Jesus’ Extraordinary Love Sees Us as our Best Selves
Have you heard of Love Languages? It’s the concept that each of us speaks and receives love in a unique way. There are five different languages and unless you learn the language your loved one responds to best, he or she may not experience the depth of your love.
How God Expresses His Love
I think God understands this concept. John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” The most prominent and expressive way God declares His love for us is offering His Son as the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sin. Jesus’ death provides the way for us to have intimate relationship with God the Father.
In addition, God proclaims His love for us in a variety of other ways. I think there are various reasons why God showcases His love for us in diverse forms. For example, since His love is exceptionally deep, it needs to be offered in unique expressions for us to grasp its depth. I believe God knows we experience love in distinct styles, so He loves us in distinguishing fashion. Plus, God’s love is constant and overwhelming; I believe God takes every opportunity possible to remind us of His love.
Recently while studying the book of John, I became aware Jesus expresses His love to someone by seeing the best in that person. Jesus is most certainly aware we are sinners and in need of His mercy and grace. However, He sees our character in a positive light, and He doesn’t dwell on what doesn’t need to be mentioned.
Jesus Sees Our Character in a Positive Light
Nathaniel
I first noticed Jesus seeing someone in a positive light when He encountered Nathaniel in the first chapter of John. Jesus first called Philip to follow Him and Philip was friends with Nathaniel. So, as good friends do, Philip told his buddy Nathaniel, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45)
Nathaniel wasn’t impressed by anyone who came from Nazareth. We’re not sure why Nathaniel had such a poor attitude toward Nazareth, because not much is known about Nazareth. Basically, it was a small agricultural town that was never mentioned in the Old Testament.
Nathaniel’s remark doesn’t seem to be motivated by surprise, but by critical disdain. “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46). Philip isn’t put off and prods his friend to still come and see Jesus.
When Jesus sees Nathaniel He says, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” (John 1:47) Jesus could have said, ‘Oh look! It’s bluntly honest Nathaniel!’ Instead, Jesus views the characteristics that Nathaniel doesn’t lie, and is strongly forthcoming, as positive character traits.
The Samaritan Woman
When Jesus encounters the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, He has quite a conversation with her. At one point, Jesus asks her to go get her husband and she replies she doesn’t have a husband. Jesus responds with “You are right when you say you have no husband.” (John 4:17b) He emphasizes her honesty, and then lets her know He is aware of her impropriety. Jesus speaks truth; however, He is not condemning, nor critical.
Jesus Doesn’t Dwell on What Doesn’t Need Mentioning
The Woman who Washes Jesus’ Feet
In Luke 7 we find the story of the woman who washes Jesus’ feet with her hair. In this story Jesus chooses not to dwell on what doesn’t need to be mentioned. Simon, the Pharisee who had invited Jesus over, criticizes Jesus for allowing a disreputable woman to touch Him. Jesus saw no need to bring up something which had no bearing on her expression of love to Him.
It’s also notable that Jesus didn’t criticize Simon for not being a generous host until Simon condemned the woman and Jesus. Jesus points out to Simon that he hadn’t provided a way for Jesus to wash His feet before the meal, Simon didn’t greet Jesus with a kiss, nor did he honor Jesus by pouring oil on His head. Jesus expressed His love to Simon by not bringing up his short comings as a host, until He felt compelled to defend the woman.
The Woman Caught in Adultery
The story of the woman caught in adultery is told in John 8. Jesus is in the temple courts preparing to teach. The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees bring in a woman who they’ve just caught in the act of adultery. The Law states such a woman is to be stoned, so they question Jesus about what He thinks should be done.
Jesus doesn’t answer right away, but they push and pressure Him. Finally He responds, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” He didn’t judge and criticize the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees for being crass. He didn’t condemn them for trying to trap Him or using the woman as a pawn in their attack.
The crowd disperses after Jesus’ statement, and Jesus remains with the woman. Since it was just the two of them, Jesus could’ve had a simple heart to heart with her. He could have easily asked her questions about her life and what brought her to her immoral action. He didn’t.
“Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.’”
Jesus didn’t need to discuss her history. There was no reason for Him to dwell on what brought her to this point. Jesus expressed His love to her by assuring her He would not condemn her, and then He encouraged her to live differently.
What Does This Have to Do With Us?
Think about those characteristics of yours that can easily go south. Perhaps you are an achiever, but you tend to over-commit yourself at work and ignore your family. Maybe you are a wonderful communicator, but you talk more than you listen, and others see you as a blabbermouth. It’s possible you are Miss Positivity, but you find yourself being too superficial and insincere.
For every trait we have there is an upside and a downside. It’s true when it’s said our greatest strength is also our greatest weakness. What can be of great benefit to ourselves and others, if not molded by the Spirit, can be what causes us significant grief and disappointment.
No Condemnation
John reminds us in John 3:17, “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.” Jesus wants to envelope us in His love. He doesn’t shy away from speaking the truth to us, but neither does He speak with condemnation.
Christ loves us in such a way that He helps us see ourselves in light of His forgiveness. He wants us anchored in His love, not swayed by shame or guilt. Jesus grows us into our best selves through how He loves us.
I challenge you to think on these two questions:
What is the character trait where you are most critical of yourself?
How do you imagine God sees that character trait in you?
Jesus loves us by giving us forgiveness from sin and filling our souls with His Spirit. He also loves us by seeing us as our best selves. He sees our character traits in a positive light and He chooses not to dwell on what doesn’t need to be mentioned. Instead, Christ invites us to join Him and the Father in loving intimacy. He longs for us to be convinced of His extraordinary love for us.
1 thought on “Jesus’ Extraordinary Love Sees Us as our Best Selves”
I am sure that you weren’t possibly using your own strengths as an example… but just in case you were, I haven’t ever seen your positive as insincere or superficial! Maybe sarcastic once in a while, but sarcasm should be its own love language anyway!!
Thank you for continuing to share your journey and your wisdom!
I am sure that you weren’t possibly using your own strengths as an example… but just in case you were, I haven’t ever seen your positive as insincere or superficial! Maybe sarcastic once in a while, but sarcasm should be its own love language anyway!!
Thank you for continuing to share your journey and your wisdom!