The eyes and hands of Christ

Matthew 26:50a, John 13
In Matthews's account of Jesus' arrest in the garden of Gethsemane, Judas signals the Roman guards of who Jesus is by kissing him on the check. It is the most notorious act of betrayal in history. So much so that Judas' very name is often used synonymously with words like liar, betrayer, backstabber, etc. "Don't be a Judas" people warn. I often wonder how I would have responded to such an act. What would I have said? What would I have done? I can only imagine the anger and hurt I would have felt. Now the question is; how did Jesus act? I don't know how many times I read through this story and never picked up on the words until someone pointed it out to me. When I read them I was, at the least, baffled. In direct response to Judas' kiss Jesus said "Friend, do what you have come to do (Matthew 26:50a)." Jesus called him friend. If you would have asked me everything I knew about Judas prior to reading this verse; a friend of Jesus would not have been on my list. Still, Jesus was able to see something in Judas that was deeper than his deeds; something beyond his sins and treachery. He was able to see what my eyes were not able to see. That’s what Jesus does. He looks beyond our deeds, beyond our sins, and beyond our own acts of treachery; and despite our failures He calls us friend. I think of this passage often, especially now when I am forced to be in such close proximity with people I would not interact with otherwise. Every day I try to look at people with the eyes of Christ. Every day I try to look beyond the outer deeds that irritate me most, and I have to admit it’s a challenge. I long and pray to have the eyes of Christ, but unfortunately, at times, it stops just shy of a longing. It seems to be my elusive Pegasus, my never ending endeavor. Still, I keep praying.

Now, I have found with prayer that I don't often get what I ask for, but I most often get what I need. Sort of like the crippled beggar in Acts 3. The crippled man wanted money, but Peter just healed him instead. I wanted the eyes of Christ, but maybe that’s not my only Pegasus. Maybe I just never saw the whole picture. Maybe what I really needed was to wash some feet. In John 13 Jesus removes his clothing, lowers Himself to the position of a servant, and washes the feet of the man that would soon hand Him over to the Romans to be crucified. Christ knew that Judas would betray Him. He knew the price he had placed on His life, yet He washed his feet regardless. Jesus was setting an example for the disciples (v 15) to follow. He was showing them that the only position that mattered was one of servitude. Oh, how many nights I have spent praying for the eyes of Christ when it was His hands I needed most of all. Yes I need the eyes of Christ, but what good does it do if it stops at just compassion. Let me finish my thought with this. It was the eyes of Christ that brought Him to the sea, but the hands saved Peter when he wailed; it was the eyes of Christ that lead Him to the Cross, but the hands that bore the nails.  [mp]

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Michael D'Urbano
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