Who Does Jesus Love?

Who was the disciple whom Jesus loved?

The apostle John refers to the disciple whom Jesus cherished on several occasions in the book of John.
″…
the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him,″ says John 13:23.
Jesus stated to his mother in John 19:26, ″When he saw her there, and the disciple whom he loved standing close by, he said to her, ‘Dear lady, here is your son.″ (NIV).

″So she ran as fast as she could to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved…,″ John 2:20 says.(NIV).What was the name of the disciple whom Jesus cherished?

Bible Answer:

During Jesus’ time on this planet, he had a favorite disciple whom he cherished beyond all others. He had a special affection for one individual in particular. No, He had a preference for one of his disciples over the others!

The Twelve Disciples

Yes, Jesus loved everyone on the planet, but He chose just twelve men to be His disciples because He wanted them to be like Him.
He didn’t wait until our scheduled time to choose one of us today.
Jesus did not choose a gentile or a non-Jew to be his disciple.
Neither a Jewish leader nor a neighbor like Sam down the block, Charlie, who was heading to seminary, or the tender-hearted priest at the temple were chosen by Jesus.

Jesus did not choose just anyone to be his disciple.Among the twelve men he chose were: Peter, Andrew his brother, James the son of Zebedee, John his brother, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew the tax collector, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot.He also chose Judas Iscariot as one of the twelve men he would choose.There are twelve of them.

The Inner Group

Jesus spent the most of his time with only three of those twelve men: Peter, John, and James, who were the closest to him.
They were on the Mount of Transfiguration with Jesus, seeing his transfiguration (Matt.
17:1-13).
When He went to cure a kid, they were the only ones who were with Him (Mark 5:37 and Luke 8:51).

They were chosen by Jesus from among the twelve disciples.They were the only ones Jesus took with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane, where they prayed with Him.And they arrived at a location known as Gethsemane, where He instructed His followers to ″sit here until I have finished praying.″ In the meantime, He gathered with Him Peter, Jame, and John and started to be quite worried and troubled.(NKJV) Mark 14:32-33 (KJV) There were three additional disciples who were not chosen by Jesus, including Judas, Philip, and Bartholomew.He chose Peter because he was the one who would refuse Him.

He chose James, who happened to be John’s brother, and He chose the apostle John, who would later be banished to the island of Patmos and write the books of 1 and 2 John, as well as the book of Revelation, as His chosen apostles.

The Loved One

One of those three individuals had a deeper understanding of Jesus than the others, and that guy was John.
He and Jesus had a more intimate friendship than most people realize.
He seemed to have desired to spend more time with Jesus.
Yes, Jesus had a deep affection for everyone of the disciples.

In John 13:1, Jesus claims to have done such.However, Jesus was more intimate with this guy because this man desired to be more intimate with Jesus.According to John 21:20, Jesus had a special affection for this disciple.That is never spoken about any other disciple in the Bible.On Jesus’ breast was one of His followers, whom Jesus cherished and who was lying on His breast.

John 13:23 (New American Standard Bible) In this case, when Jesus saw His mother and the disciple whom He adored standing close, He *exclaimed to His mother: ″Woman, see!
It’s your son!″ John 19:26 (New American Standard Bible) And as a result, she hurried over to Simon Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus adored, and she informed them that ″they have taken the Lord away from the tomb, and we do not know where they have put Him.″ John 20:2 (New American Standard Bible) It was thus the disciple, whom Jesus cherished, who exclaimed to Peter, ″It is the Lord.″ After hearing that it was the Lord, Simon Peter put on his outer garment (since he had been stripped for work) and hurled himself into the water.″ John 21:7 (New American Standard Bible) With his back to the group, Peter noticed that the disciple whom Jesus cherished was following them; the one who had likewise laid back on Jesus’ breast during the dinner and said, ″Lord, who is the one who betrays You?″ John 21:20 (New American Standard Bible) This disciple was the sole one who was there at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified and died.
All of the others had turned their backs on Him.
Because Jesus had faith in this man, He entrusted him with the care of His mother.
Isn’t that exactly what happens when we realize someone truly cares for us?
We put our faith in him when it comes to important matters.

Jesus’ mother was the one who did it.Following Jesus’ death and resurrection, Mary Magdalene came face to face with Peter first, and then with John.In John 20:2, Jesus expresses his affection for John.However, the Greek term for love is distinct from all of the other people ″who Jesus loved,″ according to the Bible.

The Greek term for love had been AGAPE, which meant ″God’s love.″ In this instance, the Bible informs us that Jesus PHILEO’ed John.Jesus had a strong affection for John.It was John who was the most eager to get to Jesus’ empty tomb because he had witnessed the resurrection of Jesus (John 20:1-4).John, out of all the disciples, was the one who cherished Jesus beyond all else, even his own life.

It should come as no surprise that Jesus felt a stronger connection to John because John was the one who adored Jesus the greatest.It was evident through his conduct.

Conclusion:

John had spent a great deal of time with Jesus before this.
This gives us the idea that John was always there with Jesus throughout the Gospels.
John was the disciple who adored Jesus the greatest out of all the others.
At the crucifixion, John had put his life in danger for Jesus.

And when John learned that the person he had fallen in love with was still alive, he raced as fast as his legs could carry him to where he might find Him.Jesus questioned Peter three times whether he loved Him before the Holy Spirit reminded us that Jesus and John were in a romantic relationship with each other later on.John was the only disciple who stayed devoted, caring, and desirous of spending time with Jesus on a consistent basis.It should come as no surprise that Jesus was able to develop a closer relationship with John.Abraham, who was referred to be God’s buddy (James 2:23), Enoch, who ″was pleasant to God″ (Heb.

