Some of you may remember me writing about a little friend I met on an airplane from Paris to Atlanta a couple of years ago. He was a seven year old Jewish boy named Roy and his father, Steve, became an instant friend. Several months ago, Steve moved to Israel and we lost contact. Six weeks ago, Steve called to tell me he was getting married. He was so excited to hear Susan and I were coming to his country. “Call me when you arrive and we’ll work out a time to get together!”
The day we arrived in Jerusalem, I called Steve and we set a Sunday evening meeting place by the Dung Gate (though an interesting name, this is a very busy gate to the Old City). My friend and his new bride drove over two hours from the Mediterranean coast through the traffic of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to take us out to eat. I was amazed that this father would make such sacrifice for a man that he has only met once. But I understand what motivates him… one day I was kind to his son.
The Heavenly Father lets His plan to rescue a fallen world be rooted in such a powerful relationship. “Come to My Son and I’ll let you come to Me. Love the Son and the Father loves you. Put your faith in My Son and be part of My family.”
Jesus showed a similar longing when He came to earth. “I have made You known to them and will continue to make You known to them…” Jesus wants everyone to know His Father. So often He was angered when those that pretended to know God misrepresented Him. When people rejected His words, Jesus told them the reason. “He who belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”
I think I’ve reached a point in life where I’ve decided there’s only one thing that really matters: knowing God. I want Steve and his wife, Anat, to know God. I want little Roy and his mom in Paris to know God. I want all the orthodox Jews who rock back and forth at the Wailing Wall praying for the Messiah to come to know God. I want the kind Arab teenager who led us one day through the city streets to know God. And if I have a taste of this wonderful dream, what must Jesus desire? He wants everyone to know love! How He must weep as people attack one another. We shake our heads at the hatred-inspired violence in many parts of the world, but God doesn’t see much difference in our country as hatred-inspired words fill the airwaves. Jesus knew He was the answer, so He prayed accordingly:
“Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they (the disciples) know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.” John 17:25-26