Jesus' Vision Is Better Than 20-20….

What is it that Jesus really sees when He meets people?   How about His first meetings with the Apostles, Peter or Thomas--what did He actually see in them? Obviously, it was more than Peter's high-spiritedness or Thomas’ stubbornness. Jesus saw deeply within them, peering through all their levels of facades, and found those hidden places where they tucked away their hurts, dissatisfactions and shame, or where they covered over their inadequacies, weaknesses, embarrassments and pretensions. The places that hold the secrets of what they are really like.

Jesus observed them in their nakedness, vulnerability, and fragility and instead of running for cover; He stared in amazement at what they yet can accomplish with a little help.

This same thing happened when Jesus spotted Matthew. Known then as Levi, the tax collector, the Roman turncoat--Jesus connected immediately with him and that very day they went to dinner and began a deep friendship.

Levi, soon renamed Matthew, sat down with Jesus, the Son of God, the Messiah and they both simply chatted like old friends. And Levi’s life was never the same again! It was this encounter with Jesus Christ, after locking eyes and hearts that Levi, the Tax Collector disappeared and Matthew, the Apostle, appeared in his place.

Jesus offered Levi, the tax collector, kindness, not judgment and Matthew, the future Evangelist, followed Jesus from that day forward. Jesus breathed love over Levi and brought him new life as Matthew.

In this encounter with the new Matthew, Jesus, the Savior, showed how a savior saves. He accepted Matthew and didn’t reject him. He welcomed him and didn’t condemn him. He healed him and didn’t hurt him.   Jesus did it using His Father’s gentleness, acceptance and graciousness.

And Matthew seeing Jesus immediately liked him, and it was then he decided to leave his tax earnings and be like Jesus. Matthew saw humility in Jesus' glory, and Jesus saw greatness in Matthew’s alienation. It was a perfect fit for both.

The Jesus, who encountered Matthew, Peter and Thomas, and many others long ago, sees those very same gifts in each of us. He is staring in amazement at what we yet can accomplish with his help. Jesus, our Savior, waits to breathe love and bring forth new life from you and me. It changed Matthew then, and Jesus knows it can change us now.

Jesus' vision is definitely better than 20-20 vision, and He’s staring at us right now. Are we next in line for transformation? Better now than never!