Altered Perspective | Essential Christianity 201 | Ability Tree

Altered Perspective: Seeing People Through the Eyes of Jesus

When we live an "altared" life—fully surrendered to God—our perspective is transformed to see people with compassion, urgency, and faith, just as Jesus does.

An “altared” perspective changes how we see the world, especially people. Like the friends in Luke 5, we’re called to carry others to Jesus, no matter the obstacles, because of the urgency of eternity.

Seeing Through a New Lens

When our lives are “altared,” surrendered to God, our perspective shifts. We no longer see people as interruptions, burdens, or hopeless cases but as image-bearers of God, deeply loved and in need of Jesus.

Let’s look at a group of friends in Luke 5 who demonstrate what it means to have an “altared” perspective.

Micah was the avenue God used to “altar” our perspective on disability.

Luke 5:17-26 (NLT) 17 One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord’s healing power was strongly with Jesus. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat. They tried to take him inside to Jesus, 19 but they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up onto the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.” 21 But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? 23 Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? 24 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” 25 And immediately, as everyone watched, the man jumped up, picked up his mat, and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was gripped with great wonder and awe, and they praised God, exclaiming, “We have seen amazing things today!”

Remember, an “altared” perspective changes how we see the world, especially people. Let’s take a look at this passage more deeply and some of the perspectives by others.

1. The Perspective of the Crowd: Unconcerned by the Outcast

First, let’s talk about the crowd.

Luke 5:17-18 (NLT) says, 17 ‘One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby… 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a sleeping mat.’

The house was packed that day. People were eager to hear Jesus teach, but when the paralyzed man and his friends arrived, no one made room. The crowd was so focused on their own needs that they didn’t notice—or didn’t care—that someone outside was desperate for Jesus.

Are we like the crowd?

Are we so focused on ourselves that we miss the needs of others?
Do we unintentionally block people from encountering Jesus because of our own comfort or indifference?

The crowd had proximity to Jesus, but they lacked compassion. Let’s ask God to move us out of the crowd and into a new perspective.

2. The Perspective of the Friends: Tenacity to Get to Jesus

Let’s look at the friends’ perspective.

Luke 5:19 (NLT) says, 19 ‘But they couldn’t reach him because of the crowd. So they went up to the roof and took off some tiles. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat down into the crowd, right in front of Jesus.’

These friends didn’t let anything stop them. They could have turned back when they saw the crowd, but they didn’t. Instead, they saw an opportunity. They tore through the roof to get their friend to Jesus.

That’s tenacity. That’s love in action.

What about us?

Who are you helping carry to Jesus?

A disgruntled co-worker?
A faithless neighbor?
A single parent?
A struggling student?
What risks or sacrifices are you willing to make to bring someone into His presence?
What ‘roof’ do you need to tear through—fear, convenience, or indifference?

When we live with an ‘altared perspective,’ we’re willing to do whatever it takes to bring people to Jesus. These friends are an example of what it means to live with faith and love in action.

3. The Perspective of Jesus: Seeing the Greatest Need First

Now let’s consider the perspective of Jesus, because this is where the story takes a surprising turn.

Imagine being in the house that day! You are there listening to Jesus and all of a sudden part of the roof is removed and a man is lowered down on a mat! I’m sure the crowd was on edge waiting to see Jesus’ response. 

Jesus responded with attention to the man’s needs. He didn’t see him an interruption, He saw him as someone in need of relationship with Him.

Luke 5:20 (NLT) says, 20 ‘Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the man, “Young man, your sins are forgiven.”'

This wasn’t what anyone expected. The man’s friends went to extraordinary lengths to bring him to Jesus for healing. The crowd was probably waiting to see a miracle.

But Jesus didn’t start with the man’s physical need. He started with his greatest need: forgiveness.

Why? Because Jesus always prioritizes the eternal over the temporary.

SOUL TATTOO: Jesus sees your heart before your hurt. 

The man’s paralysis was a visible, immediate problem, but his separation from God was a deeper, eternal one. Jesus knew that physical healing would change the man’s life for a moment, but spiritual healing would change his eternity.

This is the heart of Jesus. He cares deeply about our physical and emotional needs, but His greatest concern is always the condition of our souls. Salvation is the greatest healing anyone can experience.

How Do We See People?

Here’s the challenge for us: Do we see people’s greatest need first?

Do we stop at what’s visible, or do we ask God to show us the deeper, spiritual needs beneath the surface?
Do we see interruptions as opportunities for God to work?

Like Jesus, we’re called to look beyond the obvious. We’re called to see people as image-bearers of God, worthy of love and redemption.

Before we can change our perspective, we need to be honest about where we are.

Dan Vander Platts developed a framework for understanding how we approach those impacted by disability. He identified five stages:

Where do you see yourself on this spectrum? And where do you see yourself in Luke 5?

Over the last 15 years we’ve had the honor to come alongside individuals and families with disability. We’ve learned that their physical and intellectual needs may vary but their spiritual needs are like any other human being. Their soul needs Jesus, and they need community. The Church can provide both if we welcome them in.