The Love of Christ

The Love of Christ Reaches the Sick

As Jesus was on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all she had on doctors, but no one could heal her. She came up behind Him and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

"Who touched me?" Jesus asked. The woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed. Then He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace" (Luke 8:42-48).

The love of Christ reaches the sick. Not just the well. Not just the put-together. He reaches the woman who has been suffering for twelve long years, the one everyone else had given up on.

The Love of Christ Reaches the Shamed

They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes. When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but among the tombs. Jesus commanded the spirit to come out of him.

When the people from the town came to see what had happened, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind (Luke 8:26-39).

The love of Christ reaches the shamed. The man everyone was afraid of. The man no one would come near. Jesus went to him. Jesus restored him. Jesus gave him back his right mind and his dignity.

The Love of Christ Reaches the Sinful

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him. A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house. She brought an alabaster jar of perfume. She stood behind Jesus at His feet weeping, and began to wet His feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and poured perfume on them.

Jesus said to her, "Your sins are forgiven. Your faith has saved you. Go in peace" (Luke 7:36-50).

The love of Christ reaches the sinful. Not to condemn, but to forgive. Not to shame, but to restore. He receives the one everyone else rejects.

The Love of Christ Warns

But the love of Christ also warns. He said, "Consider carefully how you listen" (Luke 8:18). "He who has ears to hear, let him hear" (Luke 8:8). The same Jesus who reaches out in love also calls us to pay attention, to listen carefully, to not let His word pass through us without taking root.

Consider Carefully How You Listen

Love does not mean ignoring truth. The most loving thing Jesus did was tell the truth. And the most loving thing we can do is listen to it, receive it, and let it change us.