Jesus taught that a second LOVE commandment was like the first: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39) Let’s not forget to remember this!! ❤️💜

Just finished this first image in Magdalena’s telling of Jesus’ kingdom ministry of love and justice, and his crucifixion and resurrection into eternal life. Wishing you all peace and God’s many blessings! ❤️💜

This is Magdalena, the narrator of an Easter booklet/graphic storybook I am working on. She tells the story of Jesus’ ministry, the growth of the movement called The Way, Jesus’ crucifixion, and his resurrection and eternal life. Magdalena is a follower of Jesus; he and his teachings heal her of a broken heart. Check back here for more to come on Magdalena and her journey with Jesus…

Jesus, though he was facing death for his teachings about God’s kingdom, sought God’s face and God’s will in the matter. “Not what I want but what you want,” he said to God. (Matthew 26:39) When we love God and God’s kingdom, we become willing to do whatever God asks of us, to live in his kingdom and point the way to it for every one of God’s children.

And God’s love is always and forever. May we also love God with all our “heart, and with all our soul, and with all our mind.” (Matthew 22:37) As Paul wrote, “… neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38)

Lord, help us to understand how your kingdom is very near. It has come to us; God awaits our embrace of and participation in the kingdom of justice and love he created from the beginning. Let’s pray that, following Jesus, we can step up and do whatever God requires of us. ❤️💜

Jesus taught us to love God and to always communicate with the Lord directly. We don’t need priests or others to speak and listen to God for us. “The kingdom of God has come near to you,” Jesus said.(Luke 10:9) And “The kingdom of God has come to you.” (Luke 11:20)

“Love God; don’t fear God. Get close to God” was Jesus amazing message.

When we follow Jesus, we communicate directly with God as he did. Scripture explains: “When one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And all of us, with unveiled faces, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord, the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:16-19)

Over and over, Jesus talked and listened directly to God–constantly, continuously–even in his struggle in the Garden of Gethsemane. There he talked with God and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” (Matthew 26:39) Always, ever listening to God and God’s will. ❤️💜

Jesus taught: “I say to you, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat, do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

… love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High.” (Luke 6:27-35) ❤️💜

“And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

^“Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
(1 Corinthians 13:8-12)

“Love Is patient, Love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” (1 Corinthians 13:4-7) ❤️💜

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging symbol. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) ❤️💜