Sunday, January 7, 2024

Jesus Loved Everyone; But Did Everyone Love Jesus?

 


I have heard this statement many times when ministers or those who hold to the teachings of Jesus, tell someone that their lifestyle is wrong and they need to stop sinning and do what is right. And nine times out of ten you will hear, "who are you to judge me? Jesus loved everybody!"

That is absolutely true! Jesus did love everyone! But everyone DID NOT love Jesus!

Why not you ask? Because Jesus told everyone about themselves, and testified to the world that it's works (deeds) were evil! And that IS Love!!!! Telling someone the truth about themselves and their sinful living IS loving them!!! 

Ministers of the gospel are called and anointed to help people see the error of their ways so they can repent and be forgiven of their sins and come into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ!

Jesus was hated by the Pharisees, Jews and the world because He preached against their hypocrisy, religion, sin, and traditions.

John 7:6-7

"Then Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it that its works are evil."

This is also why when Jesus began to preach He went around saying "Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand." Repent means to change your mind and think differently, because if you think different, you will ACT different!

How did Jesus deal with people's sin you ask?

John 8:7-11

"So when they continued asking Him, He raised Himself up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Jesus loved this woman who was caught in the act of adultery, but He didn't condemn her for it! The Pharisees were ready to stone her to death! Jesus dealt with her sin by telling her to go AND SIN NO MORE! Stop doing wrong, stop committing sinful acts! That is love!

John 5:12-14

"Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.  Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

Jesus healed a man who had been cripple for thirty eight years, and afterwards told him to sin no more or something worse could happen to him. Jesus knew that the man was a sinner, but again He did not condemn the man, but healed him and later told him to stop sinning! That IS love!

John 15:18-25

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. He who hates Me hates My Father also. If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’"

We know what ultimately happened to Jesus don't we? He was betrayed, falsely accused, taken into custody like a criminal, severely beaten, mocked, whipped, and hung on a cross with nails through His hands and feet. All this happened to Jesus because He spoke the truth to the religious leaders of the day and to the world.

Do you think it would be any different today? NO!

Jesus even told His disciples/apostles that in the end times all nations will hate His future servants for His names sake!

John 24:9-14

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and kill you, and you will be hated by all nations for My name’s sake. And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come."

And after all the healings, miracles, signs and wonders that Jesus did amongst thousands of people in many cities, there was only one hundred and twenty disciples waiting for the Holy Spirit in the upper room in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost.

Yes Jesus did, and still does love everyone! But everyone will not love Him!

In Christ,
Tyrone