“Jesus wept, then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him”. (John 11:35-36).
Love is the most potent force that governs the universe and when shared transforms hearts and reforms nations. It’s that condition in which the joy of others becomes your priority not withstanding their weaknesses. (John 11:35-36).
Love is a spirit of divinity, it’s an act of God, love is God, God does not have love for He is love and clothed with love and so to look unto Jesus in love, we must reflect this love trait to others around us. In the words of Jesus: “for by this shall men know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:35). So stop loving others for a reason, stop showing care because of what you can get in return, stop expressing acts of kindness for selfish interest, personal gratification, and ulterior motives. (Luke 6:35). Start looking unto Jesus in love and let your love be sincere and reflect purity, learn to love people despite their short comings and imperfections, learn to see beyond the tempting personal gains, let your soul blossom delicately to others with beauty and fragrance of divine love.
In the scriptural context above, the story line reflects the love and compassion of Jesus towards Mary, Martha and Lazarus his friend. (Jhn 11:5). Lazarus died of sickness and had been in the grave for four days, but for love he would have been long decayed and forgotten, Jesus arriving at the tomb seeing Mary (who once wiped his feet and anointed him) and the Jews weeping and watching for his next line of action, He groaned in the spirit, was troubled and wept that it was obvious among the jews that they had to see his pain borne out of compassion and genuine love. (Jhn 11:33,35). The Jews said. “Behold, how he loved him” (Jhn11:36).
Friends, our love must reflect forgiveness, kindness, care, patience, sharing, endurance, compassion and feelings of pain for others if really we want to be like Jesus in love. How can you say you have God’s love dwelling in you when someone desperately in need of your financial aid for example and you say my friend, it is well with you- how dwelleth the love of God in you? Infact this is God’s account on this: “Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?” (James 2:15-16. NIV).
Folks, blood runs through us but love runs in the veins of God, so to look unto Jesus in love we must let his love permeate in and through us. If we must look unto Jesus in love, we must reflect sympathy and care to the needs of others, show compassion to the afflicted and less privileged. Our concern must show kindness, forgiveness and sharing- for the love of Jesus was shown by the tears of compassion he had for Lazarus. Beloved, if we have not a High priest (Jesus) who cannot be touched by the feelings of our infirmities, then like him we must be touched by the force of divine love to show love to our neighbours and the unloveable, utter prayers for those who persecute us; for in this lies love in expression as even sinners love those who love them. (Matt. 5:12, Lk. 6:32,35).
As tears is an expression of grief so also it’s an expression of love, so dearly beloved of God it was the love that Christ had for us that wiped away our tears, lets learn to grow in his love. God’s hand will not be far from your reach if you live in love with all around you, for behind your pain- God has a purpose in place for you, your struggles are for a reason, but if and only if you will remain faithful and look to Jesus in love, He will visit you with his reward system, so don’t give up; just hold on to God’s love.
Prayer Lines: Father, give me the heart and spirit of love that I may love my neighbour and the unloveable.