Sometimes we forget how radically Jesus loves, well, everyone.

First, Jesus wasn’t posing for future artists when He invited children to gather around Him. Actually, He didn’t have to do any coaxing. Children loved Him. So did their parents, who were eager for Jesus to bless their children. Like a beloved uncle, Jesus puts His hands on their heads and prays for them by name. I can imagine parents reminding their children, “Do you remember when Jesus prayed for you?” What a treasured memory.

Second, many people think Jesus had only two women friends, Mary and Martha, Lazarus’ sisters. The Gospels, however, tell us a much bigger story. Like us, Jesus had a mother. He had sisters. He let women near Him. He healed many, many women. He spoke about them in His parables. He even invited them into His inner circle of traveling companions.

Yet Jesus went further. Much further. He loved men and women, young and old, rich and poor, zealot and tax collector, Jew and Gentile. In a word, Jesus loved everyone!

Let’s be sure to love those Jesus has placed near us – in our daily world.

This is Luis Palau.