Lift up your Eyes

Scripture/Bible:  When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, "Father, the hour has come; glorify thy Son that the Son may glorify thee, 2 since thou hast given him power over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. 4 I glorified thee on earth, having accomplished the work which thou gavest me to do; 5 and now, Father, glorify thou me in thy own presence with the glory which I had with thee before the world was made. John 17:1-5

Reflection:  Where is heaven? Who knows whether heaven is upwards questioned the seemingly wise theologian?

Our modern day experts take great pleasure in questioning everything; whether it is the hour of prayer or the hour of glory or the location of heaven.

What does it matter to us who have found the truth; Christ Jesus: “the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me.” John 14:6

When the scripture tell us that Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven, then it is. The divine revealed Son, who was always in the bosom of the Father has revealed to us that which is objectively true and safe to practice.

So when Jesus looks heaven wards it could be a dwelling of God in the heavenly or higher above the heavens. 

Heaven is and was always considered a place up above, therefore the Psalmist would pray: “Thou whose glory above the heavens is chanted.”  Ps 8:1

With Jesus with us, it would be good sometimes to pray like him lifting up our eyes to the heavens. In doing so we will be acknowledging at least one thing necessary for his ongoing work of salvation in us: “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isa 55:9

Prayer: “To thee I lift up my eyes, O thou who art enthroned in the heavens!” Ps 123:1

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