A Rabbi was walking home from the Temple and saw one of his good friends, a pious and learned man who could usually beat the rabbi in religious arguments. The rabbi started walking faster so that he could catch up to his friend, when he was horrified to see his friend go into a non-kosher Chinese restaurant. Standing at the door, he observed his friend talking to a waiter and gesturing at a menu. A short time later, the waiter reappeared carrying a platter full of spare ribs, shrimp in lobster sauce, crab, and other stuff that the Rabbi could not bear to think about.
As his friend picked up the chopsticks and began to eat this food, the Rabbi burst into the restaurant and reproached his friend, for he could take it no longer. “Morris, what is this you are doing? I saw you come into this restaurant, order this filth and now you are eating it in violation of everything we are taught about the dietary laws and with an apparent enjoyment that does not befit your pious reputation!”
Morris replied, “Rabbi, did you see me enter this restaurant?”
The Rabbi nods yes.
“Did you see me order this meal?”
Again he nods yes.
“Did you see the waiter bring me this food?”
Again he nods yes.
“And did you see me eat it?”
The Rabbi nods yes.
“Then, Rabbi, I don’t see the problem here. The entire meal was done under rabbinical supervision.”
Legalism sure can put people in bondage. This is why Jesus focused on love. Because love sets us free. And in Christ He sets us free. I no longer go to church out or a sense of duty but I go to church because I love Jesus. I don’t stay faithful to my wife and family because I have to but I do because I love them through the love Christ has for me.
The “Holy Week” is no longer just another feast and tradition for me but the week reminds me of the great love Jesus has for me. Going to the Cross, bearing my sins so that in Him I may have forgiveness and new life. Simple yet complex, hard to believe yet by faith is believable; experiential and subjective yet historically proven and fact-based. This is why you and I need to have faith like that of a little child that we may merit heaven.
One day in a church in Atlanta, one of its senior pastors was being honored. This faithful pastor has retired many years…… He was 92 at that time and was asked by the church to preach.
After a warm welcome and introduction of this speaker, as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind, he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak……
“When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me…
“Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong, We are weak but He is strong…..
Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me.
Yes, Jesus loves me. The Bible tells me so.”
When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his footsteps as he shuffled back to his chair. What an unforgettable moment.
When all is said and done, all our theology can be boiled down to Jesus loving us so much that He died for us. Oh, the simplicity of it all!
Listen to the words of the song. I won’t sing it. I won’t scare you away but you think about it and perhaps put this song in your heart.
JESUS LOVES ME
Jesus loves me, this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow.
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME…
YES, JESUS LOVES ME,
THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
Though my steps are oh, so slow
With my hand in His I’ll go
On through life, let come what may,
He’ll be there to lead the way.
Though I am no longer young,
I have much which He’s begun.
Let me serve Christ with a smile,
Go with others the extra mile
When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song.
Telling me in words so clear,
“Have no fear, for I am near.”
When my work on earth is done,
The curtain closed, the race been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I’ll understand His love
YES, JESUS LOVES ME..
YES, JESUS LOVES ME…
YES, JESUS LOVES ME,
THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.
And may you have a Glorious Resurrection Sunday celebration!
Yes, Francis, I agree with you . . . He who gave himself up for us in unconditional love is the only reason and meaning for living and living life to the full . . . love is the measure of our existence . . .
Greetings from Wordwise Hymns. Thanks for the interesting post. “Jesus Loves Me” is one of those profoundly simple songs that presents a great foundational truth. I posted an article on it myself, this morning. God bless.