Oh, How He Loves Us! (And Some Disney)

Instead of doing homework, like I should be, I wrote this. I figured I had been gone from the blogging world long enough and decided to make a reappearance. Please read all of it, I really believe that God has something special to say to you through this. No, it’s not through my power, but His in which I boast, so read it. Don’t read it because I’m an awesome writer (which I’m not), but read it because God has something to say to you.

Today, I was concluding the reading of John for my New Testament class when I had two revelations. The first came while reading John 12:44-50.

Then Jesus cried out, “The one who believes in Me believes not in Me, but in Him who sent Me. And the one who sees Me sees Him who sent Me. I have come as a light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me would not remain in darkness .If anyone bears My words and doesn’t keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and doesn’t accept my sayings has this as his judge: the word I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a command as to what I should say and what I should speak. I know that His command is eternal life. So the things that I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.”

This one is more complex than, in theory, than the second. The title of the passage is “A Summary of Jesus’ Mission.” This is the clearest picture of the gospel I believe I have ever heard. We use John 3:16 as out “trademark verse of Christianity” when I believe that this passage is a much better fit. John 3:16, though awe-inspiring and magnificent, as a stand-alone verse gives nothing about those who do not believe. This passage gives a clear picture of both sides of the gospel.

The second revelation I came to tears upon. Did you know that Jesus prayed for all believers? I think I vaguely did before today, but never thought about it. For those of you who have tried, how hard is it to pray for your enemies? Not the “I don’t like them” kind but the “they want to kill me” kind? It was my sin and yours that hung Jesus on the cross and HE PRAYED FOR US. HE LOVES US!! Can we just linger on those three famous words? We sing the song at all sorts of Christian gatherings, and I feel as though we understand them about as much as we don’t understand them. Let’s look at this passage: John 17:20-26:

I pray not only for these,

but also for those who believe in Me

through their message.

May they all be one,

as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You.

May they also be one in Us,

so the world may believe You sent Me.

I have given them the glory You have given Me.

May they be one as We are one.

I am in them and You are in Me.

May they be made completely one,

so the world may know You have sent Me

And have loved them as You have loved Me.

Father,

I desire those You have given Me

to be with Me where I am.

Then they will see My glory,

which You have given Me

Because You loved Me before the world’s foundation.

Righteous Father!

The world has not known You.

However, I have known You,

and these have known that You sent Me.

I mad Your name known too them

and will make it known,

so the love You have loved Me with

may be in them and I may be in them.

WOAH. Seriously? Jesus said what?? He has such a powerful love for us that He prays we could know the Father. That was a foreign concept before the gospel. Having an intimate relationship with the one who loves and created us is AMAZING. We should not even be allowed to speak His name! But yet, He wants us and he is fighting for us! How amazing is that? Jesus says that He wants God to give use the love He gave Him! Have you ever seen a father truly love a son? I always imagine my favorite Disney scene ever. The one in The Lion King where Simba and Mufasa have a beautiful father-son moment and Mufasa explains the responsibilities of being king. I cry pretty much every time I see that scene.

Now, that is an earthly creation. How much more does the heavenly Father love his son? How much more does Abba love Jesus? I guarantee you their relationship is a whole lot better than Simba and Mufasa’s. Jesus wants Abba to love us like that!! Heck, I’d be fine with the precious Simba and Mufasa moments, but He loves us SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT! No matter how many times we go to the Elephant Graveyard and He has to chase off hyenas and Scar, HE LOVES US. WOAH.

I just want to close with these words: Oh, How He Loves Us!