Beyond the words.

Whenever I see Jesus loving, I discover that in those settings there was always someone with a present need. The culminating moment of His life was before humanity's greatest need, and the cross was the ideal setting for all His words of love to be demonstrated through action.

A love that responds to a need? Of course! If loving doesn't invite us to act, then we are not loving as Jesus does.

En una ocasión, contó una parabola hacerca de esto:

Luke 10:29-36, NVI, But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

Whenever I have read this parable, —probably it has happened to you too; I have believed that Jesus focused the story on the three men, but when I read it this time, I see that what prompted the story was the question: ''Who is my neighbor?'', and Jesus focused all His attention «on a single man who was in need», and changed the question: "Who can I be a neighbor to?"

The Samaritan was the neighbor of the one in need. Jesus doesn't lead us to identify who our neighbor is, but who we can be neighbor to.

Start your days asking "whose neighbor can I be today?" And I am sure that God is going to answer you; It will show you the scenarios of need of all those around you so that you act in love.

When you read Luke 7, you realize that Jesus was the neighbor of a widow. He had just healed the servant of a highly respected Roman official. And now they were on their way to another city, called Nain. When they reached the entrance to the city, they saw a funeral pass.

Burials are generally very sad occasions, but this one in particular was sadder still. A mother had just lost her son. Her only son! Not only that, she was a widow too. Without a husband and child, her future looked very bleak.

Luke 7:13-14, When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”

It is very interesting to note that this widow does not say a half word in this story. She doesn't speak to Jesus, nor does she speak to His disciples. Don't ask for anything! And despite everything, Jesus had compassion on her. As in the story of the Good Samaritan: the wounded man, he was like dead, in pain, he did not ask for help and still found compassion.

But Jesus didn't just feel sorry for her. He did something about it! —without even asking anything. She was so wrapped up in her pain that she didn't even realize Jesus was there. That is the impressive thing, Jesus was present, but her pain didn't allow her to see Him or ask for help.

We have to look around us, and see with the eyes of Jesus, those who are locked in their situation of pain, of brokenness, of weaknesses, of struggles and who still have not asked for help.

Jesus reveals a love to us in an active way! Loving beyond words must be our priority.

What was the last action where you showed someone that they are loved by the Father?

I hug you!