IN THE NAME OF JESUS

The radical changes Jesus brought into the world could only have been possible through his great love. In fact, generally speaking, probably the greater the love, the greater will be the justice that can be brought about.

Is creating a just society even possible without love?

A key part of being a Christian is to represent Jesus by bringing his love to hurting people. Jesus said, “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”  (John 15:12) When we follow Jesus, we won’t find it hard to love the people around us.

It’s easy to see people in trouble and ignore them. So often we’d rather stay within the safety of our own comforts. When we follow Jesus’ example, responding to others’ needs becomes easier. When we follow Jesus we will find we’re not thinking about ourselves as much.

As we try to right what’s wrong in the world, Jesus will give us the sensitivity and love we need to feel the pain of others. Jesus looks at a hurting person, sees their suffering, and enters into it with them. When Jesus saw a woman weeping over her dead son  “his heart went out to her and he said, ‘Don’t cry.’” (Luke 7:13)

Could we, as friends of those who suffer, share in the pain of others?

The story of the Good Samaritan, part of which is shown below, is a parable Jesus told about a stranger showing mercy to an injured man he had found lying on the road. The Samaritan in the story portrays what Jesus is like. This is the kind of person I think we would all appreciate having with us when in trouble.

. . . a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ (Luke 10:33-35)

What I most appreciate about Jesus is his humility. When caregivers use his attitude as their example something special happens to the care they provide. They don’t consider themselves above the person they care for. Individuals with such love have a genuine desire to be there for the person in need, treating them as an equal. Love comes naturally and easily.

I can trust a person who does not consider themselves greater than me. I can trust a person who bends down to my level to hear me whisper my prayers—a person who will patiently bandage my wounds, though their own life might be busy. I can have confidence in the kind of love given by such a person. Such love is authentic, coming from a sincere heart—a heart that is not pre-occupied with self but others.

That’s Jesus’ kind of love. It’s humble.

All of us need care periodically. It’s good to be cared for by people who are followers of Christ like ourselves. But even Christian caregiving isn’t always what it should be. Sometimes, in their zeal to do the Lord’s work, people get close to treating us as charity cases instead of people of worth.

Painful situations can develop when a caregiver no longer sees us as being in need. The friends we thought they were abandon us, no longer spending time with us the way they had been. We learn that they weren’t the friends we had thought them to be. That’s why it’s important for a person to have a number of friends they could call on instead of a single one.

Jesus, our best friend of all, is unlike earthly supporters. He never views us as a project. We can rest in Jesus’ friendship, knowing he will always be there. He tells us that we are all equal under God and we can look at ourselves in that light. We are as worthy as those who care for us.

One day, those who now suffer, may be able to give care to our caregivers.

marja

 

This has been Part 18 of the series In the Name of Jesus. God to Part 19 – Psychosis.