the beloved child whom Jesus loves

last sunday, pastor shared a powerful message, on practising God's personal love for you. :)
for those who weren't there, and for those who were, just want to share some of the nuggets that pastor mentioned. =)

Fruits of practising His love for you:
1) Divine intimacy (John 13:23-26 )

23 Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24 Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask who it was of whom He spoke. 25
Then, leaning back on Jesus’ breast, he said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

John, who was depending on the Lord's love for him, was the only one who got to know who was going to betray Jesus. whereas Peter, who boasted of his love for the Lord, had to ask John to ask Jesus who it was. This speaks of divine intimacy with Jesus!

2) Spiritual employment (John 19: 26-27)

26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved
standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to
the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to
his own home.

Peter, who boasted of his love for the Lord, ended up denying Jesus thrice. yet, John was of spiritual employment to Jesus when He was at His darkest times, at the foot of the cross.

3) Spiritual progress (John 20:2-3)

2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”
3 Peter therefore went out, and the other disciple, and were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

i never saw this before, but the Bible is really amazing, right up to the very detail.

4) Quick perception (John 21:4-7)

4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

5) (John 21:15-22)

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (agape) Me more than these?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You.”
He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”
16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (agape) Me?”
He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (phileo) You.”
He said to him, “Tend My sheep.”
17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (phileo) Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”
And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love (phileo) You.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

right in the same setting, where there was a fire of coals, Peter, who had denied Jesus three times, was restored by Jesus.
and there are two words for 'love' used in the context. agape (unconditional love) and phileo (to have affection for; to like). beloved, Jesus loves you so much, He comes down to your level of love for Him!

19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.” 20 Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” 21 Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, “But Lord, what about this man?”
22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”

beloved, personalise His love for you. John was found following Him without having Jesus tell him to; nevermind the circumstances (especially when you're so sick and tired of looking at them); it's really the one thing needful, to feed on His love for you. and that, is the key to the fullness of God (interestingly, something which i had been asking God for this year) - "to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." and guess what happens when you're filled with His love?

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (ephesians 3:18-21)