Do you know that God loves you? This seems like an almost silly question at first, but honestly, if you were to take a sampling of responses – even from among believers – you would likely get just as many unique answers.
Even if you can not answer that question with any degree of certainty right at this moment, by the end of this message if you are honestly seeking the truth of God, you will find your answer today as we study and examine the heart of God.
It is best said that Jesus is the Heart of God exposed and open for all to see. I like this definition of Jesus very much. The very existence of Jesus on earth demonstrates God’s love for us very clearly. Furthermore, Jesus stated plainly in Hebrews 16:27 that God the Father Himself loves us. Another well known verse where this is made known is in John 3:16, let’s read it now:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Such a simple verse, with such a powerful statement. This verse encapsulates salvation and the heart of God so clearly, let us study it a bit.
First, God, what is this verse saying about Him? That He has loved the world. Not just with a passive love from a distance, but an active love which interacts and intervenes on our behalf. So much so that when we as humans were in need of saving, He went ahead and accomplished salvation, by sending His only Son. This is a hard decision, one that no loving parent would easily make but it shows that His level of love for us is not low, but in-fact it is quite high indeed
Secondly, Jesus, the Savior, the sent one. He could’ve easily simply said “No.” before sacrificing Himself for us. He had the opportunity in the Garden of Gethsemane. Let’s quickly read the account from Luke 22:41-42:
“And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Saying, Father, if you be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but your, be done.”
My friends, had Jesus said “Father, I want to come home”, it would’ve been granted to Him and He would’ve ascended to Heaven right then and there – and we would’ve been doomed to hell with no hope. Jesus was not a mindless robot, He had a choice of whether to proceed or not, and I for one am forever grateful that He chose to proceed on for my sake. He drank the cu of God’s wrath and judgment, so that we could drink the cup of God’s mercy and grace forevermore.
Now why did Jesus choose to proceed on with such torment and death if He could’ve simply chosen not to? Go back to John 3:16 again and see the answer; For God so loved the world. This is the heart of God for you and for me. That in that moment when H had to make a choice, He saw you and me, and then committed Himself fully to complete the task set before Him. The same heart that caused Him to cry out as He was hanging there in agony on the cross “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The same love that when everyone else was avoiding the leper, Jess reached out and touched the leper, bring healing to the man. This is our Savior, and this is our God.
You can not touch Jesus without touching love, and you can not touch love without touching Jesus.
He embodies love, and the two can not be separated. It is His love for us which caused Him to come down to earth; the richest, most powerful being in all the Universe, chose to come down as a baby, stripped of all His wealth and high honor.
In addition, when He came down He could’ve just died right away and had t over with as soon as possible, but He lived with us, walked with us, talked with us, ate with us and fellowshipped with u in every way. Doing good and healing all who came to Him.
There is one final scripture I would like us all to read in closing. Acts 10:37-43:
“That word, I say, you know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached;
How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.
And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they killed and hanged on a tree:
Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly;
Not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
And he commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.
To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whoever believes in him will receive remission of sins.”
The heart of God is this: that we who failed on our own and would be utterly doomed, have instead been given a Savior, who was sent to suffer in our place so that we would once again be reconciled to God. He loves us that much, that He not only has made it possible for us to be saved, but has also made it simple. Believe on Jesus Christ, receive His payment for your sins, and rest in is finished work for you.
This is the love of God, His heart exposed, His salvation for you.