I Love Jesus: A Theological and Spiritual Reflection

By Dr. Maxwell Shimba, Shimba Theological Institute

Introduction

The declaration “I love Jesus” is more than a personal confession of faith; it is a profound theological affirmation rooted in Scripture, history, and Christian experience. To love Jesus is to acknowledge His divine personhood, His saving work, and His ongoing presence in the life of the believer. Love for Christ is not a sentimental attachment but a response to divine grace, grounded in the reality that “we love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This article seeks to provide an academic and spiritual reflection on the meaning of loving Jesus and its implications for Christian discipleship.

The Biblical Foundation of Loving Jesus

The New Testament consistently places love for Jesus at the center of Christian life. In John 14:15, Christ Himself declares, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Love for Jesus is therefore inseparable from obedience to His word. The Apostle Paul also reminds us that love for Christ is the driving force of the believer’s life: “The love of Christ compels us” (2 Corinthians 5:14). To love Jesus is to participate in the covenantal relationship inaugurated by His death and resurrection, whereby believers are united with Him in faith and transformed into His likeness (Romans 8:29).

The biblical witness also presents love for Jesus as the ultimate measure of discipleship. When the risen Christ asked Peter three times, “Do you love me?” (John 21:15–17), He revealed that authentic ministry and service must flow from a heart of love for the Savior. Thus, to love Jesus is to embrace a life of devotion, obedience, and mission.

Theological Implications of Loving Jesus

Loving Jesus carries profound theological significance. First, it acknowledges His divinity. As Thomas confessed after the resurrection, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). To love Jesus is to love God Himself, for Jesus is the visible manifestation of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Second, love for Christ affirms His redemptive work. The believer’s affection is directed not only toward His person but also toward His saving acts—His incarnation, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection. Third, it shapes Christian anthropology: to love Jesus is to find one’s identity, purpose, and destiny in Him.

Theologically, this love transcends human emotion. It is rooted in agape—the selfless, divine love that transforms the believer’s will, affections, and actions. Such love is both given and sustained by the Holy Spirit, who pours the love of God into our hearts (Romans 5:5).

The Practical Expression of Loving Jesus

An academic reflection on the phrase “I love Jesus” must also consider its practical outworking. Love for Christ cannot remain abstract; it manifests itself in concrete expressions of discipleship. These include:

1. Obedience to His Word – True love for Jesus is demonstrated through faithful adherence to His teachings.

2. Worship and Devotion – Love finds expression in adoration, prayer, and fellowship with the Lord.

3. Love for Others – Jesus taught that love for Him must be reflected in love for our neighbors (Matthew 22:37–39).

4. Mission and Service – To love Jesus is to share His gospel and embody His compassion in the world.

Conclusion

To say “I love Jesus” is to embrace the essence of Christian existence. It is both an intimate confession and a cosmic truth, binding the believer to the eternal Word made flesh. This love is not merely emotional but theological, ethical, and missional. It is sustained by grace, nurtured by Scripture, and empowered by the Spirit. Ultimately, the believer’s love for Jesus is a reflection of God’s prior love manifested in Christ, a love that calls us to live faithfully, serve sacrificially, and hope expectantly for the consummation of all things in Him.

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References

• The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV).

• Augustine, Confessions.

• Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica.

• Barth, Karl. Church Dogmatics, Vol. IV/1: The Doctrine of Reconciliation.

• Bonhoeffer, Dietrich. The Cost of Discipleship.

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