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The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. Luke 4:21b. 

Luke reports that at the beginning of his ministry, Jesus read his mission statement from the scroll of Isaiah and everyone’s eyes were fastened on him looking for his next words. Throughout the gospel, we see people’s eyes fastened on Jesus. It was a time of turmoil and confusion but looking to Jesus showed trust in his presence of love and mercy. Those who looked upon Jesus with eyes of love had faith in him to change their lives, and they let Jesus guide them into actions of peace, healing, and hope. They looked at him expectantly waiting to see what he would do next and how they could follow him. 

Today is also a time chaos and confusion. We need to fasten our eyes on Jesus. We must view everything we see hear and hear through the lens of Jesus’ call for us to love. Times have changed at warp speed and things are different in the church. We are in a renewal phase and must hold fast to our values of faith, hope, and love in the face of adversity and show the world a different way than the public square. Desert Cross must rise to the occasion to overcome adversity by being open to doing ministry differently than we have in the past.  

One of the keys to renewal and growth is partnerships which will join strengths of communities allowing them to thrive and grow together. Thus, our Gilbert campus has become a community worship center hosting both the Korean Presbyterian church and also Spirit of Joy Lutheran Church who is coming February 27th to practice “church without walls” while worshiping at our campus. We look forward to the ways we can partner together in ministry. We will also seek out faith-based community space sharing at our Tempe campus in the new year as part of our strategic plan to embrace our neighbors. This is part of our call as Christians and our mission to bring good news to the world in Jesus’ name. 

After Jesus’ death and resurrection his disciples worked to help people fix their eyes on Jesus at all times,  because they faced hard times just as we do now. Do not be distracted. Do not be afraid. Do not be discouraged. In Hebrews 12, the writer sums it all up beautifully with these guiding words for those facing hardship and looking for a faithful path into the future:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Fix your eyes on Jesus with this song, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.

Eyes on Jesus, Pastor Andrea