Tonight I preach on John 21.
Let me ask you this. If you had just done the unthinkable, if you had just come to your senses and realized what a mess you’d made of your life . . . and if you were lying on your back, eyes closed in anguish wishing it were only a dream . . . and then if you opened your eyes . . . whose face would you like to see?
I would want to see my husband, who has been my best friend since high school and has always loved me through thick and thin. He has “overlooked” many blemishes and loves me anyway….for almost 38 years I know Jesus because my husband is “Jesus” to me in my everyday life.
Mostly people I wouldn’t want to see are coming to mind!
Wow, where did that come from? Months ago I might have answered this differently, but today I know I would want to see my husband’s face. He has had to handle some situations lately, in his role as father and as elder, and has done so with such grace and mercy. Despite his Irish temper and infamous lack of patience, his heart for God has been how he has chosen to express himself in the midst of very difficult circumstances. He has chosen to focus on healing relationships rather than on punishing wrongdoers. It would break my heart to disappoint him. But, after 24 years together on this journey of faith, I trust him with my brokeness.
Been there, done that. The only face I could face was Jesus.
Ditto what Candy said!
Jesus met me at the point where I was totally void and picked me up, wiping the dirt from my body and drying my unending flow of tears.
Without this happening, I would have remained a self centered, pew warming Christian.
As painful as my sin was, God made the best of it!
I would like to see my mom waking me up for school - that would mean that I could do it all over - and I’d do a LOT of things different!
Not to make light of what others have said, but if I actually was seeing Jesus, that would mean that I was dead. So, I like what pegc said. Someone I’d like to see would be that person who could show Jesus to me. The first person that came to my mind would be my mom. Whatever I had done, I see it affecting my wife as much as me and therefore would be afraid to see her. But, she’s the one I would need to see.
What do you mean, “If …” ?
I look back and conclude I’ve made a habit of doing the unthinkable. Thank God it’s not the unforgiveable.
So it’s His face I’d want to see.
What keeps the anguish manageable is being able to see His face in the faces of my sisters and brothers.
That’s what makes the unthinkable seem like a long-ago dream.
My wife’s because it’s been through her that I’ve come to better understand the undeserving, unconditional forgiveness for things in which I’ve made a total mess. It is been through her that I have most clearly seen the face of Christ as I have dealt with the darkest sins of my life.
It’s a toss-up between Mom and Dad. I have the most loving and forgiving parents in the world….
Definitely my husband. He might not be happy about being there in that moment, but he’d stick by me no matter what. That’s how we work.
Or any of a tiny handful of dear friends-in-the-faith whom I know have staying power.
I would like to see the face of love, with eyes of compassion, ears of empathy, connected to a heart of mercy.
I would like to see the face of love, with eyes of compassion, ears of empathy, connected to a heart of mercy.
The only person that I KNOW could make all things right—-Jesus.
TS
My beloved dad!
To open my eyes and see his loving face, being able to soothe the callouses on his knees developed layer up layer through the many years of faithful prayers for me during that horrible, messy, bad part of my life, would give me such joy.
It is because of my dad’s faithfulness that I know and have the assurance of being able to look my Savior in the face when He returns.
Praise You, Jesus and thank you, dear dad - I miss you more and more every day. Thank You, LORD, for Heaven!!
Looking at this from strictly a human standpoint, I can think of some things that I would not even want my husband or mom to know because they would be so disappointed with me even though they both love me so much.
But, you know - I could admit even my deepest sins to either of my grown sons and, as David Barnett so eloquently expressed above, I KNOW I would see “the face of love, with eyes of compassion, ears of empathy, connected to a heart of mercy.”
That is the kind of boys they are and that’s the kind of relationship I have with them.
Now, I’m crying, so must stop. It’s just that this afternoon I feel overwhelmed with the love my boys have shown me always, but in particular, this past year. I am so blessed among mothers. My sons’ lives are the greatest gifts they could ever give me for Mother’s Day.
I would want to see Jesus, I know that for sure, because he has been there for me when I have been in a similar situation to this. Also, my close friends in the Lord who have always been there during those difficult times, would be a definite as well, because of everything they’ve done for me in the past. Also, my parents and family members would be wnderful in times like that. So, pretty much, everyone who I know has and will help me through the struggles in my life!
my wife, or Jesus/God
Jesus, Sheryl, Stephen Bailey, you. True.
If I came to on this earth, I hope my gaze would be steady enough to see my husband’s face, and also my dad’s. They have both already picked me up when I was down.
If I come to in Heaven, it would would be great to see the face of Jesus, if I could get past the radiance! I would probably be so overwhelmed by finally seeing what He looks like in person (oops, spirit!) — not to mention finally seeing all those I love who now live in Heaven — that I will have totally forgotten the misery that got me there in the first place.
Who’s face would you most like to see, Mike?
Blessings!
Deb
(KibbelzNBits)
The first face that came to my mind was my mother who has now been gone from this earth for 12 years. But I think that is only because I really miss her and I know that she would be compasionate and loving…but I’d feel so guilty because even though she loves me, she wouldn’t understand. Then I thought about my husband. It would be too hard to face him and know that I’d failed and feel like I had let him down. So I concluded that I’d want to see Jesus because I know that he understands me and my struggles. He loves me with an undying love. Yes, Jesus is the face I’d want to see. Jesus would smile, touch my face and tell me he loves me…and I’d believe it.
Dad. Ah, but which dad? The one here or the heavenly one? Knowing the love of my dad here teaches me I should not fear the heavenly one.