Watching for His return
Why do You Love Jesus?
Why do You Love Jesus?
Why do you love Jesus? Most Christians, if asked, would probably respond “because He first loved me” or “because He gave His life for me”. While both of these responses are correct, they are just the beginning, what gets the relationship started. Our relationship with Jesus should go much deeper, what kind of a relationship would you have in the only reason you love someone is for what they have done for you. That would be a rather shallow relationship. Our relationship with Jesus should start for these reasons and grow as we get to know who Jesus is, get to know His personality. That’s what happened with the disciples, they started following Him after seeing Him perform a miracle for them,(hauling in a miraculous catch) but I don’t think that this was the reason that they stayed around and continued to follow Him, abandoning their former lives. It’s not the reason they were so devoted to Him. They liked hanging out with Jesus, they loved Him for His great personality. And so can we. Written text can only give us the words, not the inflection of the voice, the twinkle or gleam in the eye, or the slight smile on His face as He talks, showing the personality or the intentions behind the words. But if you look for it, you can see it. The Gospels are full of Jesus’ personality, his strength, humor, cunning, daring, courage and even playfulness. Without it, the gospels can seem confusing at times. A good example of this is in the gospel of John;
On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus also was invited to the wedding with his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does this have to do with me? My hour has not yet come.” His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
(John 2:1-5 ESV)
The words here sound harsh, and even disrespectful towards His mother. But Jesus loves His mother and would do anything for her, including having a little fun with her. So when she asks Him to help with the wine, I think He teases her, saying basically “what do you want me to do about it, I’m not supposed to start doing miracles yet”. And I can picture him having trouble keeping a straight face as He’s saying it and Mary giving Him a playful shove to say “oh stop it”. Mary knows her son and just tells the servants to do whatever Jesus says. And even though Jesus wasn’t planning on starting his miracles here, (and yes, Jesus did have things come up unexpectedly where He had to change His plans, so He can relate when it happens to us!), He does it for His mother. With the personality of Jesus, this scripture makes sense and fits an all loving God, without it, it’s confusing.
Other things I love about Jesus are His cunning, boldness and courage. Jesus wasn’t just a kind, meek wandering teacher like religion has made him out to be. Every time He taught, and performed miracles, the Pharisees and religious leaders noticed, and didn’t like it. The people were supposed to be following them, not this man Jesus! Jesus knew He was operating in enemy territory so to speak, and continued his ministry knowing He was being watched as He worked His way to Jerusalem.
Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. But the ruler of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the people, “There are six days in which work ought to be done. Come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day.” Then the Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger and lead it away to water it? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?” As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.
(Luke 13:10-17 ESV)
Jesus wasn’t afraid to spread the word of God, even when it meant going against authority, and religious authority at that! This made Him a target, later on, some Pharisees came to Him and tried to scare Him away:
At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.”
(Luke 13:31ESV)
At this point, I can picture the disciples glancing at one another, wondering what Jesus is going to do, but Jesus is not swayed by the threat;
And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’
(Luke 13:32-33 ESV)
I love the courage and boldness of Jesus to stand up and tell them “I don’t care what you say, tell your boss I’m coming, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me”.
These are just some of the things of Jesus’ personality that attract me and draw me closer to Him, just some of the reasons why I love Jesus. Jesus is everything you would ever want in a friend, a parent, or even a spouse. Whatever traits you look for, that you admire in a person are found in Jesus. And when you find them, you will grow even closer to Him. The next time you read the gospels, look for them, you’ll find them, and you’ll be amazed how much more you grow to love Jesus.