11:5), Elijah, who was a man of faith (James 5:17-18), and Daniel, whom God ″highly valued″ (James 5:17-18) all fit this description (Dan.
9:23; 10:11, 19).
These men were all devoted to God with a fiery desire.
As a result of John’s intense affection for Jesus, the two became extremely close.
So, how do we go about developing such a tight relationship?
It is referred to as time, commitment to Him, fidelity to Him, and a desire to lay down your life – your entire being – in His service.

It indicates that you yearn to be with Him.Do you yearn to be with Him all of the time?John was the one who did it.Even at the danger of suffering and death, his heart continued to beat for Jesus.

There is a distinction between not wanting to offend Jesus and loving Him with all of one’s heart and being consumed by Him.Because of a desire to avoid offending another person, a loving heart only has eyes to eagerly pursue and to satisfy others.In our relationship with Jesus, there is a distinction between loving Him now and loving Him when we first came to Him.We’ve already met John’s first love.

Is Jesus still your first and most important love?You might be interested in reading ″God’s Great Passion,″ which is a book on God’s great passion.

Does Jesus love me?

Answer to the question Many people have questioned whether or not Jesus truly loves them.The Bible is unequivocal in its assertion that, no matter what we have done, Jesus still loves us.If we trust in Him, He promises to forgive us of whatever wrongs we have done and to provide us everlasting life.

″For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whomever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,″ says the Bible (John 3:16).
God’s love for us is demonstrated in this way: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, as the Bible states in Romans 5:8.
God sent His only Son, Jesus, to die on our behalf before we were ever born in order to provide us with the opportunity to have eternal life.
This incredible gift is made possible by God’s astounding grace toward us, as stated in Ephesians 2:8–9: ″It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift from God—not by works, so that no one may take credit for your salvation.″ We don’t have to earn His love; we simply accept it when He offers it to us.

It may be difficult for you to believe that Jesus loves you because of the actions of those who have disappointed you in the past.
Jesus, on the other hand, is unlike any other individual because He is God manifested in human form (John 1:14).
Him in the process of making us, He supports our every breath, and He provides us fresh life on earth as well as eternal life with Him in paradise.
An further reason why it may be difficult for you to accept the fact that Jesus loves you is because anything you have done in the past may be causing you concern.
Even though Jesus already knows about your history, he continues to offer you eternal life and forgiveness.

His final hours on the cross serve as a beautiful illustration of His love for humanity.One of the prisoners crucified close to Him was being executed for his crimes at the time of His execution.″Jesus, please keep my name in mind when you come into your kingdom,″ he pleaded, turning to face Jesus.″Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise,″ Jesus replied (Luke 23:42–43).

He was referring to his future presence with Jesus in heaven.Although this criminal had committed many crimes, Jesus accepted his modest and honest gesture of faith and offered him eternal life in heaven—despite the fact that Jesus knew the guy had no time to change his ways.When we question ourselves, ″How much does Jesus love me?″ we simply have to look to the cross to get the answer.″I love you this much,″ he whispered, reaching out His hands to embrace her.

He sacrificed His life in order to offer you fresh life.
You can pray right now to receive Jesus as your Savior and to embrace His love and eternal life, if you so want.
However, you can answer with a prayer that is similar to this: ″Dear God, I recognize that I am a sinner and that I will never be able to attain heaven by my own good works.″ Today, I confess that Jesus Christ is God’s Son, who rose from the grave in order to provide me eternal life.
I put my trust in him.
Please forgive me for my sins and assist me in living my life in your service.

″Thank you for embracing me and giving me eternal life.″ ″I am eternally grateful to you.″ Have you made a decision to follow Christ as a result of what you’ve read thus far?If you have embraced Christ today, please click on the ″I have accepted Christ today″ button to the right.If you have any questions, please utilize the inquiry form on our Bible Questions Answered page.Thank you for visiting.

Questions concerning Salvation can be found here.Does Jesus have any feelings for me?

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What is Jesus’ love?

For centuries, Christians have placed a strong emphasis on Jesus’ love for us, and with good reason.All of redemptive history is propelled forward by the love of Christ, which is a major motif of the gospel and a driving force behind it.Many Christian families teach their children to sing songs like ″Jesus loves me, this I know, because the Bible tells me so″ from the time they are very young.

And it does really inform us of this.
However, it is also necessary for us to allow the Bible to define the character of this love for ourselves.
When Jesus says he loves us, what exactly does that mean?
This is something that should be looked at more.

Love as self-sacrifice

One of Jesus’ own comments to His followers, in which He stated, ″Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends,″ is perhaps the most concise explanation of Jesus’ love (John 15:13).This is the type of love with which Christ has for His followers on the earth.It is not an emotion, a passion, or a mood, but rather an action that is being discussed.

A genuine willingness to die for another that is manifested in an act of complete self-sacrifice for the benefit of the other is defined as The book of Revelation celebrates Jesus for just this reason, using language such as ″and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kingdoms of the earth,″ among other things.
″To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood,″ we pray.
(See also Revelation 1:5).
As Paul says, ″I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me,″ our faith is a confidence in this self-giving love of Christ (Galatians 2:20).

And our ultimate hope rests in the unwavering loyalty of Jesus’ love: ″Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?″ says the Bible.
When it comes to justice, God is the one who justifies; but who is the one who condemns?
Christ Jesus is the one who died, no, rather, who was raised, who is now seated at the right side of the Father, and who also intercedes on our behalf.
Who is it that will be able to separate us from the love of Christ?
How many years of tribulation?

How many years of distress?How many years of persecution?How many years of famine?How many years of nakedness?

How many years of danger?(See also Romans 8:33-35.) In addition, the love that drove Jesus to the cross on our behalf is held up as an example for us to follow toward one another: ″Therefore, as God’s beloved children, imitate God’s behavior; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma,″ we are told (Ephesians 5:1-2).Even my flawed love for my wife should be modeled after and pointed toward Jesus’ love for His church, which was expressed in His atoning death on the cross: ″Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her,″ says the Bible (Ephesians 5:25).″For the love of Christ controls us,″ writes the apostle Paul, ″having concluded that one died for all, so all died; and He died for all, so that those who live could no longer live for themselves but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf″ (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).

