Two Pairs of Glasses

Yesterday morning, I gave a devotional at church about two pairs of glasses. I was riveted by what I was seeing in God's word, and I greatly enjoyed sharing it. This is more or less a transcription of that devotional:

What would it look like to put on Satan's glasses? His way of viewing of the world? Of seeing things? His perspective? What is his heart like? How does he evaluate the world? 

Luke 22:1-6 shows us what happens when somebody puts on Satan's glasses:

"Now the feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. And the chief priests were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd" (ESV).

Judas was happy to give Jesus away for money. In Luke, this is significant, because Luke talks a lot about money. He talks about the Rich Young Ruler who walks away from Jesus, valuing his riches instead (Luke 18:18-30). He talks about Zacchaeus, who gives away his riches happily because he has found Christ and treasures him more (Luke 19:1-10). He talks about eternal treasure and earthly treasure, saying, "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Luke 12:34). This context emphasizes the exchange between Judas and the chief priests. 

When Satan enters Judas, he goes away and is happy to give Jesus away for money. When Satan takes over Judas, and Judas sees with Satan's eyes, he looks at Jesus and says, "He's not worth all that much to me." In Matthew 26:14-15, it says that Judas was willing to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. By today's standards, that would be about 4 months' wages. In the ESV Study Bible footnote, it says that this is roughly $7,500 (perhaps more now because of inflation). Judas was willing to give away Jesus, the very Son of God, for about 7,500 bucks. When Judas puts on Satan's way of evaluating the world, of seeing Jesus, he says, "Not worth all that much. I'll trade him away for $7,500." 

That is what Satan's glasses do. His way of viewing Christ is to devalue and oppose him. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, we see this again. The way Satan sees the world, and wants us to see the world, is to not see the glory of Christ. To not value him according to his worth. 2 Cor. 4:4 says, "In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the glory of the gospel of Christ, who is the image of God." 

When we put on Satan's way of seeing the world, we don't value Christ. We don't treasure him. We don't think he is all that great. We don't see his glory. We're unimpressed by him. In Judas's case, we actively oppose him. Judas, filled with Satan, said, "I'll take $7,500 instead of Jesus." 

So what does it look like to put on God's glasses, especially as it relates to Jesus? What does it look like to see the world, and to see Jesus, according to the way God sees him? How does God evaluate Jesus? What does he think when he looks at Jesus? 

1 Peter 2:4 says, "As you come to him [Jesus], a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious . . ." How does God see Jesus? As chosen and precious.

The Father says of the Son, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased. Listen to him" (Matthew 17:5). He is the beloved Son, and the Father is very pleased with him.

Isaiah 42:1 says, "Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights." 

When God looks at Jesus, he delights in Jesus. When the Father looks on his Son, he is delighted with what he sees. He treasures and values what he sees. And whenever we put on God's glasses, that's what happens in our hearts. When God gives us eyes to see who Jesus is, we see the truth. God's glasses are the truth, and Satan's glasses are deception. Satan deceives us about Jesus and about the good. 

The devil is murderously opposed to Jesus' glory, but the Father delights in glorifying his Son. John 8:50 makes that clear. Jesus says, "Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it, and he is the Judge." The Father seeks the glory of the Son. He evaluates Jesus as the beloved, pleasing Son, and he delights to bring him glory. He delights to lift him up and point people to him. To show him off, if you will. 

The way he does that is by the power of his Spirit. John 16:13-14 say, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me." That's what the Spirit does. He comes and makes much of Jesus. He lifts Jesus up. He glorifies and exalts Jesus. That's what the Spirit of truth--the true way of seeing things--does. 

If we want to be people who see Jesus and see the world the way God does, we desperately need the Holy Spirit. The devil works to obscure, dim, and devalue Christ to our hearts, so that we, like Judas, give him away for lesser things. The devil's work is diametrically opposed to the work of the Spirit in our hearts. 

2 Corinthians 3:17-18 says, "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." Beholding Jesus' glory comes from the Holy Spirit. It comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. If we want to be people who see Jesus' glory rightly, and value and treasure him above everything else, then we desperately need God's Spirit.

In the account of Stephen's testimony, it says, "But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, 'Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God'" (Acts 7:55-56).

When Judas was filled with Satan and his way of seeing the world, he looked at Jesus and said, "Ehh, I'll take $7,500 instead of him." When Stephen was filled with the Holy Spirit, he looked at God and Christ and said, "Here is someone so glorious, beautiful, and worthy that he is worth dying for." We need those eyes to see!

You might find this song to be a powerful prayer. I know I have. Indeed, it is a prayer for God to give us his glasses--to help us see Jesus the way he does. To impart his sight of Christ to us: Help Us See Christ - Sovereign Grace Music