Jesus is our Savior, our Hope, our Peace, our Joy, our Mediator, Advocate, our Sovereign King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. He is the Heart of our worship, and He is Heart of our Church. He is our Heart of our hearts! Tom Torrence was a Scottish Chaplain during WWII and ministering to a dying soldier who was fatally wounded. In his last breath to the chaplain, he asked him, "Chaplain, is God like Jesus?" Quickly the chaplain replied back as he died in his arms, "YES! son, God is like Jesus!
When we read about the heart of God in the Bible, it is distinguishes how God relates to man. He has a heart full of emotions of love and kindness. The Bible speaks of the God-head, in an 'anthropomorphic' way, such as our LORD has a strong right hand. Jesus speaks of 'God is Spirit' (John 4:24) and is eternal, truth, and unchangeable. However, Jesus has now taken flesh to himself in the incarnation, and He relates to us in the likeness of the Godhead. He has a heart like God. He has eyes, feet, and, hands in the God-head. That’s why the Incarnation is so astonishing.
God was relentless when He showed His heart to Moses, who was the meekest man on earth, next to Jesus. Briefly, the whole Bible tells us to trust the Lord with our whole heart." we praise God with our hearts. We pray with our hearts. Serving God, with our whole heart. Our hearts must be active -- in believing Him; , in giving thanks, and having a repentant heart like David as he confessed his sin before his Creator God. "For God sees NOT as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance. (1 Samuel 16:7)
God's heart was revealed in His Son Jesus, as he spoke about the heart in every word given by Him. "Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God." Love the Lord God with all your heart. . ." And, "For where your treasure is, there is your heart." But he also revealed His own spiritual heart in these words. "Come to me all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me. For I am gentle, and lowly of heart." (Matthew 11:28-30)
Jesus is telling us His heart is full of gentleness and humility. He gives us the invitation to come to Him because His heart is so low, as low as dirt on the ground! He is saying "Come to me me because I am NOT HIGH and Mighty! Like a General with a closed door, Jesus is NOT! His door is open and come to Him! No matter how bad you are with your sins, no matter how weak you are in body, no matter how helpless you feel, YOU can come to me!
Jesus says if we come to Him, He will give us rest and peace and hope and joy and grace to carry on! Let me be your encourager, your teacher, your leader! Your King of everything! Let me be the heart of your worship, your giving, your prayers, your healing your future! Your heart belongs to the Heart of Jesus.
Next, we see the physical heart of Jesus! John 19:34 sadly says it, " But when they came to Jesus, and found him dead, they did not break his legs. Instead one of the soldiers pierced (the heart) Jesus with his spear and there was sudden flow of blood and water." (John 19:33,34). The physical heart beats 103, 689 times a day, but that day Jesus' heart was pierced. When Thomas saw Jesus in the upper room, he put his fingers in the heart of Jesus and he was convinced that Jesus died for him. He said "Lord, I believe!" We believe because of His pierced heart!
Doctors have pointed out the words "Blood and water gushed out " that Jesus died of a broken heart. Catholics have called this event "the sacred heart of Jesus." They show us a picture of Jesus with a large red heart and a tear coming from the heart. Our physical hearts don't have to be pierced, because Jesus is the sacrificial lamb that was once slained for our sins! The piercing of Jesus heart was the shedding of His blood and the water symbolizes our water baptism.
CONCLUSION: WHERE IS YOUR HEART FOR JESUS! Is it broken? He heals the broken heart! Is it burning? Jesus cools it with His comfort! The Bible says "May He (Jesus) strengthen your hearts so that you will be established (blameless) and holy in the presence of God. May we give praise to Jesus with all of our hearts! Amen.
Presented by: Larry L. Vollink, Retired Pastor/Chaplain, (616) 655-4129 lawrenceV@comcast.net
