Wednesday: A Portrait of Jesus
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 12th of August 2026
As we read 1 Corinthians 13:4-7, we may feel frustrated at realizing that, to a lesser or greater degree, we fall short of displaying all those features of love. Likely, Paul had the person of Jesus in mind when writing 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Indeed, only Christ perfectly revealed all those characteristics of love. Thus, ultimately, Paul’s portrayal of love is a portrait of Jesus.
Read John 13:1,34; John 15:9,12; 1 Timothy 1:14; 2 Timothy 1:7,13; 1 John 3:16; and 1 John 4:7-12,19-21. What can we learn about love from these passages?
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God is love (1 John 4:8). He loves us so much that He gave His only Son (John 3:16). Jesus is the full expression of this love (Hebrews 1:3). If we want to know how love expresses itself, we must take a long look at Jesus. If we pay close attention to the portrayal of Jesus in the New Testament, we will realize that all the positive features of love in 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 are seen in Him.
Jesus is patient. “But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience [makrothymia]” (1 Timothy 1:16, NIV).
Jesus is kind. The Bible says that “the Lord is kind” (1 Peter 2:3, LEB). The word “Lord” in this passage refers to Jesus. The term “kind” renders the Greek word chrēstos, which comes from the same root as the verb chrēsteuomai (“to show kindness”) in 1 Corinthians 13:4.
Jesus rejoices in the truth. Jesus experienced joy as He followed the will of the Father and felt His love for Him (John 15:9-11, John 17:12-14).
Jesus bears/endures all things. Hebrews 12:2-3 says that Jesus “endured the cross. . . . [He] endured such hostility from sinners against Himself” (NKJV). Nobody has endured so much as Jesus (Philippians 2:8). He did this for the joy set before Him!
Jesus believes all things. When Ananias questioned the genuineness of Paul’s conversion (Acts 9:13-14), Jesus answered, “He is a chosen instrument of mine” (Acts 9:15, ESV). Jesus sees people not only as they are but as they will become through His power.
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What are other ways that Jesus reveals to us what true love really is? |
Yesterday I shared a picture of a Spotted Pardalote and I think most of you probably thought it was a pretty bird. While that is true, there is so much more about these birds that you would not know from the picture. It is one of Australia’s smallest birds, about 10cm long. Interestingly it feeds on insects high in the canopy but it nests in burrows in the ground. I have seen their nests. They are also surprisingly quick. I was watching one carrying food into its nest, when a Nankeen Kestrel swooped over my shoulder, diving at the Pardalote. I know the Pardalote escaped because I have a photo of the Kestrel departing empty-handed.
There is so much more to tell about Pardalotes. Sure, you can read some of it in a book, but nothing beats walking out in the bush and experiencing the presence of the birds, hearing their calls, and watching them move and fly.
A portrait of Jesus is more than a picture. There is a significant difference between reading about Jesus and walking with Him. When we take Jesus out into the tracks and swamps of real life and follow in his footsteps, interacting with real people, we gain an experiential understanding of Him. You can paint a beautiful picture of Jesus using AI. The words will be eloquent, the language smooth, but AI is a stochastic parrot, assembling words with a statistical algorithm without either experience or understanding. If you want to see the real Jesus, walk with him. That is the way others will see a portrait of Jesus.
Jesus is not merely an example of love but He is the ultimate standard of love. If we allow Jesus to dwell in our hearts, He will produce the same quality of love in us. Agape love will never be achieved by human willpower but only by the indwelling Christ. By receiving Christ in our hearts, then only can we be able to live agape love. “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). As we continue abiding in the vine, gradually but surely, we get transformed into the likeness of Jesus.
“And we all…are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory.” (2 Corinthians 3:18).
To measure up to the standard of love portrayed by 1 Corinthians 13 is possible because He who gives us the standard of love also gives us the grace to be transformed toward it. “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13, NLT). The grace of God does not only forgives us of our sins but also teaches to become like Jesus.
“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” (Titus 2:11-12, NIV)