Last week I found myself reading Mark 10. Tucked in that chapter is the story of the wealthy man who asks Jesus what it will take for him to have eternal life. He promises Jesus he has never broken one of His commands, but Jesus tells Him there’s something else he needs to do – he needs to leave all his wealth and possessions behind and follow Him.
The man is devastated. He cannot bring himself to leave the material things behind. He walks away from Jesus.
There was something about this story that stood out to me and I couldn’t get it off my mind.
Right before Jesus tells the wealthy man he must leave his wealth and possessions behind, you read these words: Looking at him, Jesus loved him…(verse 21).
Those words stopped me in my tracks.
Jesus looked at the wealthy man and saw his heart.
He saw him the way no other person could.
Jesus looked at him and LOVED him.
Jesus knew the man was not going to follow him, yet his love for him never changed.
Jesus knew, but He loved him.
Jesus saw, but He loved him.
There’s something so powerful in those six words.
Those six words aren’t just meant for the wealthy man; they are meant for you and me.
Jesus looks at us; He sees our heart.
He sees our messes and imperfections. He sees our insecurities. He sees our true self.
AND HE LOVES US!
His love will never change – it is not dependent on what we do or don’t do – it’s a free gift to us.
It’s the gift of Christmas.
We just have to reach out and take it.
We have to show him the not so pretty places of our lives and believe He loves us despite of them.
Christmas is about God sending the ultimate gift.
A baby sent to the world to save us from our sins.
A Savior who sees us and loves us.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16)