We love because he first loved us. 1 John 4:19
Throughout the story, Joseph helps point us to the identity of Jesus. He is…
The ruler who knows you
Before a thought goes through your mind or a word leaves your tongue, God knows it completely. He knows everything about you. How that feels depends entirely on whether the One who knows you is for you or against you, and on whether you are for or against Him.
The woman at the well went to the people of her town and said, “Come see a man who told me all that I ever did” (John 4:29). That included some things she should not have done, so why was she full of joy? Because she discovered that the One who knew her also loved her, and she found hope in Him.
The brother who loves you
When you get a taste of Jesus’ love for you, it won’t be long before you find a love in your heart for Him. “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). The Son of God is by nature God, but He is also our brother because He became man in Jesus Christ, and He is the victim who is ready to forgive you.
The victim who is ready to forgive you
Jesus is the victim who suffered on account of our sins. All our sins are sins against Him. “Against you, you only, have I sinned,” David confessed (Psa. 51:4). I need your forgiveness. Jesus became the sacrifice. But now, risen and exalted, Jesus stands ready to forgive us, ready to welcome all who will be reconciled to Him, ready to call us His brothers and sisters, ready to seat us at His table, and ready to feed and nourish us to eternal life.
When you see Jesus’ love for you, why would you not submit to Him as your ruler, love Him as your brother, and trust Him as your Savior today?
