Behold the Man.

"He was nothing special to look at. He could walk down the street today and no-one would notice him. But he was gentle a man as one would ever know. He never bullied his way; never drew attention to himself nor did he ever pretend to like what vexed his soul. He was real, to the very core.

And at the core of that being was love. Wow! Did he love! We didn't even know what love was, until we saw it in him. It was everyone, too, even those who hated him. He still cared for them, hoping somehow they would find a way out of their self-inflicted souls to recognize who stood among them. And with all that love, he was completely honest. Yet even when his actions or words exposed people's darkest motives, they didn't feel shamed. They felt safe, really safe with him. His words conveyed not even a hint of judgment, simply an entreaty to come to God. There was no one you would trust more quickly with your deepest secrets. If someone were going to catch you at your worst moment you'd want it to be him.

He wasted no time mocking others, nor their religious trappings. If he had something to say to them, he'd say it and move on and you would know you'd been loved more than anyone had ever loved you before. I'm not talking about mamby-pamby sentimentalism either. He loved, really loved. It didn't matter if you were Pharisee or prostitute, disciple or blind beggar, Jew, Samaritan, or Gentile. His love held itself out for any to embrace. Somehow he seemed to know everything about them, but loved them deeply all the same.

...And when he hung there from the cross, that love still poured down- on mocker and disillusioned friend alike. As he approached the dark chamber of death, wearied of the torture and feeling separated from his Father, he continued to drink from the cup that would finally consume our self-will and shame. There was no finer moment in all of human history. His anguish became the conduit for his life to be shared with us. This was no madman. This was God's Son, poured out to the last breath, to open full and free access for you to his Father.

…It’s so worth it to find out just how much Jesus wants to be your friend without any strings attached. He will care for you and if given a chance will become more real to you than your best friend. You will cherish him more than anything else you desire. He will give you a purpose and a fullness of life that will carry you through every stress and pain and will change you from the inside to show you what true freedom and joy really are."

-Excerpt from the book, So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Anymore?

May we know Him more. I want to be like Jesus. To be like Him, I need to know who He really is (not what the world creates Him to be). God will not demand His own way. He stands willing and ready with love, but it is up to us to go, to answer the call. I pray for an awake, passionate heart that will seek to know Him more.