Jesus

January 26th, 2009 Tim Posted in SevenLakes Info |

It’s all about Jesus. It’s always about Jesus. It’s only about Jesus. That’s how one pastor describes the Bible and the Church and all of history.

Do you know that Jesus loves you? Do you love Jesus?  These are questions simple enough to ask a two year-old and profound enough for the most seasoned Christian to examine daily.

Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel…for what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. (1 Corinthians 15:1a, 3-4 NIV, emphasis mine)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. (1 John 3:16a NIV)

We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands (1 John 2:3 NIV)

And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother (1 John 4:21 NIV)

The writer of the above three lines refers to himself in the gospel of John as “the one Jesus loved”.  He may have been Jesus’ closest friend on earth; from the cross Jesus asked John to take care of his mother Mary. But I think the most essential part of John’s identity of himself as “the one Jesus loved” is that John realized that Jesus died for John’s sins. Do you know that Jesus loves you?

I once heard a pastor quoted as saying that the hard part of leading people to Christ is not getting them “saved”, it’s getting them “lost”.

In Luke 7:36-50 we read the beautiful story of a woman who comes, broken by guilt, to weep at Jesus’ feet, in the home of a religious leader who has no recognition of or respect for who Jesus is. It culminates with this: ” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves. “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Do you know that Jesus loves you? Do you know that you need the love of Jesus? Do you love Jesus?

Nathan Huse was the guest worship leader at CrossPoint SevenLakes yesterday. He has a great voice and great energy but the best part was his obvious love for Jesus. And I loved how Pastor Dan introduced him, “he and I go way back, when I was a youth pastor…” I turned to Tim and said “all his stories start that way”. What a great privilege to see someone you loved in Christ pass that love along (”for what I received I passed on to you as of first importance…”).

Tim and I were at a meeting last night where Pastor Matt of CrossPoint Westgreen was talking about how great the growth of CrossPoint has been and that they aren’t doing anything especially new, just talking about and being blessed by Jesus. [I once heard Pastor Mark Driscoll say that someone once complained to him that Driscoll always preached about the same thing: sin (you need Jesus) and Jesus (Jesus loves you).  Driscoll said the guy meant it as a criticism but Driscoll took it as a compliment.] CrossPoint has a great preschool, a great sports ministry, great pastors, cool bands, and much more but I love that the focus is always Jesus. It’s all about Jesus, it’s always about Jesus, it’s only about Jesus. (by Nancy)