Talking about my friend Jesus

No mommy, look, that boy was very happy with his career, he knew where he was going, he had all his plans, he was happy, yes, the only problem was that people talked a lot about him, people thought that he had no girlfriend because he had a problem, or I don't know, maybe he was afraid of intimacy, afraid of committing himself, however he was a normal boy, like everyone else. Yes, that's not a problem, if he laughed a lot and liked to share with people, yes, he also liked debates, yes, in fact, that's why he always got into trouble because he didn't keep quiet to anyone, Yeah. But no, you know what? Even though he always talked and argued with people, he always spoke based, and it wasn't that he argued, what happens is that people didn't like what he had to say, yes.

I don't know, no, but I admired him a lot because he shared with everyone around him, played with the children, talked with adults, with the elderly, yes, he was always helping the poor people of the neighborhood, yes, one that he was seen crying again, yes, sometimes he was seen alone, look, that boy was very dear to Mommy, when he died that was an event, don't you remember? But you introduced him to me in Sunday school when I was very little. Look mommy the fact is that his life trajectory was very good, and he left a good legacy after he died.

So if I don't get married but I live a good life, may it be a blessing to other people, you have to be proud of me. Do you know why I haven't gotten married, mommy? I haven't found people who can put up with you yet (laughs), no no no, that was a joke, no, anyone can put up with you, no, but mommy talking seriously. The boy I'm talking about is Jesus mommy, yes mommy, He came and served everyone, but do you know what the problem is? The problem is that Christians don't think of Him as not normal people, they always look at Him as He was there in heaven and we are here on earth. And it's like we're disconnected, yes.

But I like to think of him as a guy just like me, because he was in his early twenties at one point too. Yes, what's more, look, you know what? You even gave me an idea of something I have to talk about tomorrow in church, if I have to talk about Jesus, I love you very much, that's fine, bye bye.

I think that Jesus and I have a lot in common, you can imagine saying to the boys in the neighborhood, call me Emmanuel which translates to God with us, hahaha, wow, I think I hear María asking José what time you would arrive, or yelling at him Jesus, come take a bath! Hahaha, what a blessing it is to have a God who understands you. The truth is that the more I know about Your life, the more I fall in love with You Lord. The idea never crossed my mind that you really also identify with all kinds of people, children, young people, professionals, workers and even singles like me. Single in a world where everyone wants you to get married, my mom on the one hand, the neighbors on the other, the people from the church. The truth is that if you get along with people you end up crazy. But hey, if they talked about you because you were single, what won't they say about me?

I only ask that you help me stay focused on Your work Lord. But also, don't forget to send me Eva, I mean, my ideal help. A companion who loves you above all things because if she loves you she will love me too. Anyway, you know my heart. Hm, I think an idea just occurred to me, I'm going to talk about this to the congregation, I'm going to talk about how to call you friend, friend because you do identify with all our needs. Oh my mom, that lady is a serious case. Although speaking like crazy people, I believe that Jesus and I have a lot in common. After all, I believe that you were a young man like everyone else, and perhaps in your twenties, twenty-five, thirty, perhaps people expected you to marry like everyone else and lead a normal life.

What would it have been like to be you when you were young? The Almighty God and at the same time a popular, athletic, hard-working boy, perhaps like everyone else. I wonder what would have been the relationship between you and your cousin Juan? If from time to time you went to his house to sleep until the other day. Hm, I guess it must have been fun being your friend, your buddy, your buddy. What kind of mischief will you have done when you were young?

What a blessing it is to be able to know that You call us friends, the Creator of the universe, that you created everything, You don't need to be friends with us, You could very well treat us like You are the Master and we are the servants, and we all live happily, but no, you said I want to be his friend, and in itself you have revealed everything to us through your word. Wow Lord when you think about this, you even want to repent again, I remember that song that Christ says, glorious name, precious Saint, Emmanuel, God with us, wow, God with us. Lord, how deep it is to think that You can be our friend. And do you know why I feel sorry to think that? Because thinking about it I think I don't treat you as if you and I were friends. Sometimes I'm embarrassed to talk about you in circles outside of church. When I go to school, people almost don't know that I'm a Christian, and it's because I don't talk about you so much.

