Eyes to see

Josh Bell, the world renown violinist was asked to participate in an experiment with the Washington Post which asked the question, "In an ordinary setting, at an inappropriate hour, would people notice beauty?" The answer should not shock us. The worlds greatest violinist played some of the most intricate and beautiful pieces of music ever composed for almost an hour in a busy subway station in Washington DC on an ordinary Friday morning (disguised in a pair of blue jeans and baseball hat) and went virtually unnoticed.

The result of the Posts experiment (people do not see beauty when its staring them in the face) should not surprise us. The Scriptures say that our sin nature eclipses our ability to see beauty, grace, truth, God. The most shocking social experiment revealing this simple fact was the incarnation. The apostle John sadly reports "He was in the world and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, and his own received him not."

As I watch this incriminating video, it drives home the realization that God Himself walked this earth full of grace and truth (John 1:14), but because he had no worldly beauty or majesty attached to him, we despised him and esteemed not. The eyes that were fashioned to gaze upon and bring glory to their Creator, ignored their Creator. How sad.

Are we any less blind today? Do you have eyes and still fail to see? Are you like those in the Metro Station who scurry past beauty and grace, when it comes incognito, or are you like one of those who stopped, recognized and received? Not many noticed Jesus. Most ignored, but some were compelled to stop in their tracks. Disciples are those called by God to stop, recognize and receive Him.

Not many see. "But, to all who receive Him. . .He grants the rights to become children of God" (John 1:12).

Enjoy.