Have you ever thought about this question: How much does Jesus love me? Many of us are in relationships and often wonder how much does my wife or husband or child love me.
We feel happy and overjoyed when people love us don’t we? Love is the most important part of our being. We feel blessed, and complete when we are in a relationship with someone who loves us very much.
So the question again: How much does Jesus love me?
We will never be able to fully comprehend how much Jesus loves us. The human mind is not big enough to fully grasp the love of God. In heaven perhaps, we will finally know how much God loves us.
Jesus said that there is no greater love, than when you lay down your life for a friend. It means you give up everything about yourself, even your own life for someone else. God clearly showed us His love by sending us His one and only Son to die for our sins.
God the Father gave up everything to save us. Jesus came down to earth, knowing that he would sacrifice himself and die for us. This is perfect love. I mean, Jesus did not wait for us to repent or change but gave up his life for us even when we were sinners.
Would you give up your life to save someone who has all their life sinned against you and done things to hurt you? Well, I don’t think I would too, but Jesus did.
He left everything he had, even his own Father and came down to die a horrific death to save you and me. When I watched the movie “The Passion of the Christ” I was in total shock and couldn’t believe how much Jesus suffered for me.
Every year on Good Friday, have you ever stopped and thought about how much Jesus must have suffered to save you from your sins?
Every time you are down, lonely, depressed, and wondering: How much does Jesus love me, just look to the Cross. It is God’s complete expression of love towards you. Read about who Jesus is.
Few Bible verses on God’s love.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, trusts, hopes, and perseveres. Love never fails. And now these three remain, faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-13
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8
In this, the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:9-11
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21
Christianity is a fiery love affair with Christ. Jesus Loves you. Do you love him? Would you give up everything in your life and die to the world and follow him? Found this awesome video called Father’s love letter.
How does God see me?
Right through our discussion, we must keep one cardinal truth in mind: God sees me as an individual, in my personal relationship with Himself, but also He sees us collectively, in our relationships to one another, as a unit, in our relationship with Himself.
Through the ages, God has always used metaphors of things we know from everyday life, things we are acquainted with and understand, in order to make us understand His intent. Some obvious examples are the various parables that Jesus used, often saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like…”
Then, He would tell stories about a prodigal son, a farmer that sows, a shepherd caring for his sheep, the guests at a wedding, etc.
God sees us as his children
In a father-child relationship, there is firstly the father: he generated the child; he has authority; he leads; he teaches; he loves his child; he guides, instructs, and even disciplines when needed.
The child is grateful for everything; he loves his father; he is submissive, obedient etc. The question arises: do I have the attributes of a child of God in my life?
God identifies his children
Rom 8:14 – For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Do I seek the guidance of the Spirit of God in my daily life?).
Rom 8:16 – The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God.
Mat 5:9 – Blessed are the peacemakers! For they shall be called the sons of God. (Am I a peacemaker? Do I seek peace with my neighbour? Do I bear the signs of a peacemaker?)
Gal.3:26 – For you are children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. (Have I really put my faith in Jesus?)
John 3:36 – He who believes in the Son has everlasting life, and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides upon him.
Gal 5:24 – But those belonging to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. (Have I crucified my passions and lusts for Christ’s sake?)
1John 3:1 – Behold what manner of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God.
Please read Jesus’ parables in Luk.15 about the lost sheep, the lost coin and the prodigal (lost) son, and with what joy God finds us back again and again – even the father who welcomes back his wayward son with open arms.
What does God expect from us?
1Peter 1:14-15 – as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance, but according to the Holy One who has called you, you also become holy in all conduct. (Do I obey Him in my everyday life?)
Eph 5:1-2 – Therefore, be followers of God, as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given Himself for us (Please read also vv.2-21.).
God sees us as His Bride
We know how a wedding runs its course, but let us focus for the moment on the bridegroom and the wedding ring that he gives to his bride.
The ring symbolizes all the promises he has made to his bride, that he will keep all those promises and that he will be loyal and will always love her. He binds himself to her with those promises.
Now every believer individually, and God’s people as a whole is His bride, to whom He has bound himself permanently. God’s promises, love, and devotion are irrevocable and fully trustworthy.
As we have seen, through the ages God has always made the use of metaphors, to convey His intent. When He promised Noah that there won’t be a global flood again, He gave the sign of the rainbow (Gen9:8-13); when He established His covenant with Abraham and his posterity, He gave the sign of the circumcision (Gen17:10, 13); and when Jesus established who His disciples shall be, He gave them the sign of that discipleship – baptism in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Even as the bridegroom gives a ring as a sign of his promises, so God gave us the sign of baptism. Humanly speaking, we may consider baptism as God’s wedding ring to the one baptized – by which God guarantees that He will be faithful to all His promises. Ever wondered why did Jesus get baptized by John?
He is the Potter, I am the Clay
Rom 9:20-21 – who are you who replies against God? Shall the thing formed say to Him who formed it, Why have you made me this way? Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel to honour and another to dishonour?
God sees us as His Flock
John 10:11 – I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. :4 And when he puts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him. For they know his voice. :14 I am the Good Shepherd, and I know those that are Mine, and I am known by those who are Mine. :15 And I lay down My life for the sheep.
Thank you, Lord, for loving me so much that You would come and find me when I go astray, put me on your shoulders and have a feast for having me back (Luk15:4-7).
God sees us as His Disciples
A disciple of Jesus must crucify his lusts and passions that are not according to God’s will. Luk 14:27 – And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me, he cannot be My disciple.
God sees us as His Body
Remember: God sees us not only as individuals but also as a tightly knit unit. Even as the various members of a body care for each other, complement and help each other, so are we responsible as members of His body.
1Co 12:27 – And you are the body of Christ and members in part. :21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you; nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. :7 But to each one is given the showing forth of the Spirit to our profit, for our common good.
As God has given different functions to the different parts of our bodies, even so, He has given us different talents and capabilities. The different parts of a body fit each other and make up a unit. Each fulfills its function, and so the body edifies and builds itself up in love (Eph.4:16).
Let us remember the small boy’s lunch consisting of 5 little loaves and 2 fish (Joh.6:5-13). In the hands of Jesus, that small lunch was used to feed 5,000+ people, and 12 baskets were filled with the left-overs. Just think of what Jesus can do with your talent(s), no matter how small or insignificant it may be, to reach His goals through you!!
How does God see us? His body on earth through whom He wants to do His work, with whatever talents He gave us; His children for whom He would care, love and lead; His bride who must honour and be faithful to Him; His disciples to follow Him.
But how do we see Him? Or rather: How do we treat Him? Are we obedient to Him as our Father? Are we faithful to Him like a bride should be? Do we demonstrate our love for Him in our practical lives as He did? Do we give ourselves to Him even as He gave His life for us?
Read more on how much Jesus loves you:
Blessings,
Mind On Jesus