McKeighen May 2024

“…the disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:20).

I have been reading the Gospel of John again recently and began to think about this phrase John used to describe himself, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Although the name of the author of this Gospel is not mentioned, it is traditionally believed that it was the Apostle John. I ask myself, “why did John have this to say about himself?” I have assumed that this was a sign of humility not wanting to say “I” or “I, John,” drawing attention to himself in a story about our Savior. And I suppose that is true. Instead, he drew attention to the “One who loved.” Perhaps this fact was the most significant thing John wanted us to know about his life. Jesus loved me! I was there and Jesus loved me!

I think that would be a wonderful epitaph. Leastwise that is what matters most in our lives, that Jesus loves us. So often we fail to recognize the significance of that fact. We teach our little ones to sing it. We quote John 3:16 over and again, “For God so loved the world…” But we often forget “JESUS loves me!” “Jesus LOVES me!” “Jesus loves ME!”

So today I remind you, HE loves YOU! And that, dear friends, makes all the difference in the world. That is reason to reach out to the world around us and proclaim to others, “God loves you!” Undeserving, unholy, unqualified, and all the other “uns,” but God loved us so much that He sent a Savior to deliver us from sin and death and offer us eternal life through repentance, forgiveness, and faith. We can live for Him in this fallen world because HE lives.

Building our world

We’ve been painting

Surrounded by books, Patience organizes the library

We love books

As I look around at the many lives here being impacted by this “good news,” I am encouraged and challenged. Encouraged to know that God is working in the lives of these, “my people,” from the three-year-olds so blessed to be where they are taught daily about the love of God, to the teens who have been grounded in the Word since they were three, and to the national staff who gather daily to study the Bible and learn how to apply it to their lives. (We all do it together, study, apply.) Iron sharpening iron. And there too, I am challenged.

Please continue to pray with me as the next group of young adults hits the world scene and faces the challenges ahead and as the next thirty-six three-year-olds hit the Rafiki scene a little scared, a little excited, and having no idea what God has in store for them. May they all walk out of our gate knowing that Jesus loves them!

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