Looking Unto Jesus
Theodore Monod (1836-1921) was a French pastor, who studied law in Paris before coming to the United States to prepare for the ministry. In addition to his preaching, Monod wrote hymns and books, including a short, but poignant devotional booklet called “Looking Unto Jesus.”
In Looking Unto Jesus, Monod writes:
"Looking unto Jesus!" Hebrews 12:2
Only three words, but in these three words is the whole secret of spiritual life.
Look unto Jesus in the Scriptures—to learn there . . .
what He is,
what He has done,
what He gives,
what He desires.
Looking unto Jesus in the Scriptures, we find . . .
in His character, our pattern;
in His teachings, our instruction;
in His precepts, our law;
in His promises, our support;
in His person and in His work, a full satisfaction provided for every need of our souls.
"You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about Me!" John 5:39Looking unto Jesus, crucified—to find in His shed blood our ransom, our pardon, our peace.
Looking unto Jesus, risen—to find in Him the righteousness which alone makes us righteous, and permits us, all unworthy as we are, to draw near with boldness, in His Name, to Him Who is His Father and our Father, His God and our God.
Looking unto Jesus, glorified—to find in Him our Heavenly Advocate completing by His intercession—the work inspired by His loving-kindness for our salvation (1 John 2:1); Who even now is appearing for us before the face of God (Hebrews 9:24), the kingly Priest, the spotless Victim, continually bearing the iniquity of our holy things (Exodus 28:38).
Looking unto Jesus, revealed by the Holy Spirit—to find in constant communion with Him—the cleansing of our sin-stained hearts, the illumination of our darkened spirits, the transformation of our rebel wills; enabled by Him to triumph over all attacks of the world and of the evil one, resisting their violence by Jesus our Strength, and overcoming their subtlety by Jesus our Wisdom; upheld by the sympathy of Jesus, Who was spared no temptation, and by the help of Jesus, Who yielded to none.
Looking unto Jesus—Who gives repentance as well as forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31) because He gives us the grace to recognize, to lament, to confess, and to forsake our transgressions.
Looking unto Jesus—to receive from Him the task and the cross for each day, with the grace which is sufficient to carry the cross and to accomplish the task; the grace that enables us to be patient with His patience, active with His activity, loving with His love; never asking "What am I able for?" but rather: "What is He not able for?" and waiting for His strength which is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Looking unto Jesus—to go forth from ourselves and to forget ourselves—so that our darkness may flee away before the brightness of His face; so that our joys may be holy, and our sorrow restrained; that He may cast us down, and that He may raise us up; that He may afflict us, and that He may comfort us; that He may despoil us, and that He may enrich us; that He may teach us to pray, and that He may answer our prayers; that while leaving us in the world, He may separate us from it, our life being hidden with Him in God, and our behavior bearing witness to Him before men.
Looking unto Jesus—Who, having returned to the Father's house, is engaged in preparing a place there for us; so that this joyful prospect may make us live in hope, and prepare us to die in peace, when the day shall come for us to meet this last enemy, whom He has overcome for us, whom we shall overcome through Him—so that what was once the king of terrors is today the harbinger of eternal happiness!
Looking unto Jesus—Whose certain return, at an uncertain time, is from age to age the expectation and the hope of the faithful Church, who is encouraged in her patience, watchfulness and joy by the thought that the Savior is at hand (Philippians 4:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Looking unto Jesus—"The Author and the Finisher of our faith." That is to say—He Who is its pattern and its source, even as He is its object; and Who from the first step even to the last, marches at the head of the believers; so that by Him our faith may be inspired, encouraged, sustained, and led on to its supreme consummation (Hebrews 12:2).
Looking unto Jesus—and at nothing else, as our text at the same time directs us to fix our gaze upon Him, and to turn it away from everything else.
Looking unto Jesus—and not at ourselves, our thoughts, our reasonings, our imaginings, our inclinations, our wishes, our plans.
Looking unto Jesus—and not at the world, its customs, its example, its rules, its judgments.
Looking unto Jesus—as long as we remain on the earth!