Eyes Up
By Rev. Heidi L. Barham | March 1, 2026
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Read John 3:1 – 17 (NIV)
It was back in March of 2020, that I used this passage from John’s Gospel as the text for a sermon I preached entitled, “LOOK UP.” Reflecting over where things were back then and where things are today, I want to suggest that we would do well to continue to keep our EYES UP.
Back in 2020, there were many issues that called for our attention which included mass shootings, political unrest, and what was then a little-known virus called the Novel Corona Virus which we would eventually come to know as COVID-19... or what we now refer to simply as COVID.
Looking back to that time when I preached that earlier sermon... it was only two weeks later that we had to make the decision to stop meeting in person for worship for what we thought was just the short-term… but it turned out to be over a year before we returned to the sanctuary.
And while that feels almost like a lifetime ago... it has only been six years…
And in those six rather long years... we have found ourselves living through some extremely challenging times... and I want to suggest that we have been able to persevere through it all by keeping our EYES UP… and that is something that both our Old and New Testament readings from the Lectionary encourage us to do.
Now, the reading from Psalms 121 is one of my favorite Psalms. It is actually the passage that I used when I took an Old Testament class during my first semester at Ashland Theological Seminary.
As part of that class, we had to select a passage of Scripture that we analyzed over the semester... and one of the things that I remember reflecting on in my analysis of Psalm 121 was the repeated use of the Hebrew word, “shamar,” which is translated as “to keep, to watch, or to preserve.”
So, when we take a closer look at this psalm... what we find is encouragement from the psalmist to lift our EYES UP to the hills… looking to the One who keeps us, watches over us, and preserves us… the One who promises to protect us from hurt, harm, and danger, both now and forevermore.
Now, as we turn our attention to our New Testament lesson... we find the story of an encounter between Jesus and a man named, Nicodemus.
This man, Nicodemus, was a respected member of the Jewish council who was in search of something... something which led him to Jesus… perhaps because he thought it was something only Jesus could provide.
But because of his status in the community (he was a Pharisee after all) …Nicodemus could ill-afford to be seen talking to the likes of Jesus. So, the text informs us that Nicodemus went to see Jesus under cover of darkness… presumably to try and preserve his stellar reputation among the other Jews.
Now according to our text, Nicodemus began this close encounter with Jesus by acknowledging something that the Pharisees had apparently come to some agreement on… which is that Jesus must indeed have been sent by God…
I mean, what other explanation could there be for all of the miraculous things that He had been doing?
But it was Jesus response to Nicodemus’ admission that is somewhat puzzling. He did not commend Nicodemus for stating the truth… nor did He ask Nicodemus what took him so long to figure everything out.
Instead, Jesus made a pronouncement that would have flown in the face of everything that Nicodemus and the religious leaders of his day had believed up to that point.
Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to enter the kingdom of God, he must be born again… And that is where the debate began… although not the kind of debate we have become accustomed to in this day and age…
There was no moderator. No timekeeper. No audience. No political careers on the line. In reality, there was something much more important at stake… it was not about simply winning or losing an argument… it was about eternal salvation.
Not having a clear understanding yet … Nicodemus started by asking Jesus to explain His statement… this suggestion that he needed to do the impossible… because the idea of physically going back into his mother’s womb would have violated the laws of nature.
Now, just to put things into a little perspective for us… Nicodemus and his colleagues, the Pharisees, were a group of religious Jews who advocated for strict adherence to the most minute portions of the Jewish law and traditions.
They were legalists of the highest order, which is why they rejected Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah... because He did not follow all of their traditions… but that was not all…
These so-called leaders also took issue with the fact that Jesus had the audacity to associate with the wrong class of people… sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes and the like…
As pastor and author Max Lucado puts it in his book, “He Still Moves Stones,”
Read John 3:1 – 17 (NIV)
It was back in March of 2020, that I used this passage from John’s Gospel as the text for a sermon I preached entitled, “LOOK UP.” Reflecting over where things were back then and where things are today, I want to suggest that we would do well to continue to keep our EYES UP.
Back in 2020, there were many issues that called for our attention which included mass shootings, political unrest, and what was then a little-known virus called the Novel Corona Virus which we would eventually come to know as COVID-19... or what we now refer to simply as COVID.
Looking back to that time when I preached that earlier sermon... it was only two weeks later that we had to make the decision to stop meeting in person for worship for what we thought was just the short-term… but it turned out to be over a year before we returned to the sanctuary.
