Seeing Jesus in Others – by Bermie Dizon

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She was the daughter of an Albanian grocer, and at age 18, she made a decision that would change not only her life but the lives of countless others. She moved to the slums of Calcutta, where she picked up children from garbage dumps—children riddled with disease, poverty, and despair.

That young woman was Anjezë Gonxhe Bojaxhiu, now known as Mother Teresa. When asked what inspired her to do such sacrificial work, she replied with a simplicity that pierced through all human excuses: “I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, this is hungry Jesus, I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene…I serve because I love Jesus.”

When I first read this quote, it was like someone had turned on a light in the darkest corner of my heart. I had been a Christian for years, but the truth was that I had grown judgmental, self-righteous, and blind to the suffering around me. I remember driving through downtown Los Angeles and seeing the rows of cardboard boxes lining the sidewalks. My mind quickly filled with harsh thoughts: “These people must have brought this on themselves—drug addicts, criminals, illegals, lazy beggars!” It was easy to justify my indifference and move on.

But then, I came across Mother Teresa’s words. Her philosophy of ministry reshaped how I viewed everything—people, ministry, and even myself. She saw Jesus in the faces of the poor, the sick, and the forgotten. She didn’t ask why they were in their condition; she only asked, “How can I serve Jesus in this person?” Her words began to work in me like a seed, slowly growing into a new vision for life and ministry: I see Jesus in every human being.

Now, I see Jesus in places and people I never expected. Let me share what I mean.

I saw Jesus last week. He was wearing blue jeans and an old shirt, working hard at the church building. He was there alone, sweeping up dust from the floor. For a minute, I thought he looked like a regular church member. But it was Jesus—I could tell by the joy in his smile.

I saw Jesus this morning, too. She was in my kitchen, making breakfast for the family. I glanced over and saw my wife, but then I remembered—that’s Jesus. I could feel Jesus’ love in the way my wife served without expecting anything in return.

This afternoon, Jesus was outside cutting the grass in our community. He waved and smiled at everyone driving by. For a moment, I thought it was just the groundskeeper. But no, it was Jesus—no one else waves with that much joy.

And last night, I saw Him again. He was sitting in the street, looking tired and hungry, with eyes full of pain. It looked like another homeless person, but as I got closer, I realized—it was Jesus. The suffering in His eyes, the depth of His loneliness—it was unmistakable.

Jesus is everywhere. He is in the people we often overlook—the ones who serve us, the ones who need us, and even the ones who seem to have nothing left. And then, early this morning, something else happened. I went to the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and a thought came to my mind: How do I look to the people I meet? When they see me, do they see Jesus in me? Does my life reflect His love, His compassion, His joy?

Mother Teresa’s vision has changed how I see the world.

But now, I am challenged by an even deeper question—do others see Jesus in us?

Excerpted from “God In Every Step” available now at Amazon.com. Bermie Dizon is a husband, father, grandfather and retired pastor living in Southern California.