His love for us, the greatest and most perfect of all loves, is demonstrated by His willingness to give His life in order to save us from sin, death, and damnation.
This is the manner in which we, too, should love.
″We know what love is by the fact that He laid down His life for us; and we need to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters,″ says the apostle Paul (1 John 3:16).

Best interest rather than happiness

When it comes to our enjoyment, pleasure, or comfort, Jesus’ love is not mainly concerned with these things.Instead, He is primarily concerned with our long-term well-being, even if it means causing us pain in the here and now.The fact that Jesus loves His people does not imply that He wishes for us to be happy all of the time.

To say that He gave His life in order to settle our sin debt and provide us forgiveness and eternal life is an understatement.
At the end of the day, happiness will almost likely follow as a result, especially in the future.
However, faith, trust, and purity are far more important to us than pleasure, and our Lord frequently places us in difficult situations because it is in our best interests to do so.
The tale of Lazarus and his sisters is a wonderful illustration of this point.

Lazarus had gotten sick and was on the approach of death when Jesus appeared to him.
It goes without saying that Jesus had the ability to cure him.
Jesus was teaching in another area at the time, and the sisters sent news to Him to come to their location.
What follows is almost shocking: ″Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister as well as Lazarus,″ we are told.
After hearing that he was ailing, Jesus decided to extend his stay in the area for another two days,″ according to the Bible (John 11:5-6).

Because Jesus cared for them, He chose to remain where He was for another two days.This delay resulted in Lazarus’ death, and yet it was Jesus’ love that caused him to delay!Lazarus’ death, along with the sisters’ subsequent mourning and weeping over his grave for days, was truly an act of love on their part!Jesus could have arrived right away and cured Lazarus if he had.

He may have even healed the man without physically appearing, as He did with the centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13) and the daughter of the Syrophoenician lady (Matthew 8:14-23).(Mark 7:24-30).Even yet, Jesus opted to remain silent, willingly allowing Lazarus to suffer through sickness and death, as well as the weeping agony of losing their brother and mourning his death for days.And Jesus did this because He genuinely cared about them.

As a result, he realized that it would be better for them in the long run to go through all of this and then witness Christ’s wonderful work on the other side of the experience.
It was not going to be a pleasant experience.
It was not going to be a nice experience.
The pain was going to be excruciating, at least for a while.
But that was the wisest course of action for them and for others (even us reading about it right now).

It is always Jesus’ love that prioritizes what is ultimately beneficial for His people over what would just make them happy.

Jesus’ love and rebuking sin

Hopefully, by now we have come to understand that the love of Christ is not the sensitive, touch-and-feel romanticism that we might sometimes perceive it to be.This becomes most apparent when we analyze the issue of our sin.Modern conceptions of love frequently presume that someone who loves us would accept us exactly as we are, regardless of our past.

This is clearly not the way Jesus envisioned love.
When we sin, Jesus does not turn a blind eye to it, nor does he redefine holiness to encompass our favorite vices.
No matter how fundamental we believe a particular sin to be to our current sense of self-identity, Jesus states that love necessitates the rebuke and correction of that sin: ″Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent″ (Revelation 3:19).
″Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: go and sell all you own and give to the poor, and you will have wealth in heaven.’ And then He invited him to come and follow Him,″ we read in the Gospel of Matthew.

(Matthew 10:21) Instead of just ″accepting″ the guy as he was, Jesus’ love for him manifested itself in the shape of a call for fairly drastic transformation!
This part of pure love, according to the scriptures, should be recognized and received in this manner: ″Let the upright one hit me — it is a gesture of true love; let him scold me — it is oil for my head; let me not turn my back on him.″ I’m praying right now for protection from the bad deeds of the wicked″ (Psalm 141:5).
Love does not turn a blind eye to immorality in order to maintain the peace: ″Love must be free of hypocrisy,″ says the Bible.
″Hate evil; cling to what is good,″ says the Bible (Romans 12:9).
Advising someone who is in sin is the best thing we can do for them, and it is the only way we can truly love them: ″My brothers, if any of you strays from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his life and cover a multitude of sins,″ says the apostle Peter (James 5:19-20).

As Jesus loves us, and as He tells us to love one another, this is the manner in which we should love one another.

Why Is John the ″Disciple Whom Jesus Loved″?

There appear to be several instances of nicknames and name changes in both the Old and New Testaments.The ″Sons of Thunder″ are Simon and Peter, Esau and Edom, the two sons of Jacob.Almost everyone who follows Jesus appears to be given a loving nickname, which is occasionally given by Jesus himself.

However, in the fourth Gospel, we come upon something quite different.
‘The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved,’ says the author of the Gospel of John, referring to himself by an unusual moniker.
The ″Beloved Disciple″ is a title used by John in different translations to refer to himself.
Upon hearing this name for the first time, my much younger elementary-aged self thought to myself, ″it sounds like an arrogant moniker to give yourself.″ Is it possible that Jesus just did not care as much about the other disciples as he did for himself?

″Did John actually believe that?″ In my situation, as is often the case, subsequent research later in life invalidated my primary school frame of reference.
Throughout this essay, we’ll look at the nickname given to the disciple John by his father, what it means, the significance of nicknames in Scripture, and why all of this applies to us today as Christians.

What Does John’s Nickname Mean?

With his self-given label, ″the disciple whom Jesus loved,″ it appears that John is attempting to boost his ego by associating himself with the Savior.As previously stated, Jesus had an inner circle of three disciples to whom he demonstrated his transfiguration (Matthew 17), with John being one of them.In fact, Jesus instructs John to look after his mother while Jesus is being crucified with him.

