Finding Jesus in 1 Corinthians 13

[wolfman1223]

                                                                    Jesus is Love

                “Jesus suffers long and is kind; Jesus does not envy; Jesus does not parade Himself, is not [puffed up;  does not behave rudely, does not seek His own, is not provoked, [thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
 Jesus never fails  I Corinthians 13:4-7


               I have long heard that God is love. We used to sing a song when I was a kid from I John 4:7-8 that taught us this. I was then taught years later these verses in a Christian school i went to. You can replace the word “LOVE” with “JESUS” and it only strengthens each statement. Jesus is our greatest example of love in human history. The Greek word used here is “agape”, ἀγάπη  meaning a self-sacrificing love totally given over to object of that love. We can find examples of this in the Gospels, showing how Christ led by this example. We will take each statement and find these examples.


“Jesus suffers long and is kind”


               This one is easy. Some versions will say, "Love is patient. Love is kind." But longsuffering is more than just patience. Longsuffering is waiting for a bus. In the pouring rain. Without an umbrella. Going to visit a sick friend. Jesus said on the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.” Have you ever known anyone who was terminally ill? Or someone who had a disabling medical condition? Or just dealing with a very difficult trial? Everyone goes through hard times. It’s part of the human condition. How we deal with suffering tends to reflect our true character. Suffering will usually make us bitter... or better. With Christ in our hearts and the Holy Spirit guiding us, we can develop an eternal perspective that gives us hope of a better life in heaven, unfettered by this world and all of its sin. When we are kind in our suffering and treat others with the grace and mercy we have received from Christ, it reflects Him to a lost and dying world, which greatly needs the same grace and mercy. Only through Christ can we receive God's grace and mercy to spend eternity in heaven. Through His sacrifice and long suffering we can have that relationship that fulfills every need.