And I remember my friend Esteban, with Esteban I talk every day. I am always telling him about the things that happened to me, and asking him for advice, and I talk to you on Sundays when I have to pray during church ministry. But from there, well now that I have to prepare a message, but that's not loving you as a true friend, is it? But yes, despite my infidelity you have remained faithful, you have treated me like a friend, because thinking about it, you have been there since I was born, you know me better than anyone, even better than my mom, you know that mom doesn't You can tell him everything but you know it.

What a privilege it is that You love me Lord, forgive me for my infidelity, truly. Help me to say like Paul that I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is from God for salvation. I do not want to be ashamed of you, Lord, I want to feel comfortable in front of people saying that I am a Christian, that I am not ashamed of going to church, even if it is not the coolest thing in the world, but yes, I want everyone to know that I am a Christian, because at the end of the day You are worth it in my life and You deserve first place, everything that I have gone through in my life people do not know but You do. Wow. Lord, even here in the solitude of my house You are with me.

Wow the truth, Lord, I don't know how You do it, to love us so much, because to deal with people like me who are so unfaithful that we fail every day, I think I would have given up but even so, You have remained faithful. But what does that imply of being Your friend, Lord? Yes, I am definitely not going to be so popular at school anymore, no, because they are going to say in front of Jonathan you cannot speak because he is a Christian. Don't invite Jonathan to dance because he is a Christian, not because he is hallelujah. Every time the trips are organized on the weekend I will not go because they will know that I will be involved in the church. Is it worth telling them? I think I don't tell them, right? Or yes? Send me a sign, Lord. Look, if Esteban calls me, I'll know that you're not offended, and if he doesn't call me, well, I'll know that you do want me to talk to everyone and tell them that I'm a Christian.

I think the cell phone was discharged, Sir? No no no, it was just checking. But it is difficult, you did not choose me but I chose you so that you go and bear fruit, and that fruit remains so that everything you ask the Father in my name He gives it to you. That we go and bear fruit, I think that is telling others about you. After all, you just want to bless people's lives. And this brother, that you love one another, and how am I going to love people like you? Because I tell you, there are people who make me want to hang them, and even in the church, I think it's easier for me to have friends outside the church than inside the church.

Wow, so you're telling me to tell everyone I'm a Christian so I'll lose my friends outside the church so I'll have to look inside the church who have ten thousand kinds of problems too? Lord, I don't think it's going to be that easy, verse 18: "If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you." And it is happening Lord, do you have an answer for everything I tell you? "If you were of the world, the world would love you, but because I have chosen you, therefore the world hates you, remember the word that I have spoken to you, the servant is not greater than his Lord, if they have persecuted me "They will persecute you also. If they have kept my word, they will also keep yours, but they will do all this to you for my name's sake, because they do not know the one who sent me." Wow Lord, the truth is that it is a big price but when one compares it with what You did for one, the truth is that it is not like that much. Lord, how can I do to have this truth pending every day of my life and truly treat you as a friend, will it be to speak to you as I am speaking to you now and tell you?

For example today, well, you know that I got up and didn't do the devotional, but you know that I love you, right? I prayed at breakfast and before lunch, and before dinner I also prayed, that the prayer was memorized, that I always say the same thing, and how do you want me to pray, with my heart? Ok wow what else. That I don't read the Bible when I have to prepare a message, that I read it more often. Ok, today, since it's the children's class, that doesn't count either, ok, neither the Bible studies with the young people, nor Sundays when I come to church, not that You want an appointment with me every day. How many verses are we talking about Lord?, one at least, that you meditate?, how so that you meditate?. Ok let me come back again, if the world hates you know that it has hated me before.

Do you want me to meditate on that, what does that mean? Ok, that means that I have to know that maybe I'm not going to be popular with people because they know that I'm going to be a Christian, but that doesn't matter because they hated you first, is that what you mean? ?. Ok, and how do I apply that? Hm, that the songs that I sing in church that I'm going to give you first place in my life, that that has to be true, and that giving you the best of my life and first place means putting everyone else after . Wow. Well Lord, do you know why I like you? Because You understand me, and because You know that I am not going to do it like You are telling me today, I am going to try my best but that is not enough, that You know that I know that You are going to love me regardless , but still, you want me to give you priority, ok, you want me to pray at least twice in the morning, and at the end of the day, ok, in the morning so that I entrust myself to you and at the end of the day to tell you how it went. Well. That's what it means to be a friend.

