He Loved Me Anyway! (Luke 22:54-62)

As a parent I have come to understand the words of my mother from years ago. She would say things like, "This is going to hurt me more than it is you" right before she was going to whip me for doing something bad or wrong! How about this one, "One day you will have kids of your own and you will understand what I am saying!" Those words ring throughout my mind today as I parent my children. I even find myself passing on those words of wisdom to them today. The one thing that I reflect on today is the fact that my mother knew what I was going to do or knew what I was thinking before I could even get the words out of my mouth. I use to think she was a mind reader so I would not look her in the eyes thinking this would some how break the ability for her to know what I was thinking. DIDN'T WORK! What I have come to understand today, as a parent, is that she knew because she LOVED ME!
In this passage of scripture we read that Peter, who loved Jesus as only what He could understand love to be, was told that he would deny Jesus three times in less than a 24 hour period. Peter was offended, at first, but yet, afterwards was ashamed when this all came true. Can you imagine how Peter felt when Jesus acknowledged to Peter "I TOLD YOU SO" by just looking at him? I have seen that look before in my Mom! I believe all of use have seen that look from our parents before. I have been on the receiving end of it as well as the other end.
As a follower of Christ, Peter was not out to hurt Jesus, nor was he out to disappoint Him. But He did! Later on we read, in the scriptures, that Jesus and Peter restore their relationship and Peter goes on to become a powerful disciple for Jesus. But the one thing that rings true is that even though Jesus knew what Peter was going to do, He loved Him anyway. As parents we know that our children are going to make mistakes, but we love them anyway. We know that they are going to say things that are hurtful to us, but we love them anyway. This is the LOVE OF A PARENT!
I remember telling my mom that I was going to move to Nashville Tennessee with a friend of mine. I don't remember to many details about that event except my mom's face when I got into that car and pulled out onto the highway. It was a look of LOVE! Tears in her eyes, not wanting me to go, knowing this was a mistake, and telling me that if I wanted or needed to come back home she would come and get me. As a parent she was hurt and scared for me but she loved me anyway!
In this world we have all experience love in some form or another. A love of a parent, a love of a spouse, a love of a sibling, a love of a pet, a love of a friend, a love of a church, or a love of a child! We have even expressed a love to all of the above as well. Now imagine this, take all of that love and put it all in a pile. All of this cannot measure up to the love that Jesus has for us! That blows my mind (small explosion but anyway)! I am not sure if I am just getting more sentimental as I get older or what but I have never felt the love of God like I have in these last few months. I get teary eyed every time I think of the Love he has for me. It is a love that is incomprehensible but yet attainable. It is a love that is untouchable but yet embraceable.
There is a song "How You Love Me" on Christian radio today that talks about this love of God. It talks about how, we as His children have, and will, let God down (intentional or unintentional) but HE LOVES US ANYWAY. This is not an eternal security love but a unconditional love. A love that says, "He loved me Anyway!" From a human perspective this is so hard to imagine but yet it is just how our Jesus is ..... A LOVING GOD!
As a believer in Christ, we are to grow in this relationship with him. Hopefully, we mature and come to a deeper understand of Christ. But, if there is nothing else we get out of this relationship with God let the one thing we do get be the understanding and acceptance of HIS LOVE. Even though we are or were the thorns in his crown, the sweat on his brow, the nails in his wrist, Judas kiss, or the man crying out from the crowd for Him to be crucified, HE LOVED US ANYWAY! I cannot comprehend all of this but I am so thankful that He loved me anyway. I hope you come to accept and receive this love that God has for you. It is the likes of something you have never experienced before. What ever you have done in the past, HE LOVES YOU ANYWAY!

Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod