After asking his disciples who do the people say that I am, Jesus gets much more personal by asking them, “but you, who do you say that I am?” If Jesus were to ask you that question, how would you respond? I could answer that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, because by dying on the cross, He saved us all from eternal damnation and made it possible for all to be with Him in heaven. Is that not the most important goal in our life ? To be with Him in heaven? Living here on earth is only temporary. A few of us are here a little over 100 years, most of us not so long. And then what? Heaven is for eternity. What could possibly be more important?

I could have answered, Jesus is my Teacher, my Master. When Jesus was on earth He taught us what we have to do, to be with Him in heaven. This is written down in the New Testament of the Bible. It’s all there, but you have to read it. It is not hard to understand. Jesus narrowed it down to two commandments. The first is, thou shall love the Lord thy God with your whole heart, your whole soul, your whole mind and your whole strength. The second is, thou shall love thy neighbor as thyself.

I could have answered Jesus is my brother. Some years ago I went to a Cursillo retreat which had a profound impression on how I relate to Jesus. In a few days all of us in the Cursillo were calling Jesus, Brother Christ. It fit perfectly, since I lost what would have been my older brother when he died at birth. Jesus is a brother who loves me like no other brother possibly could. He loves you and every person on earth the same way. He loves even when He is ignored. If I sometimes am upset at Him, He still loves me.

Years ago, when I was in my early 20’s and driving too fast on a very icy road, I was forced to steer my car off the road into a snow bank. The only way out of the car was to open the back window and crawl out. Not too many houses around, far from home, and nobody stopping to help. No cell phones in those days, I was pretty discouraged. Then a man with a 4 wheel drive pickup truck stopped and offered to help. He was able to pull my car out and when I offered to pay him he refused. “Tell you what,” he said. “someday when you see someone in need, stop and help.” “That will be my payment.” Pass it on.

Jesus is saying the same thing to us. See how much I love you. See how I forgive you when you do something wrong. See how I help you when you are in trouble. See how I soothe you when you are sad and upset. I even died on the Cross for you. Pass it on, He says. Be a loving, forgiving, and caring person. Then will I see to it that you are with Me in heaven. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. Luke 9:24

Lloyd Lapierre