Jesus Taught Love

Loving others is the most important message Jesus taught.
Love is the very nature of God.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16

Jesus says, “Love your enemies,
Bless those who curse you,
Do good to those who hate you,
And pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:44, 45

Not only did Jesus tell us how to treat others, He left us an example.
I believe that every day of His life on earth Jesus prayed
for His enemies as well as His friends.
No doubt Jesus continues those prayers today;
for He is not willing that any perish.

Though accused of doing away with the law Jesus said,
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.
I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.”
Matthew 5:17

A lawyer asked Jesus a question, testing Him,
“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?’
Jesus answered, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:35-40

The day before Jesus stretched out His hands upon the cross
in the grandest demonstration of love He told His disciples:

“A new commandment I give to you,
that you love one another as I have loved you.
By this all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.”
John 13:34, 35

“As the Father loved Me I also have loved you; abide in My love.
If you keep My commandments you will abide in My love,
just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.”
John 15:9, 10

“This is My commandment that you love one another as I have loved you.
Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
John 15:12-14

A love shared in intimate relationship with His children is Jesus’ deepest desire.
He prayed to His Father that we might be one with Them.

“The glory which You gave me I have given them,
that they may be one just as We are one.
I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one,
and that the world may know that You have sent Me,
and have loved them as You have loved Me.
Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am,
that they may behold My glory which You have given Me;
for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”
John 17:22-24

Have you accepted Jesus personal love for you?
Do you show your love to God by loving others?