I Love My Lord!

How much do you really love the Lord Jesus Christ? two great questions ought to come to our minds when we think about our Lord:

How much does Jesus love me?

And this must be first! The Bible says in I John 4:19: “We love him, because he first loved us.”

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

I John 4:10: “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

Romans 5:8: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

2. How much do we love the Lord Jesus?

Yes, we love him, but how much do we truly love the Lord Jesus? Our love is reactive to God. We love, because....

Psalm 116:1: “I love the Lord, because he hath heard My voice and my supplications.”

Psalm 31:22-23: “For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: Nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. O love the Lord, all ye his saints: For the Lord preserveth the faithful, And plentifully rewardeth the proud doer.”

Psalm 40:1: “I waited patiently for the Lord; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”

If, then, our love is reactive, shouldn’t our love for Jesus Christ reflect all that He has done for us?

He has saved us, provided for us, forgiven us, encouraged us, restored us, gifted us, and led us. BECAUSE of all that He has done, we should love Christ with all of our hearts!

John Van Gelderen relays the story of a young girl who helped to spur the great Welsh Revival of 1904-5.

“In late 1903, a pastor in West Wales grieved over growing worldliness and evident lack of devotion to Jesus in the young people he served. As his burden grew, he arranged for a special 2-day youth meeting over the new year. The messages preached spoke to the hearts of the young people and made a deep impression, especially on one teenage girl. Florrie Evans was challenged by what she heard and a month later found herself at a crisis point. She met with her pastor one evening after a service and spoke to him about what she recognized as the world’s pervasive grip, her apparent inability to rescue herself from it, and a desperation leading her to conclude, “I cannot live like this.” Her pastor made an insightful inquiry, asking Florrie whether she was surrendered; whether truly she could say “my Lord” to the Lord Jesus Christ. The emphasis intrigued her, but a surrender to her Lord was a new concept. She understood it but did not have it as her personal experience. She pondered the challenge and left.

Convinced by the Spirit of truth, Florrie soon yielded to her Lord’s demand to reign on the throne of her heart. Obedience to the promptings of the Spirit now would be her aim, and soon the shy girl would follow through in significant fashion.

It was on a Sunday in February following her surrender that Florrie heard her pastor ask the assembled youth what Jesus meant to them. Looking for more than something drawn from general knowledge, the pastor emphasized personal, experiential understanding when he asked, “What does Jesus mean to you?” Amid the ensuing silence, the Spirit prompted one to respond. Florrie stood to answer:

“I love the Lord Jesus with all of my heart.”

An Immeasurable Gift (7:37-39)

an alabaster box- alabaster was a type of stone (usually white) which was used to make vases and jars. In this case, the box was to be broken open to release the fragrant oil inside of it. (Mark 14:3-9) No doubt, this ointment was very costly. Mark 13:5 records that the ointment was worth 300 denarii. “For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.” That’s a year’s wage! Imagine someone taking a bottle of ointment worth $50,000 and pouring out upon someone they love! That is what this woman did!

her tears- she not only poured out her ointment; she poured out her tears. She “washed his feet with her tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head.” Tears spoke the language of forgiveness and cleansing. At some point, Jesus had set her free! He had forgiven her and cleansed her from her sins. Oh, the joy that she felt when Jesus released her from her sinful past!

her kisses- this is an act of worship.

Psalm 2:12: “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, And ye perish from the way, When his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”

An Incredible Debt (7:40-43)

She gave an immeasurable gift because she was forgiven of an incredible debt!

Jesus, then, turns to Simon. As you read the other gospel writers and their telling of this story, you’ll learn that Jesus scolds the disciples for listening to Judas criticize her offering. You would see the smug looks on the faces of the other disciples who felt a bit uncomfortable by her amazing love poured out on Jesus.

And in verse 40, Jesus says to Simon: Hey, I want to tell you something!

Jesus is going to take up on sides with the woman. No one else would! But for now, it is Jesus and this woman on one side, and it is Simon and the disciples on the other.

Isn’t it wonderful when the Lord speaks for you! And He said, “One man was forgiven for a debt that was 500 day’s wages, and the other was forgiven for a debt of 50 day’s wages. Who should be more thankful?

The answer, of course, is obvious. The person who owed 10X the amount should be most-grateful.

In this story, the woman is the greatest debtor— hence, she is the most grateful.

Paul states of himself in I Timothy 1:15: “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.”

An Undeniable Rebuke (7:44-49)

Jesus, then, turns to the woman while still talking to Simon and says, “When I came into your house, you did not anoint me. You did not shed a tear. You did not kiss my feet.”

You may say that you love me, but your ACTIONS did not back up your claims.

John 14:15: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

How Much do You Love the Lord Jesus?

Has He forgiven you of much? Love Him!

Has He saved your soul and is still at work in your life? Love Him!

Has He been a friend who sticks closer than a brother? Love Him!

Is He preparing a place for us in Heaven? Love Him!

I love my Lord! How about you?