The One Whom Jesus Loves
This week as we have walked with Abba, we have discussed the invitation from Jesus to see Him rightly. He has reminded us of the power and authority we have in Him but all of what we have read hinges on one thing. How we see ourselves. John the beloved teaches us the importance of laying down our own identity. The identity we have built in our minds or an identity that someone else gave us. When we try to live our lives from this place, we find ourselves fighting for positions Jesus never intended us to have. If you find you easily get offended at others it is a sign you are not seeing yourself right. Let’s look at the example of John.
“Then Jesus was moved deeply in his spirit. Looking at his disciples, he announced, “I tell you the truth—one of you is about to betray me.” Eyeing each other, his disciples puzzled over which one of them could do such a thing. The disciple that Jesus dearly loved was at the right of him at the table and was leaning his head on Jesus. Peter gestured to this disciple to ask Jesus who it was he was referring to. Then the dearly loved disciple leaned into Jesus’ chest and whispered, “Master, who is it?” John 13
This moment is right after Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet and they were all sitting around the table about to eat their last meal together. The disciples did not know this would be their last meal. I bet John had an idea of something happening. He was too close and aware of Jesus not to know something was about to take place. Jesus was moved in His heart with tenderness at the thought of his friends’ betrayal. He tells the disciples one of them will betray Him, and they are all puzzled. They are looking around at each other and even asking Him, “Is it I, Jesus?” But there is one, who is sitting at the right hand of Jesus leaning his head on Him. He’s not part of this eyeing. John dismisses himself from this argument and discussion altogether.
How could he sit there with everyone else and not be a part of the argument? Or feel like he didn’t need to defend himself? I will tell you how. John laid down his identity and the desire for position. He did not care or worry about what people thought or said about him. He walked in the identity Jesus gave him. The One Whom Jesus Loves!
We can see in his position next to Jesus. He’s leaning his head on Jesus. You better believe others can see it too. Peter, the strong, determined one gestures to John the tender one to ask Jesus who it is. You know what John does? He leans even more into Jesus. Closer into His chest; closer to His heart. Jesus gives us the position of beloved, but we decide how we lean into it. Just like with John as you lean into the heart of Jesus and stay at His right hand of honor you will hear His whisper of truth and revelation for your life and those around you.
It is time for us to dismiss ourselves from the fight of proving our value and worth to others. We have been given a new identity. You are beloved, the one whom Jesus loves. You are His favorite. He chooses you every time. Even when you make a mistake, or respond wrong to someone, He loves you and always has the place of honor open to you to sit and lean into His heart.
Yes, it is important to see Jesus rightly, but it is also very important to see yourself as He does.