So, did John use this name as a flex in order to get what he wanted?
Scholars, on the other hand, disagree.
As a result, what does it genuinely mean for John to refer to himself as ″the disciple whom Jesus loved″ imply?
Instead, as William Barclay suggests in this excerpt, it was a lovely title whose meaning did not cross over into our own culture, which is a possibility.

Perhaps, by using the term ″beloved,″ John is attempting to draw attention to God’s love and how it has impacted his life, rather than his own personality or sense of identity.
More information about this will be provided in the next section.
Pastor Charles Spurgeon emphasized that Jesus plainly cherished each and every one of his apostles.
After all, on the night that he was deceived, he bathed the feet of everyone in the house.
Yes, even Judas Iscariot’s was among them.

As indicated in the Answers in Genesis page, it’s possible that John uses this name to remind readers of the immense love that they, too, have experienced.This identity of being disciples of Jesus, whom he adored, is something we all share.Because John does not offer an explanation for the name, we are unable to determine its true significance.However, it is possible that John chooses this moniker to serve as a reminder to himself and others of Jesus’ compassionate mission on earth and the disciples’ call to carry the message of that love to every country across the world.

Credit for the image goes to Getty Images/Javier Art Photography.

Why Did John Call Himself ″The Disciple Who Jesus Loved″?

As we discussed in the preceding section, we don’t know the specific reasons for which John would choose to bequest himself such a name.After all, he isn’t referred to by this name in any other Gospel story.This suggests that John solely used this as a way to refer to himself.

We can rule out egotism because John did not choose this name in order to bring attention to himself.
Instead, it appears that the inverse is more likely.
John wanted to remain nameless for his own reasons.
Those who read the Gospel and were eyewitnesses to the events would have recognized John’s identity based on a number of crucial facts that he highlights.

For example, he does not identify himself specifically but does state that he rested his head on Jesus’ bosom during the Last Supper.
However, John appears to be attempting to deflect attention away from himself in the tale by eliminating his name and substituting a nickname for it, which is a characteristic: someone who is loved by Jesus.
In this passage, he emphasizes the transforming influence that Jesus had over his life.
He discovers truth, his own identity, and his own purpose as a result of God’s love.
He reminds both his audience and himself that all disciples of Jesus are really, completely, and unconditionally loved by the Father.

There aren’t many alternative explanations for why John chose this nickname for himself, according to the academic community.John presumably doesn’t provide much of an explanation because he would prefer that the attention be focused on Jesus rather than on him.

The Importance of Nicknames in the Bible

Nowadays, we may refer to our spouse, individuals with whom we participate in sports leagues, and even coworkers by their nicknames.However, throughout the period of the Old and New Testaments, nicknames had a considerably more profound significance to them.Names and nicknames in the Bible are frequently used to convey a person’s purpose or identity, according to an essay by Vincent Ketchie.

People who changed someone’s name or gave them a nickname held a certain level of power and influence over the individual who had changed his or her name.
When Jesus addressed Simon as ″Peter,″ there was a certain degree of power and weight in his voice.
As a result, when someone adopts a new name or nickname (such as Paul or John), they are emphasizing a crucial aspect of their mission.
Similarly to John, we don’t know why Paul changed his name from Saul, but we do know that he had an encounter with Jesus’ transformative love and thought that was enough to make a significant shift…

such as changing his surname to Paul.

Why Should We Care About This?

After all, why should it matter what John refers to himself as in his Gospel account?Indeed, didn’t he come up with the moniker on purpose in order to avoid calling attention to himself?There are a variety of reasons why we should be concerned about nicknames, and this one in particular.

First and foremost, John reminds us of the transformational power of God’s love in our lives.
We may all identify with the disciple whom Jesus adored and refer to ourselves as such.
Because he has a job.
He cares for us in an extraordinary and unwavering way.

John had direct knowledge of this and was compelled to testify to it, even in his own name, as a result.
Second, we should be aware of the immense power that names possess.
After all, our God is known by many other names.
The number of names for God is endless: Elohim, El Shaddai, Yahweh, and so on.
Each of God’s names draws attention to a particular aspect of his personality.

If someone is given a nickname or another name in the Bible, they typically gain a new function, a new instrumental component of their character, in the same and lesser fashion.We must also remember that even the smallest facts in the Bible should not be overlooked.What a difference a nickname can make in our understanding of a person.Imagine how much we may learn about God and his magnificent purposes for us if we read the entire Bible.

This also demonstrates how important it is to consider the context of texts.When we first see John’s moniker, we would believe he needs to take a deep breath and check his ego.However, by putting the emphasis on Jesus rather than himself, he demonstrates remarkable humility.Photograph courtesy of Getty Images/miflippoHope.

Author and alumnus of Taylor University’s professional writing program, Bolinger has had a number of novels published as well as short stories.
More than 1,200 of her writings have been published in a variety of periodicals, ranging from Writer’s Digest to Keys for Kids and everything in between.
As a writer and editor, she has worked for a number of different publishing firms as well as periodicals, newspapers, and literary agencies, and she has worked with writers such as Jerry B.
Jenkins and Michelle Medlock Adams.
Her modern-day Daniel trilogy, published by IlluminateYA, is now available.

She is also the co-author of the Dear Hero duology, which was released by INtense Publications and has received positive reviews.Her inspirational adult novel Picture Imperfect, which will be released in November of 2021, will also be released.You may learn more about her by visiting her website.

5 Ways Jesus Said ″I Love You″ with His Life

″I Love You″ was expressed through Jesus’ life, as he showed up for everyone of us and provided us with hope in the midst of our chaotic existence.He ascended from His throne in order to free us from our sad selves on this planet.It is only through His life and presence in our hearts that we may come to understand and love ourselves and one another.

