What we think of Jesus shows in how we relate with Him.

You are my friends if you do what I command. John 15:14

Raleigh looks like a powerful dog—he is large and muscular and has a thick coat of fur. And he weighs over 100 pounds! Despite his appearance, Raleigh connects well with people. His owner takes him to nursing homes and hospitals to bring people a smile.

Once, a four-year-old girl spotted Raleigh across a room. She wanted to pet him, but was afraid to get close. Eventually, her curiosity overcame her sense of caution and she spent several minutes talking to him and petting him. She discovered that he is a gentle creature, even though he is powerful.

The combination of these qualities reminds me of what we read about Jesus in the New Testament. Jesus was approachable—He welcomed little children (Matt. 19:13–15). He was kind to an adulterous woman in a desperate situation (John 8:1–11). Compassion motivated Him to teach crowds (Mark 6:34). At the same time, Jesus’s power was astounding. Heads turned and jaws dropped as He subdued demons, calmed violent storms, and resurrected dead people! (Mark 1:21–34; 4:35–41; John 11).

The way we see Jesus determines how we relate to Him. If we focus only on His power, we may treat Him with the detached worship we’d give a comic book superhero. Yet, if we overemphasize His kindness, we risk treating Him too casually. The truth is that Jesus is both at once—great enough to deserve our obedience yet humble enough to call us friends.

Jesus, thank You for the privilege of knowing You. I acknowledge Your gentle power. I worship You as the Son of God—full of grace and glory.

耶稣在你心中的形象，影响你与祂的关系。

你们若遵行我所吩咐的，就是我的朋友了。-约翰福音15章14节

罗利外表看来孔武有力。他身材高大魁梧、肌肉发达，体重超过100公斤！尽管他的外表粗犷，却能与人有良好的互动。他是疗养院和医院的义工，经常到那里探访，给人们带来欢笑。

有一次，一个四岁的小女孩看到罗利正在表演魔术，很想靠近但却又害怕。最后，小女孩的好奇心战胜内心的胆怯。当她靠近罗利时，发现高大威猛的罗利说话非常温柔。

这幅景象，让我想起新约圣经中关于耶稣的描述：耶稣平易近人，欢迎小孩子到祂那里去（马太福音19章13-15节） ；祂施恩给行淫被抓的绝望妇人（约翰福音8章1-11节） ；祂怜悯众人如羊走迷，就教导他们（马可福音6章34节） 。耶稣的大能更是令人惊叹，祂赶出污鬼、平静风暴，还让死人复活（马可福音1章21-34节，4章35-41节；约翰福音11章） 。

我们看重耶稣哪方面的特质，将影响我们与祂的关系。我们若只着重于耶稣的大能，视祂如漫画里的超人，会觉得祂高高在上、遥不可及；若过度强调耶稣的良善，我们对祂的态度就会轻率随便。事实上，耶稣同时具备这两种特质。祂的伟大配得我们顺服，而祂的谦卑让我们成为祂的朋友。

耶稣，感谢祢让我明白祢有温柔的大能，
我要尊崇祢，祢是上帝的儿子，充满恩典和荣耀。

John 15:12-17New International Version (NIV)

12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

整理：于姊妹