“I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father. 7 If you had known me, you would have known the Father. But from now on, you do know him, and you have seen him.” John 14:6-7 (CEV)
For many months after I committed my life to Jesus, I absorbed Scripture. Seriously, I read the Bible 2-3-4 hours/day. But I was always reading, even the Old Testament, as it pointed to Jesus. I didn’t really think I could understand about the Father and didn’t really want to understand! I knew I could not meet God’s standards and so I saw the Father as God who was just waiting for an opportunity to smack me down for messing up! I was hiding behind Jesus.
Here is Jesus telling His disciples, “If you know me, then you know the Father.” Wait. I know the Father? But I don’t feel condemned. I feel loved!
Rev. Chris Surber said in his book, The Sacred Journey, “Jesus ate with sinners as a way of loving them into the Kingdom of God. He did not make picket signs against their sin.” (p. 80) The Father and Jesus are one. The Father loves me just as Jesus does. Jesus is God in the flesh, sent to show me the Father and to show me the way to come closer to the Father. The way is all about love. The Father’s love for me and how His love draws me into His Kingdom.
The Father’s love does not mean He condones sin nor does He say, “It’s OK, Jody. It was just a ‘little’ sin!” God will convict me with His Spirit. God will help me to know my sin so that I can turn away, repent from sin which keeps me apart from Him.
[Jesus said,] “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10 (HCSB)
Jesus wants to save people. Jesus forgave me as He hung on the cross. I have broken every Commandment. Every one of them. And Jesus forgave my sin that put Him – GOD – on the cross! Is there any sin that is too big for Jesus to forgive? No. Jesus’ Blood covers in atonement for every one of my sins and puts me right with God.
Rev. Surber calls Jesus’ love ‘radical.’ It is. When radical surgery is necessary, it is usually massive and life-changing. And that is what happened when I came in contact with the Living God. How about you? I am not the person I was before 1995. Jesus’ love healed and changed me. I want to share with others who are hurting and desperate. Jesus is what they need.
Let’s be Jesus’ disciples and give Jesus to those who are struggling and hurting. Jesus is the way. He is the Father God in the flesh who loves, loves His children. So many are beaten down and hurting. Jesus is the refuge, the Physician, the friend.
“Hi. Having a hard day? Come in. I’ll fix us a cup of tea and a sandwich. Tell me what’s going on? I know Someone who has helped me…”
Healing Rain written & sung by Michael W Smith