That I think about my relationship with Esteban, ok, we always talk, we share from time to time, that you also want me to think about you like you are my best friend. Hm, okay. And how do I tell the church to do that? That they simply model it, that they see through me that I am in love with you? Ohh yeah, because when you're in love you don't shut up talking about it, that people know me because I'm a Christian and that I encourage them to do the same, ok, think about clothes, how come I think about clothes? , ooh ok, I like O neivy, and Banana Republic, Gaps, yes I like all that, I like to wear those clothes so that people see that one buys in those places. What if Your name was like putting on one of those shirts, what if I would dare to put on one of those shirts if there was a brand that was Jesus? Well, maybe yes, maybe not, which is something similar, that is, if I prioritized talking about you like I prioritize wearing designer clothes, then people would know you more because they would see it in me? Wow, hmm.

So my way of speaking has to change. Wow. Gossip at work, ok, ok, represent you wherever I go, don't be ashamed to pray in restaurants before eating, ok. Well sir, it's alright. You know that I believe that I am going to do it, I am going to try it this week, and I am going to try to show you how much I love you, and it will no longer be with words, it will be with actions. And I think I'm going to have to talk to the people from the church, yes, I'm going to tell them about the conversation that you and I have had today, yes, let it be like a child, that children don't care, let's learn from the children, ok, yes, wow, thanks. You go too far sometimes but thank you, yes yes yes, I love you, I love you with all my heart Father. And I ask you to help me to truly fall in love with you, that on Sunday when I come to church, Lord, I can meditate on the lyrics of the songs that I'm singing, that I don't just like the melody but that I like the lyrics, and that I have an emotional time with you in the middle of the service. Yes, what the pastor says is through you, that I have to receive it even if I don't like it, yes Lord, thank you Lord, in the name of Jesus, amen (applause).

Amen, how many received a teaching tonight? Jonathan, come here man, our local star, Jonatán Toledo, very good. Perhaps you can tell the people exactly what was the number one idea, that you wanted to project, what was the essence of the thought?

Jonathan: When I began to think about this message, I began to think how one can talk about Jesus when there is so much to say, and what would be what one can apply knowing Jesus, and I think that the main thing I wanted to convey tonight was that Jesus is not a being who is there and we are here, that Jesus says in his word that he calls us friends, so that we get closer to him and talk like that. Prayer does not have to be a ritual with an established formula of how I have to pray, there are examples in the Bible of how one can pray, but simply a face-to-face conversation with the Lord, with your language, with your words, He wants that closeness, that naturalness, that trust of friends, He wants us to develop that. And also that we are not ashamed to talk about our friend to others.

When we have a friend we want the whole world to know well, I am a friend of so-and-so, and the Lord wants us to do that, for people to know us because we are friends of Him, because we speak like Him, and we are people who bless those around us.

Pastor: Where is the balance between being carnal of Jesus and being very close to Him and also being reverent before Him and seeing Him as the sum total in our life, there has to be a balance, right?

Jonathan: There definitely has to be a balance, because sometimes we want to be so fanatic about Jesus that it turns other people off, and we sell an image that's also not correct. Many times our deeds speak louder than our words, and the Lord Jesus through his life was a super simple person, the example there that I put in my thoughts that I am Jesus that translated is God with us, He never said that but that was the truth, that was his essence, and I imagine that when he was young he did not go around telling people I am the Son of God, it was not something that he squeezed people all the time, a time in which He had to speak and defend his position in front of the Pharisees, in front of the people and let them know that He was the one sent, but He lived a normal life, and many people discovered him by his way of being, there was something of He who made it stand out.

Pastor: There is a lesson there that we can learn, that idea that He was accessible, how can we invite Him into our life in our witness as Christians, for others, the world that is out there?

Jonathan: As you say, being accessible people, let people know that we are Christians but that we are not going to judge them. Let them feel like the woman with the issue of blood who was judged by all of society, but with Jesus she felt comfortable and she felt safe to be able to go and touch the edge of his cloak, because she already knew that He was not going to decline. That society was going to reject her but that He was not going to reject her and dare us to experience that. Experiencing that rejection by society to develop a more intimate relationship with the Lord.

