The Resurrection of Christ, Raphael, 1500

We walked through Tapestry Hall at the Vatican last June. Our tour guide stopped us at this tapestry, originally a painting by Raphael. It was woven in Brussels under the guidance of the Flemish master Pieter van Aelst.

She told us to watch the eyes of Jesus as we walked along. Amazingly, wherever we were in the hall, when we looked up to Jesus, it seemed his eyes always met ours. It wasn’t that he was following us, he was already looking; he was leading us.

And isn’t that always true?!

A few days previous we had been in Ephesus, modern day Turkey. Our tour there ended in a shop where amazing tapestries were woven. The intricacies of the colors and threads, and the craftsmanship of the artist created beautiful carpets and wall hangings. An artist may be able to complete only three area rugs in her lifetime.

We also saw many of the finished products. One beautiful blue carpet was laid out before us, the azure blue anchoring the pattern. Then the men in the shop turned the carpet 180 degrees. The blue now looked navy. We ooh-ed and aah-ed.

I’m thinking this is the reason it always appeared that the eyes of Jesus were always looking, always leading us. We were seeing the pattern from a different angle.

Raphael’s art communicated truth. Jesus’ eyes are always on us, always leading us.

“for it is the LORD our God who goes with you.
He will not leave you or forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.”
Psalm 32:8 (underlines mine)

“And behold, I am with you always,”
Matthew 28:20 (Jesus to his disciples)

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5 (cited from God to Joshua. Joshua 1:5)

God’s message to us is consistent throughout the scriptures, when we turn our gaze to God, we are comforted by his eyes, already looking at and always leading us. He is with us always.

As a third grade teacher, there were often times when I especially wanted to make sure a student understood what I was communicating. I’d get down to his level to make eye contact. And often I had to reinforce my position and say, look at me. Look me in the eyes. Eye contact signifies an interest in hearing what the other wants to say. It is an invitation. It communicates relationship and makes for more effective communication.

I sometimes requested the same from our kids when I wanted their attention … look at me.

Eye contact with a baby often ignites the joy area of their brain. Our first GRAND way laying on his blanket on our living room floor. I approached him and smiled. Immediately he made eye contact with me and broke into the biggest smile. He sensed relationship; joy was ignited.

It’s the same with Jesus. As we turn our gaze into his eyes, we realize, he’s already making eye contact with us. Relationship is connecting. Joy surfaces from gazing.

“These things I have spoken to you,
that my joy may be in you, ad that your joy may be full.”
John 15:11

I’m working on gazing at Jesus and experiencing his presence.

“One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.”
Psalm 27:4

Copyright: Sue Tell, September 2023