And while that feels almost like a lifetime ago... it has only been six years…
And in those six rather long years... we have found ourselves living through some extremely challenging times... and I want to suggest that we have been able to persevere through it all by keeping our EYES UP… and that is something that both our Old and New Testament readings from the Lectionary encourage us to do.
Now, the reading from Psalms 121 is one of my favorite Psalms. It is actually the passage that I used when I took an Old Testament class during my first semester at Ashland Theological Seminary.
As part of that class, we had to select a passage of Scripture that we analyzed over the semester... and one of the things that I remember reflecting on in my analysis of Psalm 121 was the repeated use of the Hebrew word, “shamar,” which is translated as “to keep, to watch, or to preserve.”
So, when we take a closer look at this psalm... what we find is encouragement from the psalmist to lift our EYES UP to the hills… looking to the One who keeps us, watches over us, and preserves us… the One who promises to protect us from hurt, harm, and danger, both now and forevermore.
Now, as we turn our attention to our New Testament lesson... we find the story of an encounter between Jesus and a man named, Nicodemus.
This man, Nicodemus, was a respected member of the Jewish council who was in search of something... something which led him to Jesus… perhaps because he thought it was something only Jesus could provide.
But because of his status in the community (he was a Pharisee after all) …Nicodemus could ill-afford to be seen talking to the likes of Jesus. So, the text informs us that Nicodemus went to see Jesus under cover of darkness… presumably to try and preserve his stellar reputation among the other Jews.
Now according to our text, Nicodemus began this close encounter with Jesus by acknowledging something that the Pharisees had apparently come to some agreement on… which is that Jesus must indeed have been sent by God…
I mean, what other explanation could there be for all of the miraculous things that He had been doing?
But it was Jesus response to Nicodemus’ admission that is somewhat puzzling. He did not commend Nicodemus for stating the truth… nor did He ask Nicodemus what took him so long to figure everything out.
Instead, Jesus made a pronouncement that would have flown in the face of everything that Nicodemus and the religious leaders of his day had believed up to that point.
Jesus told Nicodemus that in order to enter the kingdom of God, he must be born again… And that is where the debate began… although not the kind of debate we have become accustomed to in this day and age…
There was no moderator. No timekeeper. No audience. No political careers on the line. In reality, there was something much more important at stake… it was not about simply winning or losing an argument… it was about eternal salvation.
Not having a clear understanding yet … Nicodemus started by asking Jesus to explain His statement… this suggestion that he needed to do the impossible… because the idea of physically going back into his mother’s womb would have violated the laws of nature.
Now, just to put things into a little perspective for us… Nicodemus and his colleagues, the Pharisees, were a group of religious Jews who advocated for strict adherence to the most minute portions of the Jewish law and traditions.
They were legalists of the highest order, which is why they rejected Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah... because He did not follow all of their traditions… but that was not all…
These so-called leaders also took issue with the fact that Jesus had the audacity to associate with the wrong class of people… sinners, tax collectors, prostitutes and the like…
As pastor and author Max Lucado puts it in his book, “He Still Moves Stones,”
A legalist believes the supreme force behind salvation is you. If you look right, speak right and belong to the right segment of the right group, you will be saved. The brunt of responsibility doesn’t lie with God; it lies with you. (Lucado, 1993, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
But what Jesus said to Nicodemus literally turned all of that upside down.
Jesus explained that it is not a physical birth that results in someone gaining entrance into God’s kingdom. No, on the contrary... salvation requires a spiritual birth... which is something that only God can give.
The fact of the matter is that we cannot save ourselves. No matter how many good deeds we do… no matter how many church services we attend… no matter how many rules and regulations we follow…
NONE of it will ever be enough for us to deserve salvation.
That is why Jesus explained to Nicodemus (and by extension, us) that a spiritual rebirth is necessary.
What Jesus impressed upon Nicodemus and what this text continues to impress upon us, all these centuries and generations later… is that the work of salvation is done through God’s grace.
And God extends that grace to any and everybody He chooses through Jesus’ death on the cross.
Unlike what Nicodemus and his buddies may have thought, it is not up to us to pick and choose who receives grace. We are merely the beneficiaries of God’s grace… we are not the distributors... although there are apparently some people who have not gotten the memo on that quite yet.
Now, looking back at the text, Jesus spoke about the children of Israel and a time when they found themselves on the receiving end of some extremely harsh punishment for speaking against God and against Moses.
