[This reflection was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 07/Mar/2021]
The short answer to the above question is yes, Jesus loved everyone, but the gospels suggest he didn’t like them very much. In Matthew chapter 23 he keeps saying “Woe to you scribes and Pharisees” and calls them hypocrites, snakes and blind guides. He repeatedly warned his disciples against them and several of his parables were aimed at them, exposing their hypocrisy.
In the past I worried that Jesus didn’t like me because I have a lot in common with the Pharisees. Having been brought up in a Christian home, I have always been to church, prayed and read my Bible and had high moral standards. As well as sharing the virtues of the Pharisees, I have all too often shared their critical and judgemental attitudes, their pride and jealousy. Knowing how much Jesus hates these attitudes, it has been hard to accept that he can love me, yet I know Jesus also hated greed and dishonesty, but still loved Zacchaeus.
Paul was a Pharisee, but he experienced the love of God in a very powerful way. I love that verse in Acts 26 when Paul describes what happened to him on the way to Damascus:
We all fell to the ground and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” [Acts 26 v14 NIVUK]
Jesus wasn’t just concerned about the harm Saul/Paul was doing to the church. He saw the harm Saul was doing to himself and wanted to rescue him. It is like when our children do things which we know will harm them. We still love them as much as ever, but we grieve to see the damage they are doing to themselves and others. Having children has also helped me to see that the warnings Jesus gave to the Pharisees were like the warnings we give our children about what might happen if they run into the road or go off with a stranger, not because we enjoy frightening them, but because we love them and don’t want them to come to harm.
It is good to know that whether we are struggling with fleshly sins like immorality or gluttony, or spiritual sins like pride and criticism, Jesus loves us equally and welcomes us with open arms when we turn to him in repentance.
Jesus said “I will never turn away anyone who comes to me” [John 6 v 37 GNT]
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Contributed by Helen Ruffhead; © the Author