Sadness permeates our society today, particularly among people who have never experienced true love.
We learn from Jesus’ example that love is more than simply words, and that we may demonstrate this to others.
Love is the act of taking action.
″Love is patient, love is gentle,″ says the poet.

It is not envious, it is not boastful, and it is not arrogant.
In addition, it does not defame others, pursue its own interests, becomes easily agitated, or keeps a record of wrongs committed.
Love does not take pleasure in wickedness, but rather takes pleasure in the truth.
″It always defends, always believes, always hopes, and always perseveres,″ says the author.
(See 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 for further information.) This type of love is not something that just happens.

It’s the type of love that motivates us to take action.Love is more than simply an emotion; it is also a decision.Jesus was under no need to love us.In the end, Christ decided to love us with open arms while being nailed to the cross.

Jesus is the embodiment of love.Jesus is our Savior, and He came to earth in order to demonstrate His love for us.He mingled and conversed with sinners just like us.He volunteered His time to individuals, instructing and advising them on how to live their best lives.

Besides being an excellent human being, He is the light of the world, and He has provided a means for all of us to spend eternity with Him in Heaven.
In exchange for our sins, He died on the cross and was risen from the dead.
Because Jesus is the only way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, He has prepared a particular space for us.
He desires for us to be able to feel His unwavering love.
He longs for everyone of us to come to Him in humility and commit our life to Him.

There are several ways in which Jesus has expressed His love for us during His life, but the following are five of the most notable: Photograph courtesy of thinkstock-Eziutka

Jesus says ″I love you″ by inviting us to be with Him forever

Jesus demonstrates His love for us by inviting us to His everlasting home and extending a warm welcome to us.When we turn to Jesus in repentance, he welcomes us with open arms.He is patiently waiting for us to come to him with a surrendered heart and a determination to improve our lives.

He never gives up on us, no matter how difficult the situation appears to be.
Jesus taught us the narrative of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) which is a story of unconditional love.
Even though we have all been prodigals who have wandered off the path, He tells us that we are unconditionally loved by Him.
Jesus longs for us to accept Him into our hearts and share in the celebration of everlasting life that He has promised us.

He has a special space set apart for you and me.
He accepts us back into his arms no matter what we have done wrong.
Photograph courtesy of Pixabay/geralt

Jesus says ″I love you″ by caring for us

Jesus keeps a close eye on us at all times.When one of us becomes disoriented, He goes out of his way to locate us and bring us back into the fold.He defends us in the same way that a shepherd defends his flock from wolves.

David’s psalm about the Good Shepherd serves as a wonderful illustration of how much Jesus cares for us.
″I have everything because the Lord is my shepherd.
He makes me lay down in lush pastures, he takes me to still rivers, and he refreshes my soul with his presence.
He directs me in the proper direction for the sake of his name.

Even if I have to go through the deepest valley, I will not be afraid because you are with me; your rod and your staff are there to provide comfort.
It is your responsibility to set a table in advance of my adversaries’ arrival.
My cup is overflowing as you anoint my head with oil.
You may be sure your goodness and affection will follow me throughout my entire life, and I shall reside in the home of the Lord for eternity.″ Psalm 23 is a song of praise.
It is important to remember that God did not design us to be alone; rather, He made us to be in connection with others.

As the good Shepherd, he makes certain that no one escapes from His protection.He keeps us in the loop at all times.He removes the hook from His rod and uses it to yank his wayward sheep back into line.It is necessary for a good shepherd to spend time with unclean and stench-filled sheep.

He is there to look after them throughout the long, dark evenings and to keep them safe from the storms.Jesus is right there with us, even in the most difficult situations.The Lord waits patiently for us to lift our eyes to Him and extend our hands to Him.This is the definition of real love.

Image courtesy of Pixabay/Free-Photos.

Jesus says ″I love you″ by spending time with people

Jesus spent time with sinners and the ill, as well as with those who were not well.Nobody else would dare to get near to the people he ate and drank with on a daily basis.In times of persecution, we may take comfort in the fact that we have a Good Shepherd who cares for us!

Those who are brokenhearted and unwell will find healing through his love.
Jesus demonstrated His compassion for the poor, widows, and orphans throughout His life by paying visits to them.
Jesus spent His life with a specific goal in mind, and that aim was to help everyone.
In Him, anyone who would welcome Him found hope, and He called on us to do the same!

In order to instruct and encourage His followers, Jesus spent a lot of time with them.
They ate their meals together while they fellowshipped, and they traveled together to minister to large groups of individuals.
Photograph courtesy of Unsplash/Helen Lopes

Jesus says ″I love you″ by changing our hearts

When Jesus went, He promised His disciples that they would not be left alone in the world.He saw that they would miss Him and assured them that the comfort of the Holy Spirit would be with them.When we invite Jesus into our hearts, we are given the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all one in the same!
When we pray to our heavenly Father in Jesus’ name, we may be confident that we are in His immediate presence.
Because of the blood of Jesus, we are allowed to enter the throne chamber of prayer.
We don’t have to go to a priest to confess our sins.

As we follow Jesus’ example, He will provide us with skills, tactics, discernment, and knowledge to help us live a more fulfilling life in the world.
He communicates with our hearts in a variety of ways.
It can come in the form of music, texts, friends, lessons, visions, miracles, and a variety of other ways.
As a result of his work, our thinking is transformed, and we are filled with the fruit of the spirit.
“ Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, on the other hand, are the fruits of the Spirit.

There is no legislation that protects people from such activities (Galatians 5:22-23).Image courtesy of Pixabay/jclk8888.

Jesus says ″I love you″ by dying on the cross

There is a lot of sadness in life.Jesus came to give us reason to be hopeful.His message is that this is not our home, and that we have no place in this environment.

In our pain, we all want for a better place, and by growing closer to God, we may make our sorrow less acute and last longer.
We have all sinned in some way.
Shame and shame keep us trapped in the abyss of self-pity.
We were given new life when Jesus resurrected from the dead and took our sins with Him.