No doubt, a religious leader and scholar like Nicodemus would have been very familiar with this story. Which is perhaps why Jesus used this particular illustration to make His point to Nicodemus.
The original story is found in Numbers 21 (4-9) where we read:
Jesus explained that it is not a physical birth that results in someone gaining entrance into God’s kingdom. No, on the contrary... salvation requires a spiritual birth... which is something that only God can give.
The fact of the matter is that we cannot save ourselves. No matter how many good deeds we do… no matter how many church services we attend… no matter how many rules and regulations we follow…
NONE of it will ever be enough for us to deserve salvation.
That is why Jesus explained to Nicodemus (and by extension, us) that a spiritual rebirth is necessary.
What Jesus impressed upon Nicodemus and what this text continues to impress upon us, all these centuries and generations later… is that the work of salvation is done through God’s grace.
And God extends that grace to any and everybody He chooses through Jesus’ death on the cross.
Unlike what Nicodemus and his buddies may have thought, it is not up to us to pick and choose who receives grace. We are merely the beneficiaries of God’s grace… we are not the distributors... although there are apparently some people who have not gotten the memo on that quite yet.
Now, looking back at the text, Jesus spoke about the children of Israel and a time when they found themselves on the receiving end of some extremely harsh punishment for speaking against God and against Moses.
No doubt, a religious leader and scholar like Nicodemus would have been very familiar with this story. Which is perhaps why Jesus used this particular illustration to make His point to Nicodemus.
The original story is found in Numbers 21 (4-9) where we read:
They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!” Then the Lord sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the Lord and against you. Pray that the Lord will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.
Now, the comparison Jesus made between the Israelites and Nicodemus and the people of his time is still relevant to us today.
Just as the Israelites were being bitten by snakes. Christians must guard against being bitten by sin.
What do you mean, Pastor?
Well, both a snake bite and sin may begin with just a little pain at the outset… but both will ultimately lead to intense suffering. One leads to a physical death from the snake’s poison while the other leads to spiritual death from the poison of sin.
In the story found in the Old Testament, a bronze snake was lifted up on a pole in the desert… while in the New Testament, Christ was lifted up on a cross at Calvary.
Looking up at the snake saved the Israelites from physical death. Looking up to Christ saves each of us from eternal death.
Now, after Jesus explained to Nicodemus that everyone who believes in Him can have eternal life… He answered a question that Nicodemus had not actually asked, which is, “Why?”
What would make God so graciously and generously give eternal life to everyone who believes? The answer is a simple four-letter word... l-o-v-e.
Just as the Israelites were being bitten by snakes. Christians must guard against being bitten by sin.
What do you mean, Pastor?
Well, both a snake bite and sin may begin with just a little pain at the outset… but both will ultimately lead to intense suffering. One leads to a physical death from the snake’s poison while the other leads to spiritual death from the poison of sin.
In the story found in the Old Testament, a bronze snake was lifted up on a pole in the desert… while in the New Testament, Christ was lifted up on a cross at Calvary.
Looking up at the snake saved the Israelites from physical death. Looking up to Christ saves each of us from eternal death.
Now, after Jesus explained to Nicodemus that everyone who believes in Him can have eternal life… He answered a question that Nicodemus had not actually asked, which is, “Why?”
What would make God so graciously and generously give eternal life to everyone who believes? The answer is a simple four-letter word... l-o-v-e.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
God loves us… so much so that He gave His Son for us... for each and every one of us. And He gave this most precious gift unconditionally… despite what we look like, sound like or act like… despite the things we have done in the past or will likely do in the future... God loves us all. PERIOD.
Sadly, however, we are living at a time in history when people are constantly drawing dividing lines between groups of people… excluding those who do not meet certain arbitrary sets of criteria based on things like age, race, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, and political affiliation.
But that is in direct contrast to how God would have us to live. God’s love for us comes without exception... and as hard as it may be for us to accept... we are called to love the same way.
And before you say it... I know that some people seem to go out of their way to be disagreeable and unlovable.
But God calls us to love them anyhow. After all, just think how disagreeable and unlovable we can be at times... and yet God still loves us, right? Okay, maybe it’s just me...
But it is conceivable that underneath the surface of that disagreeable, seemingly unlovable, person is the heart of someone who is hurting. Someone who needs to know that in spite of the pain and heartache they may be going through... God loves them... and it is up to us to encourage them to keep their EYES UP.
