Easter – I am John. . . He called me ‘Beloved’. . .
Written by Marsha Steed ---<-{© 3/2001
I am John. You may have heard me called “The Beloved.” I was His disciple, but more precious, I was His friend. If I may, I would like to share with you my experiences. I walked with my Lord, and I was privy to some of His most tender thoughts and deepest emotions. He loved His people, and I loved Him. Even His name brought to me a feeling of awe and wonder. Jesus.
One day when we were gathered together, He put His hand upon my shoulder and said,
John 15:11-14 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down His life for His friends.
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
How could anyone not do what He asked after that? I went to all my friends and family to tell them about Jesus and what He had to say, how He made me feel. . .
Jesus’ Name of Wondrous Love ~ Choir – Choirbook. Walsham How pp 24.
Jesus Name of wondrous love! Name all other names above! Unto which must every knee bow in deep humility. Jesus Name of Love! Name all other names above! Unto which must every knee bow in deep humility. Jesus! Name decreed of old, To the maiden mother told. Kneeling in her lowly cell, by thee angel Gabriel. Jesus! Name of priceless worth to the fallen sons of earth. For the promise that it gave, Jesus shall His people save. Jesus! Name of Love!
It was late in the spring, Passover time. We had taught for three years, yet our success wasn’t always evident. I was worrying that perhaps I had not done enough, that I could love Him more, serve more fully. He smiled and when He broke bread and spoke. He softly explained that it was not His calling to remain with us, but that He had come. . . to go.
My heart broke. How could we continue without Him. I didn’t understand. I lay my head on His shoulder and wept. We walked with Him to the garden, and there He asked us to wait. I watched Him go, quiet tears filled my eyes. I didn’t know it then, but within the hour, He would be taken from us.
In the place where he bore all things for us, He was betrayed. I was stunned as Judas and the soldiers led him away.
John 19: 17-18 And He bearing His cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:
18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.
Our Savior’s Atonement ~ Ruth D. Ellis - The Friend April 1997
The Lord and Savior died for me on the cross at Calvary and suffered for me willingly in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus paid for every wrong; That’s why He was sent. He suffered pain the whole night long so we could all repent. My Savior sacrificed I know He paid the price and I know He did it willing for me in the lonely night of Gethsemane; I think of His atonement I think about His pain. Because my Savior died for me I know I’ll live again.
They took Him to the place of the skull. It was terrifying. My palms sweated and my heart physically ached with the agony of loss. Yet there were others. Women and children weeping softly. Even a few men who He had touched watched with equal horror. Then I saw her, His mother. Even from His place on that cruel punishing tree, He looked with compassion and implored me;
9.John 19: 26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple standing by, whom He loved, He saith unto His mother, Woman, behold thy son!
His compassion was truly amazing. I was humbled even in my agony of spirit. I lifted my eyes and He looked upon me. Within His eyes I could see the truth. He truly would live again. He was doing this for me, for her, for all of us. . . simply because He loved us. My own tears fell then. . .
There Is a Green Hill Far Away, ~ 194 - Cecil Frances Alexander
1. There is a green hill far away, Without a city wall, Where the dear Lord was crucified, Who died to save us all.
2. We may not know, we cannot tell, What pains He had to bear, But we believe it was for us He hung and suffered there.
3. There was no other good enough To pay the price of sin. He only could unlock the gate Of heav'n and let us in.
4. Oh, dearly, dearly has He loved! And we must love Him too, And trust in His redeeming blood, And try His works to do.
John 19:16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.
His words had filled me with hope. If I could just have faith. I will be able to see Him once more. Touch His hands and wash His feet.
I took His sobbing mother back, and cared for her as, as He had told me, as if she was my own. I felt it. His great love had poured out as freely as His blood, and I was renewed by it. Though I could hardly fathom His sacrifice, or carry the burden of losing His companionship, I felt a comfort with me as I did as He had asked. In my heart I knew He would live again, He had said so, and because He lived, we all would one day sit at His feet and be called, ‘Beloved’.
I Stand all Amazed – LDS Hymnal pp.
'I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me, confused at the grace that so fully He proffers me. I tremble to know that for me He was crucified, that for me a sinner, He suffered, He bled and died! Oh it is wonderful, that He should care for me, enough to die for me, Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me.
I think of His hand pierced and bleeding to pay the debt. Such mercy such love and devotion can I forget? No, no I will praise and adore at the mercy seat, until at the glorified throne I kneel at His feet.
I marvel that He should descend from His throne divine. To rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine. That He should extol His great love unto such as I, sufficient to own, to redeem and to justify. Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me... Oh it is wonderful, wonderful to me!"