We have the freedom to live at peace with ourselves, to modify the way we go about our business, and to refuse to return to our former habits.
For those who love Jesus, He is the one who makes all things new.
The tale of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins is the greatest love story that has ever been recounted.
He has prepared a way for us to enter the throne room and live eternal life with Him in Paradise, thanks to His sacrifice on the cross.
Jesus came to demonstrate to us that He seeks a relationship with us.

He yearns for us to experience His unwavering love for us.He bore our sin and shame on the cross, and he continues to supply us with grace, compassion, and do-overs on a daily basis!Jesus came to serve us and to be crucified as a sacrifice for our folly.He desires for us to be able to sense and experience this type of love.

When we receive God’s incredible love, we have the ability to love like Jesus.Today, we have the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus.Then He sends us out into the world to share His love with others who are in need of it.Missionaries, evangelists, teachers, pastors, parents, friends, siblings, and intercessors are all examples of Jesus in our lives.

When we love like Jesus, we have the ability to effect change in our world.
Spiritual gifts have been bestowed onto each of us.
Nothing compares to the love of Jesus for his followers.
Photo courtesy of Aaron Burden via Unsplash.

20 Important Things Jesus Said About LoveCounting My Blessings

It may certainly be perplexing…What exactly is it?All of the things that society attempts to tell us about ″love″ are false.

Seriously!
If society is correct, then why are there so many broken families, shaky relationships, and wounded people in the world today?
The notion that love is only a ″feeling″ that can be conveyed in any manner we choose as long as ″no one is hurt″ simply does not hold water.
Why?

The reason for this is that we are all connected to one another through our relationships, and when we deviate from God’s intended and protective design for love, someone is always injured!
Always!
We are all in need of love!
God designed us in this manner!
Why?

It is because He loves and desires a connection with us that He created a need within us that He want to fulfill.Just to put it another way, God created us with a desire for love…a need that would eventually bring us to His flawless, unending love.Perhaps one of the reasons we are so divided and full of suffering is because we are listening to the incorrect voices telling us about love and how to find happiness.

The teachings of Jesus, the One who lived the ideal example of love, have been my go-to source of inspiration during the past few days.I was interested in hearing what He had to say about God’s love and our love for one another.And I discovered…

20 Important Things Jesus Said About Love

What Jesus Said About Love – God’s Love

1. God Loves People … You and Me.

This is how God showed his love for the world: He sent His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him would not perish but will have eternal life. ″ Christ was sent into the world not so that he might judge the world, but in order to rescue the world through Him.″ John 3:16–17 is a passage from the Bible.

2. God Loves You More than You Can Imagine

″I am in them, and you are in me,″ says the narrator. May they experience such perfect harmony that the entire world will recognize You as the one who sent me and as the one who loves them as much as You love me. John 17:23 (NIV)

3. God Loves and Cares About Your Daily Needs.

″If God is so concerned about wildflowers that are here today and tossed into the fire tomorrow, He will undoubtedly be concerned about you as well. ″Can you tell me why you have such a low level of faith?″ Matthew 6:00 p.m.

4. God Loves You Enough to Search for You When You are Lost.

Consequently, Jesus told them the following parable: ″If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes missing, what would he do? Will he abandon the ninety-nine others in the forest and continue on a quest for the one who has gone missing until he locates them all? Once he has discovered it, he would gladly take it back to his house on his shoulders.″ 3–5 (Luke 15:3–5)

And Waits for You When You Wander Away.

He was still a long distance away when his father realized what was happening. He hurried to his kid, held him, and kissed him, his heart overflowing with love and compassion.″ 15:20 (Luke 15:20)

5. God’s Love is Sacrificial.

″There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends,″ says the poet Langston Hughes. 15:13 (John 15:13)

6. God’s Love Forgives.

He then replied to the Father, ″Father, pardon them, for they have no idea what they are doing.″ 23:34 (Luke 23:34)

7. God’s Love will Never Leave You.

″Moreover, rest certain that I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.″ Matthew 28:20 is a verse from the Bible that says, ″If you love me, do my commandments.″

8. God’s Love Gives Life that Lasts Forever.

″I am the resurrection and the life,″ Jesus explained to her. Anyone who has faith in me will survive, even if they die in the process. Nobody will ever die who has faith in me and believes in what I have done for them.″ 11:25–26 (John 11:25–26)

9. God’s Love Lightens Life’s Burdens.

″Come to me, all of you who are tired and burdened with heavy loads, and I will give you rest,″ Jesus said. Take my load onto your shoulders. Because I am modest and compassionate at heart, you will find peace for your spirits if you allow me to educate you. It is simple for you to bear my yoke, and the weight I place on you is light.″ Matthew 11:29–30 is a biblical passage.

10. God’s Love is Preparing a Place for You and Me.

″Do you mind if I set up a meeting spot for you?″ As soon as everything is completed, I will come and get you, ensuring that you are always with me wherever I am.″ 2nd and 3rd John 14:2b–3

What Jesus Said About Love – Our Love

1. Love for God and Others is the Most Important Commandment.

″The most essential commandment is this: ‘Listen, O Israel!’″ Jesus said.The Lord, our God, is the one and only true and living God.In addition, ‘you must love the Lord your God with everything you have in you: your heart, soul, mind, and all of your strength.’ The second principle is just as important: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself.’ ″There is no other commandment higher than these,″ says the Bible.

