Jesus so loved the world

Hebrews 7:23-28

This scripture tells us that Jesus "always lives to make intercession" for us.  The ministry of Jesus included always thinking of the other person, being inclusive of all people and setting a great example of what it means to love all people.  It says that he does not need to offer daily sacrifices, which was a common temple practice we might equate with our weekly offering.  He does not need to do so because he has offered his life as a sacrifice, and thus made perfect forever.

This does not mean Jesus is perfect. It does not mean Jesus made no mistakes or treated everyone nicely every single time he walked out the door. Instead it means that Jesus understood that being a living sacrifice is understanding that rules don't matter as much as people, that service doesn't mean anything if done for show, that love can only truly be passed from person to person when no one is 'in it' for any reason other than to praise God as a God of love.

In Mark 10, Bartimaeus, the blind beggar, calls to Jesus... "son of David, have mercy on me." Jesus is stopped abruptly by these words. He is stopped by the realization that Bartimaeus understands Jesus is indeed the savior, the chosen son of David.  He tells Bartimaeus he is healed but it is his own faith that has made him well.  Bartimaeus understood that having sight wouldn't heal him if he didn't have his sights set on following God's way.

How do we even begin to love as Jesus loved the world?  Isn't it impossible?  Only if we let it be. We are supposedly created in God's image, in Christ's image, so therefore we should be able to love as Christ loved us.

Jesus so loved the world that he walked a path of complicated, difficult choices. He walked a path that included turning his back on the authorities, being with those the world shunned, and offering people a healing hand, a world of mercy and love, no matter what the rules of the day said he should do instead.

How often do we become radical like this Jesus we claim to love? When was the last time you walked a path that was sure to cause you scorn just so that you could continue to love the world with all your heart?  Do we ever truly love the world with all our hearts?  Email me or comment below.