The Disciple Jesus Loves

When we hear the word love, many different things come to mind. Some might think of their spouse, perhaps their children, others might think of parents or close siblings and friends. All of these pictures of love connect to an actual physical being, someBODY comes to mind, not something. God's love is different from any love we have or give. What do you think of when you hear about God's love for you? What do you picture? Ever see the clouds right after a storm when the sun is shining down with rays of light? It almost looks like the heavens have opened up and God's love is shining down. Is that how you picture God's love? Maybe you think of the immeasurable blessings God pours out on us like rain. Can you see it? Pictures & words spelling out your blessings falling from the sky by the thousands!!
God's love is unconditional, never-ending, all-powerful, soft and loving, but yet protective and firm. HIS love is the teaching of how OUR love should be. ​

Jesus gives us this example of God's love:

​^"This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends." - John 15:12-13 (NLT)

I would bet that most people can likely count on one hand the number of people they would actually DIE for; children, of course, parents, siblings, maybe a very close friend. But Jesus does not specify who based on their relationship to us, no HE says "for one's friends." Well now that seems a bit much!​  But then that is exactly what Christ did for us, not just as a friend, but as a brother.  Jesus himself is our brother and we are all children of God. 

Jesus on the cross is the symbol of grace, God’s grace.  It is through God’s unconditional love we receive the mercy and grace we do not deserve.  As defined by Brad Bledsoe on Sunday, “Mercy is when God doesn’t give you what you do deserve; Grace is when God gives you what you don’t deserve.” 

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved.” – Ephesians 2:4-5

“. . . because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.” – James 2:13

Mercy triumphs over JUDGEMENT!!  We are not subject to the judgment of God for our committed sins because of His great mercy for us.  Through grace given on the cross by Jesus, our brother we are not condemned to the sufferings we deserve.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” – Romans 8:1

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.” – Ephesians 1:7-8

 Lavished grace, how beautiful the image of God’s grace lavished upon us.  The grace we don’t deserve, that has existed for us even before we were in need of it, poured upon us.  Preveinient grace is grace that has “followed us” from the time we were born.  Then at some point in our lives we reached out to the God of love we now know so well and received from Him that grace he has freely given.   And a love like no other is born.  God’s love for us is given, not earned because we can do nothing on our own to earn God’s love.  Unconditional love that sustains us and lifts us, keeps us going and never leaves us.  When it comes down to it, love is what it is all about.  And nobody in the Bible, except Jesus himself, had that figured out better than the disciple, John. 

 Many times people, especially young kids will ask me where should I start when I begin reading the Bible.  I always tell them John and never really understood why until the message given this past week.  The book of John, like all the Gospels of the Bible, tells the life events of Jesus here on earth; with some variations of course, but the most distinct difference is John tells about whom Jesus was, not just what he did.  John shows us through his eyes the love Jesus has for us.  John called himself, “The disciple Jesus loved.”  What an amazing testament of John’s faith.  He knew Jesus’ heart so deeply that he referred to himself with such a bold and beautiful title.  How many of us have that confidence in the Savior’s love for us?  If people cannot even have the boldness to pick up the grace God leaves at the Alter for us and trade in the garbage we carry around, how can we be a people bold enough to claim the title of the disciple Jesus loves??!!

 We are all guilty at some point in our Christian lives of carrying around our sins and short-comings with shame until the burden has pulled us so far down from the love of God we no longer feel “Christ-worthy.”  That is where mercy and grace are vital to receive the love God has for us.  You must first receive the grace God has for you, letting go of that which he wants to take from you, to truly feel His unconditional LOVE.  Just pray this simple prayer and your burdens will be lifted, giving you the freedom to accept and feel God’s love.

            "Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. Please forgive my sins and give me the gift of eternal life. I ask you in to my life and heart to be my Lord and Savior. I want to serve you always."

Be bold; claim the title you are deserving of, The Disciple Jesus LOVES!!

Called by Christ,

Amanda