What would happen if we could see people the way Jesus does?

What do you see when you look at “the multitudes”? What do you notice when you look at the crowd? Do you see a faceless mass of humanity or do you see hurting, hungry hearts? Do you look at outward things only, or do you look beyond the outside to see an expression of an inward need?

The Scripture says, “When He (Jesus) looked out over the crowds…” something happened. Different translations try to put His emotions into words. One says, “He felt compassion;” another says, “His heart broke.”

In the original language, the word means to be moved deeply within. It was not a surface observation or simply an intellectual appraisal. Jesus felt it in His heart. What He saw broke His heart!

Do you remember the last time you looked at someone and your heart was moved to care for them deeply? We’re not just talking about feeling sorry for them. This is not an arrogant appraisal that looks down on someone who is not as well off as you! What we see in Jesus is that He saw what was going on in the hearts of the people and His heart was moved!

We sing a praise song in our worship services that goes like this:

Open the eyes of my heart Lord;
Open the eyes of my heart;
I want to see You.

What would happen if today you changed the last word and made it a prayer?

Open the eyes of my heart Lord;
Open the eyes of my heart;
I want to see THEM
I want to really see THEM

I pray this prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen