OUR HAVING A LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS
There is a song that I and many children have learned: “Yes Jesus loves me….”
The Bible tells us Jesus truly love us and longs to have a loving relationship with us: Before he died on the cross for the sins of the world, Jesus said, “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13; John 3:16). At the last Passover meal foreshadowing his agonizing and atoning dead on a cross, he told his disciples, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer” (Luke 22:15). After his resurrection from the dead, pending his return to heaven, he told his followers, “I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:3; Acts 1:11).
Today, Jesus is as eager to have a loving spiritual relationship with us, who have not seen him in the flesh as did his early disciples (John 20:29).
LOOKING CLOSER AT JESUS’ LOVE FOR US:
Jesus loves us enough to leave his throne with God in heaven to come to a world that hated him, to redeem us to God– although we were sinners and enemies of God (Philippians 2:6-8; Romans 5:8-10).
- He loved us enough to endure shame and humiliation (Hebrew 12:2)
- Beaten and crowned with thorns
- Mocked and spat upon (Mark 15:16-20)
- Condemned to die though he did nothing wrong (Luke 23:22-24)
- Forced to carry a cross made for criminals; and crucified between criminals (John 19:17-18)
- Suffer the pain of hell and separation from God for our sins; he cried out on the cross, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me? (Matthews 27:46; Romans 6:23).
- Jesus died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:10).
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus did all this for us, not that we loved him. But he first loved us, and had an eager desire to draw us into a loving relationship with God (1 John 4:10; John 12:32).
HOW JESUS WANTS US TO LOVE HIM BACK.
Jesus wants us to love him back, as he has loved us. The following are ways we can demonstrate our love for our Savior and Lord who died for us, with the help of the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17):
- Love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind (Mark 12:30-31).
- Deny self and take up your cross and follow Jesus (Luke 9:23.
- Be conformed to his likeness (Romans 8:29).
- Obey the Lord’s commandments—Do all he says (John 14:15; Matthew 4:4)
- Have a hot rather than a lukewarm love for the Lord (Revelation 3:16)
- Set your mind on things above where Christ is, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-2; 1 John 2:16.
- Love the Lord more than family (Matthews 10:37); and “everything in the world” (1 John 2:16).
- Love others, as he has loved you (John 13:34; John 4:11)
- Proclaim the gospel of salvation to the world for whom he loved enough to die (Mark 16:15-16)
JESUS PROMISED TO COME BACK FROM HEAVEN FOR US
When our Savior and Lord ascended into heaven after his resurrection from the dead, he promised his followers he “will be back” for them (Acts 1:11). Jesus wants us to have a loving relationship with him, and live with God and all our heavenly family in glory forever (John 14:2-3).
