John…on Love

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” We know the rest, we memorized it as children who grew up in Christian homes and went to Sunday School. It is the first verse of the Bible we were told and led to memorize for some sort of reward.

Later in life we began to understand why “God so loved the world that He gave”…It was a mission of mercy and grace to provide a way back to Him. God came down from heaven through Jesus, His Son to make a way, through the darkness and silence of over 400 years previously of not hearing from Him, to reconcile and redeem His people. The curtain that blocked us from Him had to be torn in two, taken down forever by this act of sacrificial love of giving His Son in place of our sin.

Jesus prayed for His disciples (and us) in the preceding chapter, now he carries out God’s Plan, every detail, according to Scripture. He enters the garden…

John 18, The Message
18 Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.

2-4 Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. He said, “Who are you after?”

They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

5-6 He said, “That’s me.” The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.

7 Jesus asked again, “Who are you after?”

They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

8-9 “I told you,” said Jesus, “that’s me. I’m the one. So if it’s me you’re after, let these others go.” (This validated the words in his prayer, “I didn’t lose one of those you gave.”)

Thoughts to consider:
*Jesus prayed before doing anything of significance. Do we? Do we ask for God’s will to be done, not our will?
*Jesus prayed often.
*Being prepared through prayer, Jesus does what He is assigned to do.
*Jesus protects all those who have stayed with Him. He steps up to declare, “that’s me. I’m the one.” Mm.
*What kind of love is this? God’s love for us.

I am reminded of Paul’s declaration, “I want to know Christ!” and we all cheer those words for ourselves, but many of us do not read or slide over the rest of that verse, “and share in his sufferings.” Jesus prayed, obeyed, and sacrificed for us. He laid down His life for us so that we may live eternally with Him.

” I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, 11 so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!” Philippians 3:10, NLT

Want to be like Jesus? Be ready, pray, be prepared, obey and live sacrificially, laying down our own interests and comforts, wo that we might know Christ! Wow, there is more here to think about, isn’t there?

Are you a believer? When the world asks be ready to boldly step forward and declare, “Yes, it’s me, I’m that person.”

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving us in ways that are hard to wrap our human minds around. That you would lay down your life for me is hard for me to take in. For you to go through the betrayal, hate and suffering makes me crumble in a humbled heap. But then You lift me up to higher ground, ready to face the world today with renewed hope. Help me to extend the love, mercy and grace you have given to me. In Jesus Name, Amen