Good Morning Friends,
Once we have established that there is a God and that Christianity is the way to God, then a big question looms that is prompted by what we learn as youth. You see in Sunday School, in church, we learn that Jesus loves us. We sing songs to this point and memorize scripture that reinforces the message of our own voices. It is a very important lesson to learn. But this begs a foundation question related to our behavior in response and the nature of the God of our Creation whom we cannot fully fathom. So this morning, in consideration of all our sinfulness, and the hope that God takes that away, we ponder… Why Does Jesus Still Have A Heart To Love Us?
Scripture: When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them. How can I give you up, Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. I will not execute my fierce anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and no mortal, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.
Hosea 11:1, 3-4, 8c-9 (NRSV)
Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ, and to make everyone see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; so that through the church the wisdom of God in its rich variety might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose that he has carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have access to God in boldness and confidence through faith in him. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
Ephesians 3:8-12, 14-19 (NRSV)
Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”
John 19:31-37 (NRSV)
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
John 10:14-18 (NRSV)
Message: I do not know about you, but I find it difficult to love everybody. I try to be kind, but I fall short of loving God and country, but most of all detractors of our faith. The amazing thing is that Jesus did love or perhaps more appropriately said, is love for them all as well as us. As Jesus was dying on the cross the idea of love must have been going through his head. His words confirm this, for in them is great compassion for all kinds of people. Here is an obedience to God’s purposes raised up with unconditional love. Here is Jesus, on the cross, bearing the sins of the world, and his words to those present, are to forgive his executioners, assure a repentant criminal and to ask John to care for his mother. The very final words on the cross that Jesus utters to another human being are words of caring for his mom. There is a special bond between Jesus and the Father but also an incredible bond between the woman who bore the Savior and the Savior Himself. Before he turns his words over to the Father and thirst, Jesus makes sure Mary has a son to love and a son to take care of her. The amazing thing is that on the cross, beaten, and shamed, tortured and mocked, rejected, and vilified, he had nothing for us but words of love. Jesus offers forgiveness for those who tortured him, hope to the thief beside Him, and incredible love towards his mother—taking her needs into consideration when it was, He Himself that was dying for us all. Here Jesus shows us how to love and extends that love to us. This is the mystery and the why of it all is hard to fathom, for the reason is not about an intentionality of a conviction alone, but a state of being that goes beyond feelings. John 3:16 is a better answer than I could manufacture with words. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.” Friends, if God is love, then Jesus is God and our belonging to this sovereign reality is enough.
And So, Hosea in prophesying the coming of Jesus captures the essence of the answer that John rephrased for us. Indeed, God so loves us to give us Jesus his son so that those who believe in him might not perish but have everlasting life. Friends, Jesus died so that we might live. As Hosea learned we may not seem to have a perfect life, but we can still persevere to love anyway, because our God loves us anyway and is full of grace…pure grace and majesty…pure majesty, that overcomes our sins and transforms us for that day when we are gathered home.
Pray we have a heart for prayer that roars like a lion. Pray God advance our spiritual fulfillment. Pray we do not take God’s love for granted. Pray we be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ has forgiven and leads us into love. Pray we walk in love imitating God. Pray we have a heart like God’s. Pray we realize that Jesus died for us knowing we might never love him back. Pray we learn to love people into life even though they might not yet know how to return the love. Pray we have a heart to stay in the love of Jesus.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 