Pastor: Amen, amen. And what happens when we cling to Jesus like this and have that intimacy with Him, what do you think happens in the believer, the friend of Jesus, what impact does that have on our lives, being so close to Him, looking at Him, conversing with Him, having intimacy, closeness with Him, sustained, continuous dialogue, what is the impact of that?

Jonathan: I believe that it is there that our life begins to be truly transformed, that is where the renewal of our understanding that Paul speaks about develops. Because if you look, when you're best friends with a person, you act like that person, you like the same things, you talk like that person, and when you start to develop a closeness like that with Christ, people notice, the people see it and people want it, people want what one has, and I think that this is a calling that we have.

Pastor: Modern life, hectic, with so many competing things, I also saw the attention paid to that character, in the midst of all the issues of study, work, all the frenzy of fashions, and social pressures, taking out that time For the Lord it is so important, what advice would you give us about how to have that time in the midst of a hectic world that demands so much of us?

Jonathan: It takes time and it's something that has to be scheduled as I say. For example, when I spoke there that I sometimes take the Bible when I have to prepare a sermon or when I have to prepare a class for the children, that is true. And I have realized throughout my life that working for Jesus is not the same as being with Jesus and spending time with Jesus. That when I take the Bible to prepare a sermon or something, I am working for Him and not necessarily to spend time with Him, even today before all this I had to sit down and say, Lord, help me to say everything that You want to speak, and I have to feel that I love you and that I need you. And in daily life I think that in your calendar you can set a time to be with God, just like we get up early and say I'm going to go to the gym or I'm going to prepare food or something like that, thinking I'm going to spend five minutes with the Lord, ten, I am going to talk to the Lord and tell him something, and the same for the prayers before the meal, that are not monotonous prayers, that are not Lord, bless these foods, give them what they do not have in the name from Jesus amen, that's what I always say, and sometimes when I'm doing that I kind of stop and say, wow, Lord thank you for your provision, thank you for this food and truly give to those who have no Lord.

Pastor: Is there a lesson you've learned lately, a new facet of Jesus in this last year, in the ministry, in working with children, in a congregation like this, something new that has been revealed about the person of Jesus? For your life?.

Jonathan: Yes, I think that many times when one decides to go into youth ministry, one always begins to look at all the options around things that one could be doing instead of being in the ministry, and one says what if I did that or did this like any other of the volunteers and did not dedicate myself to this full time, and I have learned through this series of thoughts that the Lord is for you, in Santo Domingo they say I am going for you, and that is that the The Lord left everything and he didn't mind dedicating himself to us, and if the Lord left everything what can't I leave, and the detail is that one has to trust and believe, because he says yes the Lord left everything and I can leave everything, and The Lord is going to be with me and sustain me, but it is not simply knowing it, it is not believing it and living it, so through this of Jesus, precisely thinking about this sermon, in this talk, I thought that the Lord Jesus, He was doing what he felt, and that's why he came and did it to show Let's use the example, that everything that says in the Bible about Him were things that He did, lived and experienced.

Even when I thought Lord, are you single? Yes, You know me because You went through that, and people, yes, there is nothing that You do not know, that You have not experienced, You were a son, You understand the heart of Your mother Mary, and knowing everything you identify with all people, then I think that the facet of the same God of yesterday is truly the same God of today, that He walks with one through everything one experiences in life, because nothing is new for Him, because He already knows it, and I don't know but knowing it makes you click is something very nice to experience, and sometimes it doesn't click until there is a very specific event in your life that makes you see it.

Pastor: One last question, if you could acquire only one quality of the character of Jesus, which one would you choose?

Jonathan: Very good question, I always ask God in my prayers to give me discernment, I think that Jesus was a person who discerned the environment around Him, and was quick to think and slow to speak, and I think that I would continue asking for that, to help me discern the things around me so that I can measure my words and choose them well, and that what I say is a blessing to others, and I always think of people who have been a blessing to my life, but I never see them say wow, I've seen so-and-so angry, or throw someone a boche, scold them, get angry with someone, but at the same time people who have to say no this is red, or this is blue, they say it without fear of whoever hurts, I think that I would like to develop this characteristic of Jesus more, because there is time to measure oneself and remain silent but there is also time to say things as they are regardless.

Pastor: Tremendous, he has spoken like a wise man, amen, glory to the Lord, thank you, brothers, precious time, and a great blessing, you exemplify very much those beautiful qualities of Jesus.