Looking Straight at Him

“The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him.”

That’s a good posture, looking straight at Jesus. Whatever we bring to that gaze—adoration, curiosity, puzzlement—the face of Christ is the world’s best focal point. Everything else gets clearer—sometimes by fading away entirely—when we cast our eyes upon him. This is the heart of worship, looking straight at him.

And what a thing the people of Nazareth see that day. “What you have just heard me read has come true today.” They behold, in real time, the embodiment and fulfillment of ancient promise. Broken lives are, here and now, being made whole. Before their very eyes, the Shalom of God invades the ruin of creation. An act of heavenly subversion has just occurred, and all it took was two verses.

Notice again the setting: “Jesus went back to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and as usual he went to the meeting place on the Sabbath.” Went back, brought up, as usual. It’s the same old same old. It’s just another day in church with those tedious folks back home. Funny old Aunt Mildred. Grumpy old Farmer Smith. Those bored, fidgeting teenagers. Those children itching in their starches.

Ho-hum.

And then, Ka-boom.

He can show up anytime, anywhere. Whenever in the midst of the ordinary—the usual song and dance with the usual suspects—our eyes suddenly rivet on Jesus, God’s Shalom begins a fresh invasion of creation’s ruin. Whenever the word is made flesh—fulfilled, becomes true, is lived out—heaven’s subversion is enacted.

It could happen this Sunday, in your church.

Plan to look straight at him.

Respond in Prayer

Dear God, Yes. May you rivet my attention fresh with the person and the work of Jesus. May I dare to look straight at him. And in that looking, make me as he is: good news to the poor, sight to the blind, freedom for prisoners. In Christ’s name I ask, Amen.

Mark Buchanan

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version® (NIV®).