chosen agents in the world.

When we look at Jesus through the eyes of Mary of Bethany, we see Jesus as the one who welcomes women and defends their right to learn from Him. Later, at the death of her brother Lazarus, we see Jesus as the one who weeps with her in her distress.

When we look at Jesus through the eyes of the woman at the well, we see Him as the long-awaited King who spends time with those who have been cast out and abandoned.

When we look at Jesus through the eyes of the woman who was bleeding for 12 years, we see Him as her final hope for healing and her last resort when medicine has failed.

When we look at Jesus through the eyes of Mary Magdalene, we see Him as the one who uses the powerful voice of women to announce His resurrection to male disciples in a culture where women are often silenced.

Each of the statements above tells a story of a person we know. We know that Mary was an ordinary girl who God chose to be the mother of Jesus. We know Mary of Bethany chose to sit at the feet of Jesus while Martha was running around trying to get everything ready for their guests, and so on and so forth. However, these stories not only show us a picture of who Jesus is, but also beg the question, how do we see Jesus?

McLaughlin expounds on this question this way:

“How do we see Jesus through these women’s eyes? We see Him as the one who heals our hearts and our needs. We see Him as the one who takes our sin upon himself and welcomes us with unimaginable love. We see Him as the one who sees us, even when all others turn away. We see Him as the Savior of the world and yet knows us each by name. We see Him as the one who gathers up our broken hearts and bodies in His arms, and as the only one who has the power to make us whole.”

How do you see Jesus in your life?