Being Regarded

  Luke 1:42 "For He has regarded the lowly state of His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. "

This past Sunday was the last of Advent.  We have been travelling from darkness to light, from sinful abyss to a manger filled with salvation. We have sailed the Prophets' words like an ocean leading to a celestial shore of Messianic delight. The Lord's coming is at hand!

It's also a Sunday to focus on Mary as she is close to her delivery time of the Messiah.  We often read her words and sing the Magnificat.   
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As the pastor preached, one phrase kept pulling at my thoughts.  The words "He has regarded".

What kind of God regards us?

The only time I use the word "regarding" is in a form letter.  " Dear so and so...this letters is in regards to.....blah blah blah."  I think of it as more of a formality kind of word. Proper etiquette. Emily Post.

But how does Scripture use this term?

The greek transliteration is "epiblepo", a verb, meaning "to look upon, to gaze upon, to turn the eyes to...."

This is a personal, intimate term. God looks upon us with his piercing all-knowing and all-loving Eye. How do we fathom this?

Mary praises God for regarding her lowly estate and for choosing to use her in His salvation plan. God sees her sin, her need, her lowliness; he gazes upon all of it, and still he uses her. 

Let's park on this thought:  God regards each one of us.  It's not a fleeting glance; he doesn't look and scroll on like on a cell phone. His eye is firmly on our need, our lowliness, and how He will save and use us. Even in the numerous hours and years we ignore Him, His loving eye is fixed upon us.

The fact that God's omniscient eye is on any of us is startling.  With all the universe, billions of galaxies, all the host of heaven, the battle with Satan and his armies, His constant attention is on us?  His enemies! We are born of Adam's sin, in direct opposition to God. We are genetic defects from Adam, with no ability to save ourselves. And God see us. This also creates a holy fear, to know that nothing about us is hidden before that Eye. 

Just as God's eye was upon Mary, she was blessed as her eyes were the first in the universe to see His Son, Jesus. 

Mary was the first to see the newly-born Jesus, naked, helpless, covered in birth-slime, crying.  As his fresh-opened eye gazed up at her, little hand grasping her hair, their eyes met in a human interaction that the angels hushed to observe.  All of creation held their breath.

Heaven and earth gazed upon one another. In the flesh.

Fast forward 33 years.  See Calvary, a blackened sun, and angry crowd audiencing three wooden crosses. A common criminal is the last to see the dying Jesus, naked, helpless, crying, covered in dirt-slime. He is but feet away, hanging also on a cross.  He cries to the Savior, 'Jesus!  Remember me!  Regard me!"  I can only imagine what that criminal thought when Jesus turned his bloodied head, blackened eye, parched lips, and looked at him.  That holy eye, almost closed shut with dried blood and Jerusalem dust, looked at that man. Christ put his eye upon him.....regarded him. Once again, angels bent their heads in holy worship at this interaction. 

That immeasurable look shook the foundations of heaven.  

Heaven and earth gazed upon one another. In the flesh.

When God regards someone, most wondrous things happen. In Christ's blood we do not have to see the judgement eye of God's wrath but can gaze into the forgiving eye of Jesus and be a part of His kingdom.

No matter what this Christmas season has been for you, know that God has regarded you. Just like Mary and the criminal. His eye is fixed upon you in deepest love and grace.  At the cross, Christ fixed his pain-filled eye upon you as well, drinking your cup of wrath and promising, "You will be with me in Paradise." 

Look up!  Let your tired eye fix upon His eye of merciful watchfulness upon your need.  All you need to say is the criminal's words: "Jesus! Regard me! Remember my need!"  He will turn his eye upon you--- and not just his look, but his arms, hands and expression which shall wrap and fill you with peace that passes all understanding.

Be regarded.  Ask for it, plead for it, worship because He does look upon you with His whole heart. 
​Merry Christmas







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