The model set before us is exceedingly lovable. Lovableness is the first trait that arrests my attention as I join the crowds who flock around Christ. Prescinding for the moment from the fact that He is God, the lovableness of this model is accounted for, in part, by His special interest in each individual. We know, for instance, that when the sick were brought to Him He went in and out amongst them and laid His hands on each single person, and "healed them all."
The same care for the individual is evident in His marvelous power of adaptation. The same sentence from His lips can satisfy at once the scholar and the illiterate. In Galilee, with the country people, He speaks about wheat and tares, of the sower going forth to sow his seed, of the good shepherd, the red sun at night, the bottles of wine. For the women He tells about the lost penny, the leaven in the bread, the woman persevering in her request with the judge. Little children are delighted with His "fairy tales" about the beautiful flowers of the field, the birds of the air, the love and care of their heavenly Father, the great King and the banquet He prepared. Poor sinners He will reach with the exquisite stories about the prodigal, about the lost sheep, the Good Samaritan. He does not hesitate to walk into the wine shops and talk about the Pharisee and the publican.
More even than His faithful disciple Paul, Jesus is "all things to all men." In all He is interested; for each individual and class He plans the means most surely calculated to win them to Himself. In His eyes nobody is insignificant; everybody is well worth while; everybody is made to feel that he matters to Christ, and he feels this because it is true.
Jesus, I too matter much to You, despite my innumerable sins, despite the stupidity that is ever failing to learn, despite the pride that is foolish enough to treat and speak of others as if they were beneath me. If like You, my model, I would be lovable indeed, I too must love. I must love each single individual, be he ever so unlovable in himself. For he is Yours, and You must surely find in him much to love since You died for him.