Sometimes people cry “I want to see Jesus” and this is a legitimate cry of their hearts. In our culture today we want to see the miraculous and the spectacular. Certainly the Lord has and can manifest Himself that way. Yet, He has others ways for us to “see” Him also.
The prophet Isaiah saw the Lord “sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple” (Isaiah 6:1). The prophet Ezekiel saw “a likeness with human appearance with fire enclosed all around” (Ezekiel 1:27). Yet the Lord also walked on the earth in human flesh for 33 years. He was also transfigured in view of three of his disciples. “As he (Jesus) was praying, the appearance of his face altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah…” (Luke 9: 29, 30).
Many years after Jesus ascended back to heaven, the Apostle John describes seeing him in the Book of Revelation as standing in the midst of seven golden lamp stands “clothed with a long robes and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength” (Revelation 1: 13 – 16). The reaction of those seeing these things was to fall at Jesus’ feet “as dead” or “on his face” or to declare “woe is me”.
How do you “see” Jesus today? What is your reaction and how do you show Him to others?
Many of us would like to see Jesus as did Isaiah, Ezekiel, or the Apostles. While we may not see him like that, we can see him as he lives in and through others. Below is a beautiful example of seeing the Lord alive and working today. It may just bring some tears to your eyes as it did mine. This is Bethany Wuerffel’s testimony during her time of serving in Israel.
“The week has flown past with much work being accomplished, as well as great times of fellowship, exploring Jerusalem, and making new friends! Today however, I took a break from working on the children’s program to join a nurse for some home visits. She had approached me yesterday to ask if there was any chance I could join her for the morning as she couldn’t do these specific home visits alone, and without knowing why I quickly felt compelled to say yes. I’m so thankful I did! The morning was an incredible blessing!
Cory has been here for over 25 years serving as a nurse in home health care to those who otherwise would not receive care. She brightens every door she walks into and loves so deeply it’s hard not to be affected. I watched her teach a patient Christian songs in Hebrew while washing their hair; hug, kiss, and massage a patient who is sorely neglected and receives no loving physical touch otherwise; review Psalm 103 with a patient as a way to calm fears; and speak truth into very dismal situations with incredible faith that God is bigger. I watched her paint nails (even though she grew up without such luxuries herself), apply expensive hair oil and body lotion (“only the best”) to someone who has nothing, and fight to give dignity to those who have none.
Cory had told me I would see Jesus this morning as we visited patients who truly are the ‘least of these’ – but what overwhelmed me was watching Cory work and realizing I wasn’t actually watching Cory – I was watching Jesus. Did you know it’s possible to show Jesus to someone while you wash their hair or paint their nails? Some of the situations we saw were heartbreaking, and there was so little we could do to change the physical realities but I realized Cory was giving these people something no amount of money or power could buy- she was giving them Jesus and changing their emotional reality. It moved me to tears and deeply inspired me to use every task, even the smallest, most mundane ones as an opportunity to show God’s love.”
May we all be inspired as Bethany was to show the Lord’s love to others and “see” him in fresh ways. May we have eyes to see Him in the every day circumstances of life. “In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)
Bethany has traveled with Women of the Word to Israel 
on tours and a ministry trip. Through these trips, the Lord gave her a heart to intercede for Israel and to go back to serve God’s people there. Women of the Word will return to Israel April 1-12, 2019. Check our website for more information. If you have questions, please email us at mail@women-of-the-word.net or call our office at (413) 525-1804.