Jesus wants to help us see what’s right in front of us. 

In the seventh chapter of Luke, Jesus is dining at Simon the Pharisee’s house. When a woman of ill repute wipes Jesus’ feet with her hair, Simon is outraged. Chris Webb illuminates what happens next:

Jesus points to the woman and asks a startling question: ​“Do you see this woman?” (v. 44)… The truth was, of course, that Simon had seen a great deal. He had seen the sinner at his door. He had seen, very clearly, the nature of her offense against propriety, whatever that had been. He had seen her intrusion into his circle, his world, his unsullied company; her disgraceful behavior; her unbridled grief; her extravagant offering of perfume. And he had passed a fearful and ferocious judgment on her in his own heart, based on all that he had seen. But the one thing he had failed to see was the woman herself — this wayward but beautiful daughter of Eve, fallen and corrupted, but yet still bearing the image and likeness of her Creator. He had failed to see her pain, her sorrow, her fragile hope. He saw, so he thought, everything, but in the end proved blind to the only thing that mattered.

Seeing — really seeing, first-hand seeing — is necessary for compassion; and compassion leads, if we’re willing, to action. 

Social justice is our theme for the next few weeks. With the problems of the world so immense, where does one begin to help bring about justice and righteousness and peace? On the Renovaré Podcast this week, Richard Foster says simply, ​“Start somewhere. Look for a situation you can help with and step in.” Or, as one missionary likes to say, ​“Stop for the one.”

May God give us eyes to see the one in front of us,