Seeing Jesus in the Ordinary: How Expectations Cause Spiritual Blindness
It is a common scene in many households. You open the refrigerator door and begin looking for the mayonnaise. You scan the shelves but cannot find it anywhere. You might even call out for help, only to be told it is on the second shelf in the door. When you look again and still do not see it, your spouse walks into the kitchen and opens the door. They grab the jar from the exact spot they described.
This moment illustrates a profound truth: it is entirely possible for you to have physical eyes but still not see what is right in front of you. Throughout the scriptures, the prophets spoke of people who have eyes but cannot see. In the New Testament, those who should have had the most clarity often missed what Jesus was actually doing in the world.
The Prayer for Your Heart
Because spiritual blindness is such a common human condition, the Apostle Paul opened his letter to the Ephesians with a specific prayer for the eyes of your heart to be enlightened. There are spiritual veils that often cover your ability to see things as they really are. Paul wanted you to see the massive hope to which you have been called. He wanted you to understand that healing and freedom are truly possible because of Jesus.
Paul also prayed that you would see the riches of his glorious inheritance. This inheritance is found within the community of the saints. You might often miss the magnificence of the community standing right next to you. Beyond community, there is an incomparably great power that exists for those who believe. You are not waiting for something else to happen. The power to resurrect, heal, and make a change in the world is already dwelling among you in Jesus Christ.
A Journey Away From Hope
The story of the road to Emmaus provides a clear picture of this blindness in action. There were two disciples walking seven miles away from Jerusalem. Symbolically, leaving Jerusalem was a descension. These men were walking away from life and promise. They were trying to outrun their own disappointment.
One of these men was named Cleopas, whom you might think of as a relatable person just trying to make sense of a tragedy. As they walked and talked about the events of the crucifixion, the resurrected Jesus simply popped up next to them. In a comical display of humility, Jesus asked them what they were talking about.
Cleopas responded with a bit of saltiness, asking if Jesus was the only visitor in Jerusalem who did not know what had happened. The irony is that Jesus was the only one who actually did know the truth. Yet, Jesus did not get angry or reveal himself with a flash of light. He simply leaned in and asked them to tell him more about these things.
The Barrier of Your Expectations
The reason these men could not see Jesus was that they were blinded by their own expectations. Cleopas admitted that they had hoped Jesus was the one to redeem Israel. He viewed redemption through an external lens. He wanted a political regime change and a fix for his circumstances.
Your own expectations can often act as a veil. When things do not work out the way you thought they were supposed to, you can become disillusioned. You might wonder why Jesus has not acted a certain way or fixed a specific problem. Jesus is more concerned with connecting than correcting. He is not just defending an idea, but he is actively contending for your heart.
The greatest barrier to your spiritual sight is the illusion that you already see clearly. This is often rooted in pride. If you view God as distant, you will live anxiously. If you view him as demanding, you will live exhausted. However, if you see a God who walks alongside you in your doubt, you can begin to taste the goodness of his grace.
Finding Jesus in the Messy and Normal
You live in a culture that trains you to chase the spectacular. You are groomed to look for the big breakthrough or the highlight-reel moment. Because of this, you might miss the ways Jesus works in small and unassuming ways over time.
The life of Jesus was marked by the ordinary. He walked and ate and got tired. He used mud and spit to heal a blind man. He fed thousands with common loaves and fishes rather than something extravagant. He prayed and wept and laughed.
Jesus wants to meet you in the ordinary stuff of your life. He is present when you are wrestling a newborn to sleep in the middle of the night. He is there when you are sitting in your cubicle dealing with an annoying coworker. He is even there when you are frustrated by the dirty windows in your home. Until you stop looking only for the spectacular, you will continue to miss the miracles happening in the middle of your mess.
Restored Community and the Breaking of Bread
When the men on the road finally had their eyes opened, it happened during a meal. Jesus took bread and broke it. To share bread, you must break off a piece and hand it to someone else. This reveals that redemption is not just an individual experience. It is a communal one.
You are invited into a new creation community where it is okay to be messy. You can experience Christ when someone sits with you in your pain. You can see him at work when a community shares resources to help those in financial trouble. Ultimate redemption leads to reconciliation with God and reconciliation with one another.
Your Next Step
As you move into your week, consider how your own spiritual blindness might be affecting your perspective. You are encouraged to reflect on your daily interactions and your internal expectations. Use these questions to guide your heart:
- Have your unmet expectations caused you to become hard-hearted toward the things of God?
- In what ways have you been looking for a spectacular sign while ignoring the ordinary presence of Jesus in your routine?
- How can you begin to see the people around you as the riches of God’s inheritance rather than as distractions?
- Are you willing to be honest with Jesus about your disappointments so that he can contend for your heart?
Join the Journey This Sunday
If you are looking for a place where you can be real and find a community that walks with you, you are invited to join a gathering at Mosaic Church. You do not have to hide your broken pieces or put on a polished performance. Whether you are searching for peace, purpose, or just a place to belong, there is a seat for you at the table.
Experience Mosaic in person this Sunday at 10:00 AM. Come as you are, grab a coffee at the café, and discover what it means to move from brokenness to wholeness through Jesus. We look forward to seeing you there.