Mark 12:29–31 (KJV)

2. Love for God Looks Like Obedience.

″If you love me, you will keep my commandments,″ Jesus said. 14:15 (John 14:15)

3. Love is the Identity of the Follower of Jesus.

″You must love one another as much as I have loved you. ″If you love one another, all mankind will know that you are My disciples,″ says Jesus. 13:34b–35 (John 13:34b–35) (NLV)

4. Love Follows Where Jesus Leads.

To be my disciple, you must give up your own way of life and accept your cross, and then you will be my follower.″ Matthew 16:24 (KJV)

5. Love is Sacrificial.

You will lose your life if you try to hold onto it for dear life. It is only if you give up your life for my cause that you would be able to rescue it.″ Matthew 16:25 (KJV)

6. Love is Humble.

″God honors people who are humble, for they shall inherit the entire earth,″ says the prophet. 5:5 (Matthew 5:5)

7. Love is Merciful.

″I want you to demonstrate kindness, not make sacrifices,’ says the Lord. It is not those who believe they are virtuous, but those who recognize that they are sinners, that I have come to call. 9:13 (Matthew 9:13)

8. Love is Peaceful.

″Those who labor for peace will be blessed by God, and they will be referred to as God’s offspring.″ 5:9 (Matthew 5:9)

9. Love Even When It Seems Impossible.

″However, to those of you who are prepared to listen, I say: love your adversaries!″ Do good deeds for people who despise you. People that curse you should be blessed. Pray for those who have caused you pain.″ Luke 6:27–28 (KJV)

10. Love Like Jesus’ Love lasts forever.

″There are three things that will stay forever: faith, hope, and love, with love being the greatest of them.″ 1 Corinthians 13:13 (New International Version) I’m not sure about you, but I’m sitting here squirming a little bit as I type this.When I read those initial words about love – God’s love and how perfect and full it is – I am overwhelmed with gratitude.Their explanation is that God created in everyone of us a need for love so that He might fulfill that need with Himself.

Glory!
After that, there come those further lines about love…
the manner in which you and I are expected to love God and those in our immediate vicinity…
as a result, I’ve realized how far I’ve fallen short.

As a result, I’m grateful not just for the fact that love is forgiving, but also for the fact that Jesus said…

Love doesn’t leave us on our own. God’s love gives us the Help we need to love others.

I’ll ask the Father, and He will provide you with another Advocate who will never leave your side,″ says the author. 14:16 (John 14:16) So, let’s go back to the beginning of this discussion. Love is regarded as a feeling in popular culture. The following is what the dictionary says about love:

A strong and powerful sensation of profound attachment
a strong and passionate interest in and enjoyment from something.
A profound love or sexual attachment to (someone)
a strong desire to be with (someone).

However, the Bible portrays it as much more than just how we feel at the time.When we accept God’s love into our hearts, love becomes a part of our character that manifests itself in the way we behave.Love becomes more than just the way we speak; it becomes what we do.

It is the most important job in the world!
One that we can only do with the Lord’s assistance and presence.
I’m praying that your life is filled with love…
the type of love that Jesus spoke about in the Bible.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

And a special thanks to BibleGateway.com for providing the sources.Counting My Blessings is a free newsletter that I would appreciate it if you would subscribe and join more than 15,000 other people in applying God’s Word together.Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I’ll give a short post and prayer that I trust will bless you with God’s peace and fill you with the hope of His promises.

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What did Jesus mean when He instructed us to love our enemies?

Answer to the question When Jesus declared that we should love our adversaries, He was setting a new norm for interpersonal interactions.He declared to the throngs of people who had gathered to hear His Sermon on the Mount that they were aware that they were required to love their neighbor because the demand to love our neighbor was a divine rule (Leviticus 19:18).By inferring that we must thus hate our adversary, the Jews erred in drawing the improper conclusion from the passage.

While no Bible text expressly states that one should ″hate one’s adversary,″ it is possible that the Pharisees misapplied some of the Old Testament passages that speak of hatred for God’s adversaries (Psalm 139:19-22; 140:9-11).
However, Jesus substituted this notion with one that was much higher: ″Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven″ (Matthew 5:44-45).
In his subsequent teachings, Jesus explains that loving those who love us is simple, and that even nonbelievers may do so.
Afterwards, He orders us to ″be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,″ which means to ″be like your heavenly Father″ (Matthew 5:43-48).

When Jesus spoke to His disciples, He indicated that they should live according to the true meaning of God’s law, which includes loving their adversaries and their neighbors.
The question, ″Who is my neighbor?″ was allegedly posed to Jesus by a Pharisee.
(See Luke 10:29.) The Parable of the Good Samaritan was then delivered by Jesus.
In this passage, Jesus teaches that His disciples must show love to all people, regardless of their faith, ethnicity, or personality—including their adversaries.
″Pray for those who persecute you,″ you demonstrate that Jesus is the Lord of your life if you love your enemies and ″pray for those who persecute you.″ Through the use of an image of the sun rising and the rain falling on both good and bad people, Jesus demonstrates God’s love for all people without regard for their sins.

His disciples are thus expected to emulate His character and to demonstrate the same unwavering love for both friends and adversaries as He does.According to Jesus’ teachings, we must live up to an entirely other set of standards than those set out by the world, standards that are impossible for us to achieve on our own.True love and prayer for those who wish to do them harm can only be achieved by the power of God’s Spirit in the hearts of His people (Romans 12:14-21).Following his instruction to love our enemies, Jesus then offers us this command: ″Therefore, strive to be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect″ (Matthew 5:48).

As sons of our Father (Matthew 5:45), we are expected to be flawless in the same way that He is.This is completely impossible for a sinful man to do.According to the law, this unachievable norm is exactly what is required (James 2:10).So how can Jesus ask for the seemingly impossible?

″With man, this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible,″ he says later in the passage (Matthew 19:26).
It is only God who is capable of fulfilling the demands of God, including the need to love our adversaries.
Things that are impossible for man become possible for those who dedicate their life to Jesus Christ, and this is made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us.
Return to the page with the miscellaneous Bible questions.
What did Jesus mean when He told us to love our enemies?

What did He mean by that?

