Embracing Divine Love: A Relationship with Jesus
Summary
In this season of joy and love, we are reminded of the profound concept of "embrace." To embrace means to hold someone close, signifying intimacy and deep affection. It also means to willingly and enthusiastically accept a belief or change. As Christians, we are called not only to embrace our faith in Jesus Christ but to hold Him close, embracing the Father, Son, and Spirit in a personal relationship. This relationship allows us to experience the true depth of love, which goes beyond the superficial definitions often portrayed by society.
The creation account in Genesis reveals that Jesus was present with the Father from the beginning, highlighting the eternal relationship within the Trinity. This perfect relationship did not need anything external, yet God chose to create humanity to share in this divine love. John 3:16-17 encapsulates this message of love, where Jesus left the perfection of heaven to offer us salvation and a relationship with God. This love is described by the Hebrew word "hesed," which signifies loyalty, mercy, and everlasting devotion, independent of our worthiness.
Jesus came to save the poor, the captive, the blind, and the oppressed, representing all of humanity before salvation. Despite our deserving of God's wrath, Jesus serves as our mediator, turning away this wrath through His sacrifice. He is the propitiation for our sins, offering us eternal life and a restored relationship with God. Jesus' teachings and actions, even in the face of His crucifixion, demonstrate His profound love and commitment to preparing a place for us in heaven.
In John 17, Jesus prays for His glorification, affirming His role as the way to eternal life and His restoration to His pre-creation glory. This underscores the completeness of God's love, which is willing to go to great lengths to establish a relationship with us. Jesus' incarnation, life, and sacrifice reveal a God who is not detached but intimately involved with His creation, understanding our struggles and offering us His love and salvation.
Key Takeaways:
- Embracing Jesus means more than acknowledging Him; it involves a deep, personal relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit, allowing us to experience the fullness of divine love. [02:13]
- God's love, described as "hesed," is not based on our merit but is a steadfast, loyal devotion that seeks our good, regardless of our worthiness. [12:34]
- Jesus' mission was to save the poor, captive, blind, and oppressed, illustrating that all humanity is in need of His salvation and love. [17:46]
- As our mediator, Jesus turns away the wrath we deserve, offering us eternal life and a restored relationship with God through His sacrifice. [19:52]
- Jesus' prayer in John 17 highlights His role as the sole way to eternal life and His desire to restore the perfect relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit. [25:06]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[02:13] - Embracing Jesus
[03:23] - Understanding Love
[05:30] - Creation and the Trinity
[07:06] - Eternal Relationship
[09:13] - God's Love for Humanity
[10:46] - Jesus' Sacrifice
[12:34] - The Depth of Hesed
[14:34] - Who Jesus Came to Save
[17:46] - Our Need for Salvation
[19:52] - Jesus as Mediator
[21:03] - Propitiation Explained
[22:33] - Jesus' Teachings on Eternal Life
[25:06] - Jesus' Prayer for Glorification
[28:50] - God's Relational Love
[30:12] - Embracing Jesus' Love
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. John 3:16-17
2. Genesis 1:26
3. John 17:1-5
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Observation Questions:
1. In Genesis 1:26, what does the use of "us" and "our" suggest about the nature of God? How does this relate to the concept of the Trinity mentioned in the sermon? [05:30]
2. According to John 3:16-17, what was the purpose of God sending His Son into the world? How does this passage encapsulate the message of love discussed in the sermon? [10:46]
3. In John 17:1-5, what does Jesus pray for regarding His relationship with the Father? How does this prayer highlight His role in providing eternal life? [25:06]
4. How does the sermon describe the concept of "hesed" love, and what are its key characteristics? [12:34]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon explain the significance of Jesus being present at the creation of humanity? What does this reveal about His eternal relationship with the Father and the Spirit? [07:06]
2. What does the sermon suggest about the depth of God's love for humanity, as demonstrated by Jesus leaving heaven? How does this challenge common societal definitions of love? [11:34]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of Jesus as a mediator and propitiation for our sins? What does this mean for our relationship with God? [19:52]
4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that all of humanity is represented by the poor, captive, blind, and oppressed? How does this understanding impact our view of salvation? [17:46]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your personal relationship with Jesus. How can you move beyond simply acknowledging Him to truly embracing Him in your daily life? [02:13]
2. The sermon describes God's love as "hesed," which is not based on merit. How can you practice this kind of steadfast and loyal love in your relationships with others? [12:34]
3. Consider the groups mentioned in the sermon: the poor, captive, blind, and oppressed. How can you actively participate in sharing Jesus' love and salvation with those who may feel trapped or unseen? [17:46]
4. Jesus serves as our mediator, turning away the wrath we deserve. How does this understanding of His sacrifice influence your gratitude and worship? [19:52]
5. In John 17, Jesus prays for His glorification and our eternal life. How can you live in a way that reflects the eternal relationship with God that Jesus desires for you? [25:06]
6. The sermon emphasizes that Jesus understands our struggles because He lived among us. How does this knowledge affect the way you approach prayer and your relationship with God? [29:34]
7. Reflect on the idea that God's love is relational and not detached. How can you cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with God in your spiritual practices? [32:10]
Devotional
Understood. I will now create the 5-day devotional based on the instructions provided.
