Seen by God: The Transformative Power of Christ's Love

Imagine for a moment that you could peer into the mind of God. What would you see? What consumes the thoughts of the all-powerful Creator of the universe? The answer might surprise you: people. Not cosmic events, not the grandeur of creation, but you and me – fragile, flawed, yet infinitely precious human beings.

This revelation challenges everything we think we know about God and ourselves. In a world that often treats people as commodities, statistics, or problems to be solved, the idea that the Son of God is constantly thinking about us is nothing short of revolutionary.

Picture the scene: Jesus, fresh from his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, crests the Mount of Olives. The holy city spreads before him, a tapestry of stone and humanity. But as he gazes upon this view, Jesus doesn't marvel at the architecture or reminisce about history. Instead, he weeps. Why? Because he sees beyond the buildings to the people – people who will reject him, people who will suffer, people he longs to gather under his wings like a mother hen with her chicks.

This moment sets the stage for a radical reframing of Jesus' entire ministry. Suddenly, familiar stories take on new depth:

- At a wedding in Cana, Jesus doesn't just perform a miracle; he preserves a young couple's dignity and future.
- When he touches a leper, he's not just healing a disease; he's restoring a person to community.
- Feeding 5,000 isn't about showcasing divine power; it's about meeting real human needs.

Time and again, we see Jesus zeroing in on individuals amidst the crowd, His divine gaze penetrating beyond outward appearances to the heart of each person's struggle, hope, and potential.

But it's in the Temple that this people-first focus reaches its crescendo. Picture the chaos of the outer courts – merchants hawking their wares, money-changers clinking coins, the air thick with the smell of animals and the sound of haggling. In this scene of corruption and exclusion, Jesus doesn't see a violation of religious rules. He sees people – specifically, Gentiles – being robbed of their chance to connect with God. His righteous anger isn't about maintaining ritual purity; it's about tearing down barriers that keep people from experiencing the Father's love.

This perspective shatters our categories. In a world sharply divided between "us" and "them," Jesus reveals a God who cares passionately for all people. Jew or Gentile, insider or outcast – all are precious in His sight.

But here's where it gets personal: this isn't just about what Jesus did 2,000 years ago. Right now, at this very moment, Jesus is thinking about you. Let that sink in.

The risen, glorified Son of God has you on His mind. If you're already in a relationship with Him, He's strategizing how to help you experience life to the fullest. If you're not, He's extending an open invitation – reaching out His hand, offering forgiveness, new life, and a love beyond anything you've ever known.

This truth should shake us to our core. If people matter this much to Jesus, how can they not matter to us? It demands a total reorientation of our priorities. Suddenly, that person who annoys you at work, the stranger on the street, the family member you've been avoiding – they all take on eternal significance. They're not interruptions to your day; they're the very reason you're here.

Pastor Mike's challenge is clear: adopt Jesus' perspective. See the world through His eyes. Let your first thought each morning be, "How can I reflect God's love to someone today?" It's a call to move beyond comfortable Christianity into a faith that actively seeks out the lost, the lonely, and the broken.

This isn't easy. It means setting aside our agendas, confronting our prejudices, and often stepping way outside our comfort zones. But it's in this space – where our inadequacy meets God's overwhelming love for people – that true transformation happens.

The sermon highlighted practical ways to live out this people-first focus, from community outreach events to global missions. But it starts with a simple decision: will you see people as Jesus does? Will you allow His heart for humanity to become your own?

In a culture obsessed with self-promotion and personal fulfillment, this message is countercultural. It's also our only hope for genuine change. When we begin to value what Jesus values – people, in all their messy, beautiful complexity – we participate in His ongoing work of redemption. We become conduits of a love that can heal wounds, bridge divides, and offer hope to a world desperate for good news.

So the next time you look at another person – whether a loved one or a complete stranger – remember: you're looking at someone who occupies the thoughts of God Himself. How might that change your interaction? How might it change everything?