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Lori

Jesus - A Man to Know

My friend is going through unimaginable pain and suffering. In just a few years, her dad has passed away, her mother-in-law passed away, her husband has been ill and struggling with his career, and her teenage child has cancer for the second time and awaits a transplant. But get this; a beautiful picture of Jesus is her screensaver. She knows to hold on tight to this man. He is our life-line and our redeemer and if you want to have any chance at all in growing your Faith, you must go through Jesus.

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

“Jesus loves me, this I know.” “Oh, how He loves you and me.” “Jesus loves the little children.” We sing these songs as children, but were you listening? Do you still believe in their message? Jesus loves my friend so much that He hurts with her. She knows He has a plan for her and her family. She's remembering that Jesus loves her. When the tough times get tough for any of us, He picks us up and holds on tight. Jesus' love for God's children is so very personal. The poem, “Footprints”, by Mary Stevenson is such a perfect image for Jesus’ love for His children. When the road gets rocky, He carries us.

Don’t think of Jesus as just an old softy. He also is the great I Am. He is The One and Only. He is Lord! Oh – I could really get ramped up here. As I explained earlier, I beg you to get to know my Jesus. He is God’s #1 and Child, yet He is one of us. He chose to live as a human to experience our needs and our wants – but also our pain and our joy.

Check out the story of when his best friend dies in John 11 to understand Jesus' experience as one of us. When He learns of Lazarus' death, “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35) But then, just like my hero, He woke his bestie up from his death and asked for him to come on out of that tomb. He can perform the strongest of miracles. On the human note, interestingly enough, Jesus waited two days before he came to the aid of Lazarus and his sisters. Let me tell you, Mary and Martha were none too happy that He decided to take His sweet time getting to them. Friends, Jesus timing is perfect and this can be such a tough lesson for any of us to learn. Read the story. He knew Lazarus would survive and even though He knew this would cause pain to His friends and to Himself to wait, it had to happen this way. It was this miracle performed that started throwing things into motion that led to Jesus’ crucifixion. I have a very strong feeling that Jesus wanted to take off first thing to run to Lazarus’ side, but He knew what had to happen and how. Jesus and God are one and He can see the big picture.

John 15:1 reminds us that Jesus is the vine and we are His branches. We are Jesus’ gifts and talents. When we succeed and grow closer to God, God is pleased with Jesus. The One and Only wants us to grow and flourish. He longs for God's plan to work, but being God, the plan is so intricate, we can’t understand it. Don’t let your mind circle too much with this issue of God being Jesus and vice versa. It’s one of those mysteries I think they’re saving for the end. Just focus on relying on Jesus as well as loving Him.