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How to See People Like Jesus

Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret. Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia, Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.” “Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone. Mark 7:24-30 NLT

When Jesus saw a person…

Jesus saw color

She begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Since she was a Gentile, born in Syrian Phoenicia. Mark 7:26 NLT

Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called “the black man”), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas), and Saul. Acts 13:1 NLT

And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. (ethnos) Mark 13:10 ESV

Jesus saw culture

Jesus told her, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” Mark  7:27 NLT

Jesus saw beauty and brokenness in cultures

Greeks were self-consumed

Jews had become self-righteous

Then Jesus called to the crowd to come and hear. “All of you listen,” he said, “and try to understand. It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.” Mark 7:14-15 NLT

I can’t always see my culture, but my culture always affects what I see.

Jesus saw character

She replied, “That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.” “Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” Mark 7:28-29 NLT

Most people are decent

Some people are excellent

It seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus. Luke 1:3 ESV

A few people are evil

Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men. Psalm 140:1 ESV

Jesus saw suffering

Right away a woman who had heard about him came and fell at his feet. Her little girl was possessed by an evil spirit, and she begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter. Mark 7:25-26 NLT

Jesus promised healing

“Good answer!” he said. “Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.” And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone. Mark 7:24-30 NLT

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and these servants will worship him. Revelation 22:1-3 NLT

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Find a quiet place and spend a few moments in silence. When you have come to a place of being reasonably still, ask the Lord to guide your time of reflection with him. Begin a conversation with the Lord about how Jesus saw and embraced people, both from his own culture and from other cultures. Talk with the Lord, asking him some questions like, “What challenges do you face to see people in the same way as Jesus does? How do you tend to see others differently from yourself? What is one aspect or difference (color, culture, character, suffering, etc.) for you to see people in the ways Jesus sees them? What thoughts and feelings surface as you think about being challenged or growing in this area? From where do you think these thoughts and feelings arise within you?” Finally, take some time to imagine what this would look like for you to embrace the Lord’s invitation to become more like Jesus in the way you see people, especially those who are different from you. Ask God to bring to mind one action you can take this week to see and embrace people more like Jesus does. Pray and ask him to give you an opportunity to act on this invitation to growth.​

Discussion Questions

  1. What have you been learning about God or yourself lately in your personal Bible reading time? What stood out to you this week?
  2. Read Mark 13:10. Why do you think it is important to God that people from all nations, colors, cultures, languages and backgrounds hear the good news of Jesus, and what does that teach you about Him?
  3. Read Mark 7:14. What experiences from your past, or the culture you grew up in, affect the way you see or interact with people of different colors or cultures?
  4. In what ways might Jesus want to bring you healing and restoration from those past experiences so that you embrace culture the way he did?
  5. Read Ephesians 4:1-6. In what practical ways can you have compassion, make allowance for faults, or be patient with people who do not look like you so that you can be an advocate for peace and unity?
  6. Revelation 22:1-2. As we look forward to Heaven and the permanent healing of the nations, who can you invite into your community to begin the healing of the nations here on earth?