Jesus Loves Me

Ever thought about how much Jesus loves you? I mean really, He gave his life for us.
John records one of Jesus's sermons where He explains what true love really is.

John 15:
9"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command. 15I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. 17This is my command: Love each other (NIV, http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=15&version=31).


Jesus already knew that he would lay down his life... but take a look at what he calls everyone... "friends." Also, Jesus explains that we will have "joy" by being obedient. Can we even begin to comprehend being a "friend" to Jesus? How did Jesus define a friend? He said "you are my friend if you do what I command." What did He command? Well, it is written in the Ten Commandments. Since Jesus was with God at the very beginning and will be with God until the very end, He knew the Commandments of God. They are listed in Exodus.
Exodus 20:
3 "You shall have no other gods before me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 "You shall not murder.
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
15 "You shall not steal.
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor" (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=2&chapter=20&version=31)
I sometimes take for granted Jesus's love for me. I forget about the ultimate sacrifice that He made for me on the cross. Every beating He took was for my sins. Every insult that he received was so I would have eternal life. How could I be so selfish and self absorb to not be reminded every day of His true love for me? I know that I am not worthy of the pain He suffered. But, praise God, He gives me mercy. Jesus will stand one day to defend me against the enemy who wants my soul. I just can't imagine how someone I've never met face to face will one day tell those who persecute me "she is my good and faithful servant."
I know that even though Christ gives me grace and mercy, I should still honor His commands. I should love others (no matter what they've done to me) like God loves them. Being a friend to those who surround me (even those who have wronged me) is what I have been commanded to do. Some say that I am weak for forgiving so easily, but I say that it takes more character and strength to forgive than to be burdened by bitterness. Jesus forgives those who ask, so why shouldn't I? If I claim to love Jesus, then I should be a friend to all, just as Jesus was.
What a friend we have in Jesus; Just to take Him at His Word!