EYES UP... focusing on the One who assures us that although we will face trials and tribulations in this world, we can take heart because He has overcome the world (see John 16:33).
EYES UP... keeping our gaze fixed on the One who promised never to leave us nor forsake us (see Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5).
EYES UP... looking to the One who promised to give us the Comforter to teach us and remind us of everything Jesus has said (see John 14:26).
EYES UP... fixed on the One who loves us so much, He was willing to lay down His life for us… because we are His friends (see John 15:13-14).
EYES UP... concentrating on the One the Apostle Paul wrote about in his letter to the Ephesians when he said, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:4 – 5).
And with everything that is happening in this world in real time... it is more critical than ever for all of us to keep our EYES UP.
I am reminded of something that Jesus said which is recorded in Matthew 26:5 – 8. Reading from the Message Paraphrase, we find:
Sadly, however, we are living at a time in history when people are constantly drawing dividing lines between groups of people… excluding those who do not meet certain arbitrary sets of criteria based on things like age, race, ethnicity, cultural background, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic status, and political affiliation.
But that is in direct contrast to how God would have us to live. God’s love for us comes without exception... and as hard as it may be for us to accept... we are called to love the same way.
And before you say it... I know that some people seem to go out of their way to be disagreeable and unlovable.
But God calls us to love them anyhow. After all, just think how disagreeable and unlovable we can be at times... and yet God still loves us, right? Okay, maybe it’s just me...
But it is conceivable that underneath the surface of that disagreeable, seemingly unlovable, person is the heart of someone who is hurting. Someone who needs to know that in spite of the pain and heartache they may be going through... God loves them... and it is up to us to encourage them to keep their EYES UP.
EYES UP... focusing on the One who assures us that although we will face trials and tribulations in this world, we can take heart because He has overcome the world (see John 16:33).
EYES UP... keeping our gaze fixed on the One who promised never to leave us nor forsake us (see Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5, Hebrews 13:5).
EYES UP... looking to the One who promised to give us the Comforter to teach us and remind us of everything Jesus has said (see John 14:26).
EYES UP... fixed on the One who loves us so much, He was willing to lay down His life for us… because we are His friends (see John 15:13-14).
EYES UP... concentrating on the One the Apostle Paul wrote about in his letter to the Ephesians when he said, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism” (Ephesians 4:4 – 5).
And with everything that is happening in this world in real time... it is more critical than ever for all of us to keep our EYES UP.
I am reminded of something that Jesus said which is recorded in Matthew 26:5 – 8. Reading from the Message Paraphrase, we find:
Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, ‘I am Christ, the Messiah.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming.
Clearly, the reports that we have seen over just these past couple of days are truly disturbing... it is enough to make one wonder if these really are the last days... and whether that is the case or not... we still need to keep our EYES UP... because none of this has caught God by surprise.
Which is why I want to take us back to the Old Testament... to another one of my favorite Psalms...
It is Psalm 46 which reads:
Which is why I want to take us back to the Old Testament... to another one of my favorite Psalms...
It is Psalm 46 which reads:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come and see what the Lord has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth. He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Let me leave us with this encouragement... we just need to be still and know that God is God... God always has been and always will be our refuge, our strength and our fortress... and God has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.
So, despite reports that would have us believe otherwise... we are neither hopeless nor helpless... even in the midst of all the chaos and confusion that is happening here and abroad. We can cling to the promise found in the last verse of our text which reminds us that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
In spite of all that we see going wrong around us... we can still look up to find help and our source of hope.
So, this morning, I want to leave us with a simple question... are you keeping your EYES UP? My hope and prayer is that we would all answer yes... that we are all keeping our EYES UP... just as the writer of Hebrews suggests:
So, despite reports that would have us believe otherwise... we are neither hopeless nor helpless... even in the midst of all the chaos and confusion that is happening here and abroad. We can cling to the promise found in the last verse of our text which reminds us that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
In spite of all that we see going wrong around us... we can still look up to find help and our source of hope.
So, this morning, I want to leave us with a simple question... are you keeping your EYES UP? My hope and prayer is that we would all answer yes... that we are all keeping our EYES UP... just as the writer of Hebrews suggests:
fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart
(Hebrews 12:2 – 3).
Or as it reads in the Message Paraphrase:
Or as it reads in the Message Paraphrase:
Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
And it is with that in mind that I want to invite us all to keep our EYES UP as we stand and sing our Hymn of Discipleship: My Faith Looks Up to Thee #576.
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