How Much Does God Love Me

Well, there is more new stuff on the site today.  I’ve added a lot of lesson plans.  There is also more new info in the Apologetics menu.

Today, let me add a passage that makes me understand Jesus a little better.  When you think maybe Jesus isn’t on your side, or you doubt he’s even listening, or you doubt he’s on your side when you may even be doubting Him, look at this:

Luke 7:18-29 (NKJV)
¹⁸  Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.
¹⁹  And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?”
²⁰  When the men had come to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, saying, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ ”
²¹  And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
²²  Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the gospel preached to them.
²³  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”
²⁴  When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
²⁵  But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed those who are gorgeously appareled and live in luxury are in kings’ courts.
²⁶  But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
²⁷  This is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’
²⁸  For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
²⁹  And when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God, having been baptized with the baptism of John.

No doubt, many of the people following Jesus at this time were previously followers of John the Baptist, and John had directed them to follow Jesus (John 1:36-37).  When they saw that John was doubting or, at least making sure Jesus was the Messiah, perhaps they thought less of John.  And, what was Jesus’ reply.  He defended John asking who the crowd went to see when John was baptizing.  Jesus said that John was a true prophet and “more than a prophet” perhaps because John was the only prophet predicted to come.

So, even when John was doubting, Jesus had his back, and He has yours as well.  He loves you even when you doubt.

Now look at this:

Mark 10:32-34 (NKJV)
³²  Now they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going before them; and they were amazed. And as they followed they were afraid. Then He took the twelve aside again and began to tell them the things that would happen to Him:
³³  “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles;
³⁴  and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

Here Jesus tells the disciples of the horrible fate which awaited Him in Jerusalem, yet look at verse 32.  Jesus was ahead of the group.  He was anxious to pay the price for us to spend eternity with Him.  In Hebrews 12, it says this:

Hebrews 12:1-2 (NKJV)
¹  Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
²  looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

“For the joy that was set before Him….”  What is that joy?  You are.  In Jude it says, “Jude (NKJV) ²⁴  Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, ….

You are that joy.  Jesus loves you so much, He wants to present you before the Father with “exceding joy.”

So, Jesus loves us even when we doubt.  He was anxious to pay the price for us to be with Him, and He will joyously receive us into His Kingdom.  What more can He show us to convince us of His love?