Sunday, September 10, 2006
John
By Ramone - August 29, 2006
I wondered how the other disciples felt when they saw John lean over on Jesus' breast. Think about how presumptuous that would look -- "He's just sucking up!" "Teacher's pet!" I think there's a big lesson to learn from that.
Actually, when John did this, Jesus wasn't smiling. He had just told them that He was going to be betrayed. John leaned close to Jesus--intimately close--to ask Him who. The breast is over the heart. Could John hear Jesus' heart beat?
John was asking what was on His heart. He wanted to hear Jesus' heart, and he leaned close--perhaps knowing how pretentious it looked. Or maybe he didn't know. Maybe all he cared about was Jesus, about hearing his beloved Savior's heart.
John always identified himself as the "one the Lord loves." He had a whole new identity from the Lord, made by His love, defined by His love, and secure in His love for him. Maybe he just didn't see everyone else. Maybe he just saw Jesus, and saw that Jesus' heart was troubled.
Sometimes I think Jesus is just longing for us to lean on His breast and hear His heart, like John. To stop what we're doing, stop guessing what He might be thinking (and arguing about it) and just lay our heads on His breast to hear His heart.
Yes, Jesus, I'll draw near to You, draw near to me. Let me hear what's on Your heart. Help us be still and listen to You, and share what's on Your heart, Lord. Thank You for calling us Your beloved. In Your name, Jesus, amen.
# posted by Ramone @ 8:54 PM 
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I looked up John's name and learned that it's derived from the Hebrew name "Johanan" which means "Yahweh has been gracious."
Wow! Awesome name! The Lord has been gracious! He has given us grace! (Suddenly I understand why God was so insistent that the one who prepared the way for the Savior be named "John"!)
But you know, the disciple John knew his name and he knew the truth of it--that God has been gracious. But from there, Jesus took John beyond the "truth" of his name to the point when John could only call himself "the one the Lord loves."
Lord, help me receive Your graciousness, Your grace, and let it be the launching point for becoming totally absorbed by Your love, Your love for me, and to the point when I can only define You as "God is love." Thank You, Lord. Amen.
Wow! Awesome name! The Lord has been gracious! He has given us grace! (Suddenly I understand why God was so insistent that the one who prepared the way for the Savior be named "John"!)
But you know, the disciple John knew his name and he knew the truth of it--that God has been gracious. But from there, Jesus took John beyond the "truth" of his name to the point when John could only call himself "the one the Lord loves."
Lord, help me receive Your graciousness, Your grace, and let it be the launching point for becoming totally absorbed by Your love, Your love for me, and to the point when I can only define You as "God is love." Thank You, Lord. Amen.
Actually, I forgot to mention that this part of a series of pictures in June 2006, when I was kind of blown away by God's heart for us and how He longs for us to seek His heart.
Reaching for God's Heart
Sandwiched!
John
Luke 22:15
Reaching for God's Heart
Sandwiched!
John
Luke 22:15
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