Daily Devotional | Seeing Jesus

In a later chapter, the author of Hebrews defines faith as “assurance about what we do not see” (Heb. 11:1). And 2 Corinthians 5:7 makes a similar point when it says that we “live by faith, not by sight.” Yet faith is itself a way of seeing. The faith that shapes our vision for living is not blind faith. When we live by faith, we train our vision to see the world as Scripture describes it.

In today’s text, the writer contrasts how things appear and how things truly are. Verses 5–8 quote Psalm 8, comparing what we can see with what we do not yet see. We do not yet see all things subdued under Christ’s control (v. 8). Instead, we see Jesus “who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (v. 9).

This is the language of faith. While we may not see these things with the naked eye, we can apprehend them through the testimony of God’s Word. The gospel message portrays a crucified, risen, and exalted Christ who became the “pioneer” of our salvation by suffering on our behalf (v. 11). He has gone before us to open the way to God. Those who trust Christ receive His righteousness as a gift and are adopted into God’s family (v. 12).

How, then, do we come to see things as the writer of Hebrews describes them in these verses? The only way is to view them through the eyes of faith and put our trust in Christ (v. 13). The work of God that is unfolding in our lives today is a work that is already finished (see also John 19:30).

Go Deeper

Reread that last sentence. How does thinking about this (that the work is already finished), change the way you will live today? If you do not know Christ, we encourage you to choose this “better way” today!

Pray with Us: Jesus, show us things not as they appear but how they truly are. We want to see truth, and today’s reading says it’s possible—through the eyes of faith and trust in You! “Our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth” (Ps. 8:1)!

BY Dr. John Koessler

John Koessler is Professor Emeritus of Applied Theology and Church Ministries at Moody Bible Institute. John authors the “Practical Theology” column for Today in the Word of which he is also a contributing writer and theological editor. An award-winning author, John’s newest title is When God is Silent: Let the Bible Teach You to Pray (Kirkdale). Prior to joining the Moody faculty, he served as a pastor of Valley Chapel in Green Valley, Illinois, for nine years. He and his wife, Jane, now enjoy living in a lakeside town in Michigan.