"LOVE JESUS BY LOVING OTHER

         "I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of

                        These brother of mine, you did for me.

                                   M A T T H E W 25 : 40

Have you ever thought that if you could just see Jesus with your own eyes, it would be easier for you to believe in Him? Would it suprise you to know that you can see Him? In fact you do every day! You look right into His face, but you don't recognize Him.

He's the janitor at your school and the handicapped boy or girl who always feels left out. He's the teacher no one likes and the kid no one wants to eat lunch with. He's walking on the streets and riding in the traffic. He's the ragged woman with her shopping cart full of junk and the old man selling papers on the corner.

 

Jesus wears millions of disguises, and He wants you to look for Him in people's faces. If you want to love and serve Jesus. . .love and serve another person.

The year is A.D. 33. It's late on a stormy Friday afternoon, and I am standing on a rugged hill by a trash heap outside Jerusalem. I huddle with a group of women just a few yards from the cross. Large drops of rain begin to pelt the dust, and I clutch at my head shawl, wiping away tears and rain.

           I cannot take my eyes off Jesus. His body is ramrod stiff, covered with caked dirt and blood, back arched, near death, yet hands stretch and fingers splayed. Jesus' head bobs against the crossbar and He groans, "I thirst."

           I step out of the group and cock my ear. Did Jesus say He was. . . Thirsty A soldier, half-drunk, cracks off a stock of hyssop, spears a sponge and, afte soaking it in venegar wine, laughts and thrusts it into His face.

           I am horrified. Wait. Don't give Him wine gone acidic. 

           This is the Lord who is asking for a drink O, God, if 

          only i had a jug of fresh spring water! But History is 

          written. I am helpless to do anything.

           It is this year. It is late on a stormy afternoon. You 

           drive by a nursing home, recalling a community notice 

          mentioning the need for more dinnertime volunteers at 

          the home.

          Jesus said that when we meet the needs of our neighbors, 

          we have ministered personally to Him. Hurting people our 

           neighbors, we have ministering personally to Him. Hurting 

          people are our neighbors. History can be rewritten we can 

          still give the Lord that drink.