As I Have Loved YouSample

Question: How Did Jesus Love Us?

Answer: By Speaking the Truth In Love.

Whoever Jesus spoke to, whether it be a Roman governor or prostitute, He spoke the truth and then let them decide if they accepted it. He basically told people who He was, and the benefits of following Him.

John 6:35 “Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 10:9 “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.“

John 10:14-15 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 11:25-26 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 14:6 “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Besides preaching the benefits, He also preached the consequences.

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”

We need to follow His lead…tell people who He is, the benefits of discipleship, and the consequences…and then let the Spirit work. But our delivery is key. When speaking the truth in love, don’t forget the love part. The two go together. We want people to listen to us as we share the truth. Someone said, ‘People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.’

Do people know how much you care, or are you just a clanging cymbal?