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Day 1: Embracing a Personal Relationship with the Trinity
Embracing Jesus involves more than mere acknowledgment; it requires cultivating a deep, personal relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit. This relationship is not just about understanding doctrines or attending church services but about experiencing the fullness of divine love in everyday life. By holding Jesus close, believers are invited into an intimate connection with God, where they can experience His presence, guidance, and love in a transformative way. This embrace is a daily commitment to walk with God, allowing His love to shape and define every aspect of life. [02:13]
John 14:23-24 (ESV): "Jesus answered him, 'If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.'"
Reflection: In what ways can you deepen your personal relationship with each person of the Trinity today? Consider setting aside specific time to engage with the Father, Son, and Spirit in prayer and reflection.
Day 2: Understanding God's Unconditional Love
God's love, described as "hesed," is a steadfast, loyal devotion that is not based on human merit. This love seeks the good of humanity, regardless of worthiness, and is characterized by loyalty, mercy, and everlasting devotion. In a world where love is often conditional and transactional, God's love stands as a profound contrast. It is a love that pursues, forgives, and restores, inviting believers to rest in the assurance that they are cherished by God, not because of what they do, but because of who He is. [12:34]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt unworthy of love. How does understanding God's "hesed" love change your perspective on your own worthiness and how you love others?
Day 3: Jesus' Mission to Save All Humanity
Jesus' mission was to save the poor, captive, blind, and oppressed, illustrating that all humanity is in need of His salvation and love. This mission reflects God's heart for the marginalized and broken, emphasizing that no one is beyond the reach of His grace. Jesus' life and ministry were marked by compassion and a relentless pursuit of those who were lost, offering hope and redemption to all who would receive it. This mission continues today, as believers are called to embody Jesus' love and extend His invitation of salvation to a hurting world. [17:46]
Isaiah 61:1-2 (ESV): "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn."
Reflection: Who in your life is in need of Jesus' love and salvation? How can you be a vessel of His compassion and hope to them today?
Day 4: Jesus as Our Mediator
As our mediator, Jesus turns away the wrath we deserve, offering us eternal life and a restored relationship with God through His sacrifice. This role of mediator is central to understanding the depth of Jesus' love and the significance of His sacrifice. By standing in the gap between humanity and God, Jesus provides a way for reconciliation and peace, inviting believers to live in the freedom and joy of a restored relationship with their Creator. This mediation is a gift of grace, reminding believers of the profound cost of their salvation and the boundless love of their Savior. [19:52]
1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV): "For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."
Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as your mediator change the way you approach God in prayer and worship? Consider expressing gratitude for His sacrifice and mediation today.
Day 5: The Completeness of God's Love
Jesus' prayer in John 17 highlights His role as the sole way to eternal life and His desire to restore the perfect relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit. This prayer reveals the completeness of God's love, which is willing to go to great lengths to establish a relationship with humanity. Jesus' incarnation, life, and sacrifice demonstrate a God who is not detached but intimately involved with His creation, understanding human struggles and offering His love and salvation. This love invites believers to trust in God's plan and to rest in the assurance of His eternal promises. [25:06]
John 17:20-23 (ESV): "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me."
Reflection: In what ways can you reflect the completeness of God's love in your relationships with others? Consider how you can demonstrate unity and love in your community today.
Quotes
It is only through a close personal relationship with Jesus that we can begin to understand and accept some of the benefits we receive from our relationship with him. And one of these benefits is love. Now, how do most people define love? I'll give you the Webster definition. Love is an intense feeling of deep affection for another person. [00:03:23] (30 seconds)
It's important to start at this point so you understand that Jesus is present at the very beginning, but more importantly, was to see that Jesus was with God prior to man. Creation. Maybe we don't think in those terms, right? When we enter into Genesis 1, it's the creation account. But there's something happening before that. [00:06:43] (28 seconds)
This is the relationship that exists between Father, Son, and the Spirit. And yet, God chose to create man to be in a relationship with Him. Now think about that. God of the universe has a perfect relationship already. He says, I'm going to create man because He wants His creation to be able to experience that perfect kind of love. [00:08:50] (35 seconds)
For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world but that the world might be saved through him. See, this is a message of love, ladies and gentlemen. [00:10:24] (26 seconds)
When we're talking about the love of God being expressed to his creation, and there's words like loyalty and favor and everlasting that are used to describe that kind of love, it speaks to the depth, and it speaks to the depth of the love of God. It speaks to the depth of the love that God has for us. [00:12:34] (23 seconds)
Who God loves is the poor, the captive, the blind, and the oppressed. But who are the poor? The poor are those that are unable to support themselves. It doesn't matter why these individuals cannot support themselves, whether it be finances, age, or some tragic circumstances. That's not the point. [00:15:11] (28 seconds)
And he himself is the propitiation for our sins. And not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world. Jesus is our mediator only because he is the propitiation for our sins. That's a big word. Propitiation. Let me make it simple for you. It simply means that Jesus is able to assuage, redirect the wrath of God. [00:19:59] (39 seconds)
In my Father's house, there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, I would have told you, for I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself. that where I am there you may also be and you know the way where I'm going. [00:22:37] (24 seconds)
Jesus, the eternal son of God, left the perfection of his sanctuary with the father to come down here and dwell with us. He came in the form of a baby in a manger. He did this so he could. Know firsthand what we deal with on a daily basis. He came to understand hunger. He came to understand pain. He came to understand loss. Frustration. Grief. [00:29:04] (50 seconds)
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