I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
John 14:18-20
I saw Jesus yesterday.
He was standing in the front of the church with a welcoming smile and a microphone attached to his head. His hair was cut in a fashionable bob and he wore a spunky jacket, silky and beaded, printed in fall colors. He looked at the empty front row and told the congregation how much he missed the group of friends who usually sat there. He said he missed their smiles and genuine joy in worship. He looked and sounded just like our new pastor, Sylvia.
I saw Jesus yesterday.
He stood in front of me at the end of the lesson - the lesson about God using the un-perfect, the sinners, the less-than-able. The lesson about praying for God's help and strength. He was short and dark with black curls and blue barrettes. He frowned when he asked me to pray for his neighbor - the woman who had just found out that the lump in her breast was cancerous. He looked and sounded just like Mary, differently-abled Mary.
I saw Jesus yesterday.
He was tall and thin with a wisp of a beard. He wore a t-shirt with his high school logo. And khaki shorts. And sandals. He was talking to the new kid in the youth group - the one who wasn't standing by himself any longer. The one who looked like he was beginning to fit in. He looked and sounded just like Zak, a high-school senior.
I saw Jesus yesterday.
He was with two young children, a girl and a boy. They were playing. He laughed and smiled as they rolled and tossed balls. He gently suggested ways to include each other in their play, and cheered them as they began to have fun together. He looked and sounded just like Luke, husband to Megan.
I saw Jesus yesterday.
I saw him.
Welcoming. Caring. Kind. Encouraging.
Father, thank you for the glimpses we see of your Son in our daily lives. Thank you for his disciples.
Linking with:
The Weekend Brew
Hear It On Sunday
Sunday Stillness
Linking with:
The Weekend Brew
Hear It On Sunday
Sunday Stillness
Beautiful reminder. Indeed we do see JESUS if we but look.
ReplyDeleteThanks! It was one of those weekends where I kept seeing kindness and encouragement, and I thought this is what Jesus meant when he said 'love one another' - I actually could have gone on for at least a couple more... What a blessing, huh? I'm glad you could visit.
DeleteJanet
Thank you for the reminder to open my eyes and see Jesus! Thanks for linking up with The Weekend Brew!
ReplyDeleteHi Barbie, It's a reminder to me, too - Sometimes I just need to focus on the positives that are happening all around - and then it becomes a reminder that Jesus commissioned us - then it's a question to myself...where's your heart? I'm glad you could stop by.
DeleteJanet
A great reminder to look around and see where God is working. We need to be aware each moment of the day. I am following you from Weekend Brew.
ReplyDeleteI would love you to link to Sunday Stillness at www.janiscox.com
Blessings,
Janis
Janis, I'm glad you came over to visit. Yes, this post was as much a reminder to me as to any readers - I want to recognize Jesus in the world around me. Thank you for the invite - I've added my link.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Ah, yes ... disciples should indeed begin to look like their Teacher! Thanks for this reminder.
ReplyDeleteHi Diane, Well...hopefully not EXACTLY like their teacher... but yes, recognizable... Really, I was trying to balance some of the 'news' with Good News - Jesus lives! It was a reminder to myself, too. I'm glad you could come by. I hope your week is full of joy.
ReplyDeleteJanet