Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Does Jesus Christ love some people more than others? Do the gates of the New Jerusalem open for "whosoever desires," that they may "come" and "take of the water of life freely"? And didn't Jesus die so that "whoever believes in Him should ... have everlasting life"? (John 3:16).
The Bible is clear that Jesus does indeed love some people in a special sense. The angel Gabriel told Daniel that he was a "man greatly beloved," not just ordinarily "beloved" (10:11). The meaning is clear: "beloved" of Heaven, not just of Daniel's local office staff.
We also read that the disciple John was the one "whom Jesus loved" in a special sense (John 13:23; 19:26). He gave "Peter, James, John, and Andrew" a special "private" interview on the Mount of Olives (Matt. 24:3; Mark 13:3).
Moses was one human being with whom God spoke "face to face" (Deut. 34:10). And the record is clear: God and Moses argued, and Moses several times won the argument (Ex. 32:9-14; Num. 14:11-20). And there was Jacob who "wrestled" with God all night, and "prevailed" over Him (amazing; read the story in Gen. 32:24-30). You can't say that God doesn't have special regard for a person like that!
There are others in Hebrews 11. It would be vain and selfish to covet a place of special honor, but it seems that those so honored have chosen to renounce their right to a place in heaven because of their love for the cause of God. Moses, for example, who asked God to "blot me out" of His Book of Life if He can't save Israel, and Paul who preferred being "accursed from Christ" if thereby he couldn't save Israel (Ex. 32:32; Rom. 9:1-3).
And our friend the repentant thief is promised a special place in the kingdom of Christ "with Me," Jesus said. There is something special about him--"crucified with Me!" Jesus can say through all eternity. Let self be crucified "with Him," and you too are special.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 28, 2002.
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