John 6:35-51

When We Look on the Son

            When you look at someone, what do you see? For instance, when you look at your own child, in your eyes, you would see the one you have raised and loved. They are precious in your eyes. However, if someone else looked at your children, they might see a good friend, or maybe a completely unfamiliar face. When you look at your spouse, do you see your lifelong partner, the love of your life, or something else? I remember when I first met my wife, when I looked at her, I saw a good friend. Someone I could hang out with, talk with, and enjoy being around. Well the more we were together, when I would look at her, my vision changed. It changed who she was to me. No more was she just a friend, but when I saw her, I saw a life-long companion. I saw someone I loved, someone who would bring out the best in me. After being married for seven and half years now, when I look at her, I see my wife, the love of my life, the one who has been with me in good times and bad. 

            Our perception not only changes how we view others, but it also changes us. When we see a role-model, we want to be better like them. When we see someone who is more talented than us, we work harder to be just as good as they are. When we see someone who inspires us, we often want to inspire others like they do… Or maybe, we see someone that’s a little too perfect, so we look away. We don’t want to burden ourselves with seeing how we can change. Perhaps, we look at them and become disgusted or angry, that someone thinks they are that good. 

            Our perception of Jesus changes us, for good or for bad. We hear Jesus make numerous claims of who he is. When the Pharisees look at Jesus, they see a liar. The disciples see him differently. But how do you look at Jesus? For:

IT IS GOD’S WILL THAT ALL LOOK ON THE SON AND BE SAVED.

I.

            However, it’s really easy to be distracted and look away from the Son. This was the case for many who followed Jesus. They may have seen Jesus, but they were not looking at him. Their gaze was drawn to their own interests. As St. John tells us, “But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe,” (v.36). Just earlier in John, Jesus feeds the five-thousand. These same people, who have seen Jesus perform miracles, don’t believe in him. They were more focused on being fed, being healed, given gifts than to look on the Son. They saw him only as a “good teacher,” or worse, a liar and a fraud. When they looked at Jesus, they were only looking for what they could get. Perhaps when they looked at Jesus, they would say, “That Jesus guy, he’s just too perfect. He’s so arrogant. He thinks he knows better than everyone else. I’m not going to listen to him.” Those who turn away from Jesus are changed by their perception. They’ve failed to examine themselves and learn what they lack.

            When we look at Jesus, do we see him differently or do we look away? Is Jesus Lord of all of our life or just the parts that we want? For example, when a coworker tells lies about us, and we respond with curses and swearing, are we looking on the Son or on our status with coworkers? When our neighbor asks for help carrying something into their house and we would rather look at our watch to make sure we aren’t late for a random event, are we looking on the Son or at our rigid schedule? When we always have to get the last word in a conversation or argument because we know best, are we looking on the Son or on ourselves? We look at Jesus in the way that works for us. We follow the examples that don’t make us change who we are. Many times, we’re easily enticed to look away, to disobey and lose sight of Jesus. We disobey God’s will, because we look away. Left to our own power, we could never obey God’s will. We would never look upon Jesus as Savior but rather make ourselves God. 

II.

             But, it was never God’s will that all should perish. It was never God’s will to leave us to our own power. It was God’s will to send a savior. As Jesus states, “For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me… For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day,” (v.38, 40). Jesus was obedient to the will of His Father. Jesus is the one who expresses perfect faith—faith that His Father would draw all to himself through His Son. He taught his disciples and all people the way of truth and life. He taught them to look on the Son, for all who looked on him would never be cast out, but Jesus would raise them on the last day. He taught them that they were made for life, not death. For Jesus is the Bread of life and those who eat of this bread will certainly not hunger. Those who eat of this bread will be given eternal life! For Jesus says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh,” (v.51). Only by eating this bread would man have life… for this bread is the very flesh of Jesus, given on behalf of the salvation of the world… To give salvation the Father’s will had to be fulfilled; the price of sin had to be paid. So it was his Flesh that had to suffer the punishment of our sins and our shame. To be the bread of life, Jesus had to die. So he was arrested by soldiers; he was dragged before Pontius Pilate; he was tortured within inches of life; then he was crucified… for all the world to see. He gave up his flesh that we may live.

III.

            It’s only on the cross that we behold the truth of who Jesus is… and who we are. Here before the cross, the Father drags our eyes upward to behold our Savior. Only in faith do we truly behold Christ… and even faith is a gift. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,” (v.44). When we’re confronted by our sinfulness, we’re bent low. We see our sin and shame. However, in faith, the Father draws our eyes upward and shows us our sin and shame… on Jesus. No more are we opposed to God. Because of Jesus’ perfect obedience, we are made obedient to God’s will. Now, when we look on Jesus, our vision has been changed. What do we see? We see the bread of life! We see the very body and blood of Jesus, given and shed for the forgiveness of all our sins! With his body and blood, Christ sets a feast before us that we may eat of it and live! In faith, we behold our Savior at the table as he prepares a feast before us. For everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him has eternal life, and He will raise us up on the last day. 

            When we look on Jesus, what do we see? We see our Savior, crucified for us. We behold Jesus as the bread of life, who gives us his body and blood to eat and to drink, so that he will raise us up on the last day. In Jesus’ name, Amen!