Our Love For Jesus

WEEK OF APRIL 13- 19, 2010

Topic: “Our Love For Jesus” John 21:7 In Luke 7:37-47 we can see a sinful woman, a woman from the city who invited herself to a dinner that was not meant for her, but she did it to give Jesus the worship and honor that he deserved. She brought a bottle full of perfume to anoint Jesus. What a great sign of love! Let us stop and see what she did. She didn’t do it right in front of Him because she was a sinner, but rather she anointed Him with her tears and with the perfume placing herself behind Him at His feet. She scattered His feet with her tears and wiped it away with her hair and she also kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume. During that dinner the Pharisee gave the Lord a cold reception by not giving any attention to the simplest acts of courtesy, which was to wash the feet of the guests, kiss them in the cheek and give them oil to anoint their hands. Of course, this woman knew she was a sinner, for such reason she knew in her conscience that Jesus had forgiven her for so much. But, in Simon the Pharisee there was no sensation of being a great sinner. As the Lord said, those who have been forgiven a little, only have a little. It was not that Simon was not a sinner, but that he had never recognized his sin, his great fault so that he would be forgiven by the son of God who was at his table in that moment. If only he repented recognizing his sins, Jesus would have forgiven him and he would have loved Jesus just like that sinful woman. Another case in which another person also anointed Jesus with an expensive perfume was Mary from Bethany. (John 12:3) Mary was Martha and Lazarus’s sister, her love and devotion for the Lord led her to take a pound of highly priced perfume of pure nard and anoint the feet of the Master. With this act she shows that for her there wasn’t anything too valuable that she could not give to Christ. He is worthy of everything we have and we are. In those times the women’s hair was considered to be their glory, therefore, she was placing her glory at the Lord’s feet. We show our love to the Lord by giving Him our best. Another case was Mary Magdalene who with her acts showed her love for Jesus. (John 20:11-13) Again, we can see the love and devotion of a woman for the Lord. This is the way it is, we love with passion. The disciples went home. But Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus had cast out seven demons (Mark 16:9) was forgiven for so much and because of this she loved her savior and liberator a great deal. She maintained a solitary vigil alongside the tomb, weeping; she thought that the Lord’s body was probably stolen by the enemies of the Lord. It was daybreak and the sun probably did not come out yet. The disciples knew better than anyone else; Jesus Himself had told them that He would resuscitate on the third day, but they were not going to wait by the tomb but at their homes. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and entrusted her to tell the disciples. This magnificent privilege was given to this courageous and grateful woman as a reward for her devotion towards Christ. Blessed be the Lord! We can also see here in God’s Word in John 21:7 the love of the apostle Peter for Jesus. John called out that Jesus was the one at the edge and Peter launched himself in search of Jesus. Peter swam until he reached Jesus who was on land. We should remember that Peter denied Jesus three times. Now he wasn’t like that brave disciple but as the disciple who denied Him. That moment of denial was a very sad moment for Peter. Now he needed to let Jesus know how much he loved him. He had the opportunity to manifest his love for the Lord and he took advantage of it. Jesus helped him asking him three times if he loved Him and with all his heart, he manifested his love. In Acts 21:13 the brothers ask Peter to not go to Jerusalem, in other words they were saying “don’t do the will of the Lord”. Those who said this were those who loved him. But Peter did not feel any sympathy with his companions and brothers because of their worries. That weepiness and the tears of the brothers of faith only served to shatter his heart. There was nothing that could stop Peter from doing what his Master and Lord asked him. He said to them: “… I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” What can detain in you the love towards the Lord? Was it the chains and the prison that produced fear in Paul to detain what he understood was the will of God in his life? The love of Paul towards the Lord was greater than any fear that he could’ve had. He was willing not only to be bounded but to also die. Are we capable of demonstrating that way our love to the Lord? Does anything frighten us? That sinner didn’t care what they thought of her. Mary gave her best perfume, Magdalene exposed herself and was in her loneliness there in the grave, Peter launched himself to the sea even if he perished and Paul did not fear the chains for the love of the Lord. And you, are you willing to do anything for Him? That we be faithful and love Him as much or more than these brothers have demonstrated here with their example. Amen.