I believe that Jesus love us (His disciples/followers) with a special kind of love that is different from the love He has for all mankind. Yes, God would that all men be saved, and He loves all mankind, however, in reading Scripture, and thinking on the words of Christ, I believe that Jesus loves us with a special kind of love.
Matthew 12:46) While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 .) Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 .) But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 .) And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 .) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Jesus explicitly states that believers are His brother, and sister and mother. Not all of the world.
John 15:10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 .) 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.
15 .) Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 .) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 .) These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Again, Jesus clearly separates those who love/believe in Him from the world......
The most compelling statement from Jesus comes when He was in the garden prior to His being crucified.
John 17:9) I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 .) And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 .) And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 .) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 .) And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 .) I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 .) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 .) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 .) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 .) As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 .) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 .) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Peter also appeared to have a similar belief as mine given what he wrote in his first Epistle.
1 Peter 2:9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10 .) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
I just want folks to know that they are loved by God and loved by Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and that love is a special kind of love reserved just for them.
God bless.........
Matthew 12:46) While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 .) Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 .) But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 .) And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 .) For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Jesus explicitly states that believers are His brother, and sister and mother. Not all of the world.
John 15:10) If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
11 .) 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.
15 .) Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
16 .) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17 .) These things I command you, that ye love one another.
Again, Jesus clearly separates those who love/believe in Him from the world......
The most compelling statement from Jesus comes when He was in the garden prior to His being crucified.
John 17:9) I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.
10 .) And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.
11 .) And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
12 .) While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
13 .) And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves.
14 .) I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
15 .) I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.
16 .) They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.
17 .) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
18 .) As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.
19 .) And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.
20 .) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
Peter also appeared to have a similar belief as mine given what he wrote in his first Epistle.
1 Peter 2:9) But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
10 .) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.
I just want folks to know that they are loved by God and loved by Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and that love is a special kind of love reserved just for them.
God bless.........