John, the Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

John is likely the most well-known of Jesus’ original Twelve Apostles, second only to Peter in terms of popularity.He and his brother, James, were there with Peter at some of the most pivotal periods of the Savior’s earthly ministry, and he has been historically connected with five distinct books of the New Testament, including the Gospel of Matthew.1 The following passage from John 13:23 suggests that he was personally close to the Lord: ″Now there was resting on Jesus’ bosom one of his followers, whom Jesus loved.″ It is this picture that has persisted down the years in Christian art, which frequently depicts John as a young man, typically reclining in the arms of Christ.

This is the genesis of his one-of-a-kind moniker, John the Beloved, but his witness and purpose reveal characteristics of discipleship that we can all learn from and use.

John, Son of Zebedee

Yohanan, John’s Hebrew given name, translates as ″God has been generous.″ The majority of the information we have about him comes from the first three Gospels, which describe the account of the Savior’s mortal ministry mainly from the same point of view as the rest of the Bible. They are all in agreement that John was the son of Zebedee, a successful Galilean fisherman who owned his own boat and was able to hire day workers to aid him and his sons in their task. John and his brother, James, were also partners with the brothers Peter and Andrew in their fishing company, and when Jesus asked them to be His full-time disciples, they all quit their businesses to follow Him. 2 The mother of James and John, Zebedee, became a follower of Jesus, interceding with Jesus on their behalf and being present at the Crucifixion. While Zebedee is not mentioned in the Gospels again, she is mentioned in the New Testament. 3 The mother of James and John, who is usually referred to by the name Salome, may also have been a sister of Mary, the mother of Jesus, making them first cousins of Jesus and relatives of John the Baptist. She is usually referred to by the name Salome. 4 Many of the Lord’s early miracles and teachings were observed by John within a short period of time following his original call. The experience of seeing these miracles and listening to talks such as the Sermon on the Mount undoubtedly prepared John for the time when Jesus chose him to be one of His Twelve Apostles. 5 The three apostles who were present at significant moments of Jesus’ earthly ministry were Peter, James, and John. They formed an inner circle of close disciples who witnessed the Lord’s power over death firsthand at the raising of Jairus’ daughter and at the raising of Lazarus, to name a few examples. 7
On the Mount of Transfiguration, where they saw Jesus revealed in His glory and heard the voice of the Father testify that Jesus was His Son, in whom He was delighted, they witnessed the manifestation of Jesus in His glory. 8
On the Mount of Olives, where He delivered His final prophesy regarding the end of the world. 9, at Gethsemane, where they were in the vicinity when the Savior began His tremendous work of atonement. 10

Similar to how Jesus Christ gave Simon the extra name Cephas or Peter, which means ″rock,″ He also gave James and John the title Boanerges, which means ″sons of thunder,″ in the same way that he gave Simon the additional name Simon.11 The fact that they inquired of Jesus as to whether they might send fire onto a hamlet of Samaritans who had rejected Him (see Luke 9:51–56) suggests that they were hot-tempered or at the very least extremely determined.As a result, it is equally plausible that the name was given in expectation of their becoming great witnesses, much as Peter’s name, although reflecting his previous committed but impetuous temperament, was more likely to indicate his firmness and strength following Jesus’ Resurrection.

12 It appears that John is a strong and reliable partner to Peter throughout his appearances in the book of Acts.
John was present when Peter performed the miracle of healing the lame man in the temple, and the two of them preached courageously in front of the Jewish authorities of Jerusalem.
The two Apostles proceeded together to Samaria in order to bestow the gift of the Holy Ghost on the Samaritans who had been instructed and baptized by Philip earlier in the year.
13 Even yet, it is in the works linked with John that he is most known as a forceful testament to the divinity of his master and companion, Jesus Christ, who he is most often identified with.

These New Testament texts portray John as a teacher as well as a role model for us as we pursue our own discipleship.

Beloved Disciple

The Gospel that has usually been assigned to John does not mention him by name, which is an interesting fact to consider.The two sons of Zebedee are only mentioned once in the Gospel of John, and that is in the concluding chapter, when they are mentioned as two of the seven disciples who encountered the resurrected Lord beside the Sea of Galilee.Even in that case, though, they are not identified by their last name.

But tradition has claimed that John was the unnamed ″disciple whom Jesus loved,″ who was there at the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the empty tomb as well as at Jesus’s last apparition in the Sea of Galilee, as confirmed by references in Restoration scripture14.
15 His possible identity as the ″other disciple″ who, with Andrew, was a follower of John the Baptist and heard him testify that Jesus was the Lamb of God (see John 1:35–40) is also a possibility, as is the possibility that he was the disciple who accompanied Peter after Jesus’ arrest and assisted Peter in gaining access to the court of the high priest (see John 18:15–16).
As revealed in John’s Gospel, the beloved disciple is shown to be a close, intimate companion of the Lord.
John, along with Martha, Lazarus, and Mary, is mentioned directly in this Gospel as someone whom Jesus adored and cherished (see John 11:3, 5).

His location at the table during the Last Supper demonstrated not only honor but also proximity to the other participants.
His role as a powerful witness to the most crucial events of Jesus’s mission is revealed in other passages: he was at the foot of the cross to witness Jesus’s death as a sacrifice for sin, hurried to the tomb after the Resurrection to check that it was empty, and saw the resurrected Savior.
At least two times during its course, the Gospel of John mentions that it is based on the eyewitness testimony of the beloved disciple and emphasizes that his witness has been confirmed as true16, something that echoes Joseph Smith’s retitling of the gospel as ″The Testimony of John,″ which was first published in 1830.
17 While historians continue to argue the identification of the beloved disciple, if he was in fact the Apostle John, he was at the very least the source of the content in the Gospel, if not the actual author of the document.
18 Why, therefore, did he go unidentified, never being referred to be the Apostle John in any official capacity?

It’s possible that Jesus did this in part because he intended his personal experiences to serve as models for believers and followers through