As we enter the holy season of Lent, the Word of God prompts us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”. (Hebrews 12:2)

What does the world see when it looks upon Jesus? What do those around us see when they look at Jesus? John reminds us that the world not only turns a blind eye to Jesus, but many in the world reject Him outright (John 1:9–11). The Gospel accounts give witness over and over again to the many who have looked upon Jesus with misgiving and skeptical eyes only to turn away from Him.

Our Lenten series Eyes on Jesus, based on the Passion narratives from the Gospel of Mark, will examine how various people viewed Jesus as we reflect on our view of Jesus. There are so many things in this world, outside and inside of us, that would have us turn a blind eye to Jesus causing us to trust in the things, the people, the cares, the riches of this world for life and salvation. In fact, we don’t have to look too far outside our own congregation, our own home, even our own lives to find those who turned a blind eye to Jesus. Every time we fear, love and trust something or someone more than the one true God, our eyes and our hearts have betrayed us and our God.

As we take a closer look this Lenten season at our sin, our waywardness, confessing them for what they are and lay aside all that weighs on us, we do so with our gaze, our eyes fixed on Jesus who with joy endured the cross for us so that He could look upon us with grace, mercy, forgiveness, and give us a life now and forever that we could never have without Him.

“I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” sang the Psalmist (Psalm 122:1). Join us on Wednesdays this Lenten season in the house of the Lord as we together “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God”. (Hebrews 12:2)

In the name of Jesus,
Pastor Nettleton

Rev. Shawn Nettleton is Senior Pastor at Saint John’s Lutheran Church. You can reach him in the church office, by email at nettleton@StJohnsFC.org or at 970-305-2420.