A Higher View
- Isabella Campolattaro
- Jul 11
- 5 min read
Updated: Jul 13
A key stop on the Via Francigena—an ancient travel and pilgrimage route to Rome—Lucca is known as the city of 100 churches. Its many historic sanctuaries were generously built and maintained by generations of prosperous citizens. In addition to its churches, Lucca is also dotted with towers. Pierce and I climbed two: Guinigi and San Frediano. A solid quadriceps workout—and a spectacular view from on high.
My favorite was Guinigi, with its striking modern sculptures and magical rooftop garden. But both towers offered a breathtaking bird’s-eye view.
Things look different from up high.
From the towers, you can see the vast panorama of the Tuscan hills, distant villages, Lucca's clay-tiled rooftops, ancient walls, narrow streets, and evocative umbrella and cypress trees. Because the towers aren’t skyscrapers, you get a commanding view, yet you’re still close enough to appreciate the details: window boxes brimming with flowers, the occasional glimpse of a well-dressed woman on a bike, or people strolling arm in arm.
But you cannot see the candy wrapper on the cobblestone streets, the charming storefronts, the teenagers gathered to smoke in Piazza San Michele, the (rare) dog poop, or the town’s state-of-the-art recycling dumpsters.
You certainly cannot see hearts, or smiles, or tears—or tirades.
You see a lot. But not everything.
Jesus? Well, that's a different matter, of course.
Jesus Sees. Everything.
All four Gospels describe many instances when Jesus saw—truly saw—because He is Jesus. In the Gospels, what Jesus saw often moved Him to act—sometimes with deep compassion, and other times with sobering rebuke.
His vision was not merely physical. He discerned motives, pain, faith, and pride. He saw what others could not—or would not—see.
This Bible reflection explores the contrast: how Jesus responded differently to those who came in vulnerability versus those who resisted truth. And it invites us to consider: What is Jesus seeing in us today? And how is this reflected and how we see?
1. When Jesus Saw and Had Compassion
Jesus was deeply moved by suffering, faith, and honest need. Often, his compassion led to healing, calling, redirection, or provision.
Seeing and Calling
Matthew 4:18 – Jesus saw two brothers (Simon Peter and Andrew) and called them to follow him.
Luke 5:27 – Jesus saw Levi (Matthew) the tax collector and said, "Follow me."
John 1:47 – Jesus saw Nathanael and affirmed his honesty before calling him.
Luke 19:5 – Jesus saw Zacchaeus and invited himself to his house, prompting Zacchaeus’ repentance.
Seeing and Healing
Matthew 8:14 – Jesus saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying sick and healed her.
Luke 13:12 – Jesus saw a crippled woman and called her forward to heal her.
John 5:6 – Jesus saw a lame man and asked if he wanted to be well.
Luke 7:13 – Jesus saw a grieving widow and raised her son.
Seeing and Compassion
Matthew 9:36 – Jesus saw the crowds and had compassion, for they were harassed and helpless.
Mark 6:34 – He saw the people and taught and fed them.
Matthew 5:1 – Jesus saw the crowds and gave the Sermon on the Mount.
In each, Jesus responded to real need, humility, or faith. Compassion was not earned but often drawn out by honest vulnerability or suffering.
If you're being reduced to real need, don't fake it, fight it, numb it, flee it, or silence it. Let go and let Jesus heal you.
Recovery says, "Pain is the touchstone of all spiritual progress." The greater pain is in the resistance! For sure.
That's the path to sweet freedom!
2. When Jesus Saw and Confronted
Jesus also saw pride, pretense, and resistance. In such moments, he responded with bold truth, grief, or bracing warnings.
Seeing Hypocrisy
Matthew 23:27–28 – Jesus called the Pharisees "whitewashed tombs"—beautiful outside but dead within.
Mark 12:38–40 – He exposed religious leaders who exploited others while seeking
honor.
Seeing Hard Hearts
Mark 3:5 – Jesus looked at them with anger and grief because of their hard hearts.
Luke 19:41–44 – Jesus wept over Jerusalem’s blindness to God’s offer of peace.
Seeing Deception or Pretense
Luke 20:23 – Jesus saw through a trap question about taxes and called out their
duplicity.
John 2:24–25 – Jesus knew what was in each person and did not entrust himself to shallow faith.
Mercy & Judgment
There’s an undeniable pattern when we consider who received Jesus’ compassion versus his rebuke:
Those who came in humility, faith, or honest need and who responded humbly when exposed (like the woman at the well), often received healing, calling, or compassion.
Those who resisted truth, clung to status, or masked pride with religion—and abused innocents—often faced confrontation and scary warnings.
Jesus never shied away from truth-telling. He was not harsh for kicks, power-trips, or shaming. His confrontation was meant to awaken those who of their own free will—
were racing away from Him—often through grief, clarity, or consequence.
It wasn’t their sin that condemned the Pharisees—but their dishonest denial, pride, abuse, and blame.
Recovery Angle
Christian discipleship and Twelve Step recovery both invite us to honest, ongoing self-examination and confession of truth—to God, to ourselves, and to trusted others.
Do I bring my whole self—my weakness, faith, and need—to Jesus?
Or do I hide behind image, pride, or self-sufficiency?
Do I blame others or try to discredit or deny those who expose my brokenness?
Do I use my free will to align with God's will, or am I defiant, self-will run riot?
How might Jesus be seeing me today?
And… how am I seeing?
As I like to say, over and over again, God never exposes anything without the willingness and ability to forgive and heal it.
Our part is owning it. Shame mushrooms in darkness.
"Jesus, let me see with Your eyes."
I have struggled a lot with seeing. I’ve been blind to my own failures and pain—and hurt myself and others greatly in that denial, not being ever vigilant about my sometimes defective defaults (See Step 10).
Conversely, I seem to see things others don’t: some beautiful, some heartbreaking. It’s been a lot. Only recently have I begun to understand why. You prophetic survivors and empaths get it.
For years now, I’ve prayed: “Jesus, let me see with Your eyes,” and “Search my heart.”
Be careful what you pray for.
He has given me tear-filled eyes of unqualified affection, empathy, and concern for others—sometimes to the point of agony and injury. Trauma survivors can become hypervigilant, absorbing others’ feelings as their own. Sometimes, that deep compassion becomes a catalyst for unhealthy codependency and a lure for narcissists. HARD.
But not just that. Some of what I’ve seen has stirred up frustration, outrage, and even judgment. That must be acknowledged. Truth matters. Lord, have mercy.
This latter kind of seeing—like Jesus’ confrontation—can invite scorn, slander, and rejection. If that’s been your experience, I invite you to see even this through Jesus’ eyes and take heart.
As Jesus said:
"God blesses those who are persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs. “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way." Matthew 5:10-12 (NIV)
If any of this rings a bell, there's...
Good News
For all of us: Jesus sees us. And he loves us. He desires that none should perish.
Re/turn.
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