May 2017

“Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”” – John 20:29

René Magritte who is surrealist painter from Belgium is my favorite artist. Naturally, some of his paintings hang on the walls of our living room in the parsonage. Among his many paintings, there are two paintings I like the most: “This is not a pipe” and “Clairvoyance”

These two paintings helped me think about “Eyes of faith.” Are you familiar with that phrase? All human beings who are able to see gather 70-80% of outside information using their sight. Indeed, sight is the most powerful sense among our five senses. Therefore, a very famous proverb says that “Seeing is believing.” However, unlike our common thoughts, in many cases seeing is not believing. Look at the first painting of Rene’s, although we easily can think that this is a pipe when we see his painting, yet it says that it is not a pipe. This is because even if this object looks like a pipe and is not a real pipe, it is just a painting depicting a pipe.

 

Today, many people find it difficult to have a faith in God and they leave church, because they think believing in God is following unseen hope and it is in vain. Therefore, some people think if they can see a clear sign that Jesus Christ is real then they can believe. This reminds us of the story of Thomas in the Bible. Since he did not see the risen Christ Jesus, he did not believe the resurrection of Jesus.

However, Jesus did not rebuke Thomas’ doubting, but Jesus showed his hands and sides to Thomas and said, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” At that moment, he was full of joy and he answered, “my Lord, my God.” Although Thomas doubted the resurrection of Jesus, Jesus led him to believe and Thomas joined in on the pleasure of the resurrection. Jesus made Thomas believe in him by letting him have the eyes of faith.

I think, we can see what it looks like to have the eyes of faith from Rene’s second painting, “Clairvoyance.” While Rene is looking at an egg he is drawing a bird, not an egg. To see beyond what we can see now is what it means to have the eyes of faith. As a Christian, let us remember what Jesus said to doubting Thomas “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Faith leads us to see beyond what we cannot see. By having the eyes of faith, we can hope and finally see the risen Christ.

Blessings,

Pastor Ran