Young People's Group

The Affections of Jesus Christ

by Mitchell Tan
June 20, 2018

UNDERSTANDING THE AFFECTIONS OF JESUS CHRIST

Paul had a deep sense of love for the Philippian Church. It was not something that was just subjective. It was a love that was objective. He loved the Philippians with the affection of Jesus Christ. Christ’s example of love for people was the standard by which Paul sought to follow after.

“How greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:8

The word “affection” in Greek is the word “splagchna”. It means to have deep feelings that come from the innermost part of us. Paul had deep affections for the Philippians.

THE EXAMPLE OF JESUS IN SHOWING DEEP FEELINGS

To understand the affections of Jesus Christ, we need to understand how He felt for the multitudes and the disciples in the gospels.

1. SHOWING COMPASSION FOR THE MULTITUDE

“He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered”
Matthew 9:36

The phrase “moved with compassion” has the same idea of “splagchna”. This is the verb form. It was translated here as being moved with compassion. The Lord Jesus felt compassion for those who were part of the multitudes. They were feeling troubled and lost, having no sense of direction. The Lord Jesus felt a deep sense of pity for those who were still non-believers.

2. SHOWING DEEP LOVE FOR THE DISCIPLES

“Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.”
John 13:1

The Greek word for “love” is “agapao”. This is a deep kind of love. The Lord Jesus had deep affection and love for His disciples. He loved them to the very end (John 13:1). He did not give up on those who were His and loved them despite their failures and faithlessness. He made a distinction between the multitude and His disciples.

PAUL APPLYING THE AFFECTIONS OF JESUS CHRIST

Paul applied the word “splagchna” to the way he sought to care for the Philippians. It was compassion that he had for the Philippians. It was a deep sense of affection for them. He had come to love the Philippians in a wonderful way.

1. CALLING ON GOD AS WITNESS

“For God is my witness …”
Philippians 1:8

The apostle Paul was most conscious of the omniscience of God. The Lord God can see all things and knows what is in the heart. Paul appealed to the omniscience of the Lord God concerning his affection for the Philippians. He was vouching that indeed his love for the Philippians was real and deep, with God as his witness.

2. DEVELOPING A DEEP AFFECTION FOR THE PHILIPPIANS

“… How greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:8

A. TREASURING PEOPLE IN OUR HEART CONTINUOUSLY

Paul had cultivated a deep sense of love of the Philippians through the years. He remembered them fondly in prayer. His faith in the Lord affected his love for the brethren. As his faith grew, so did his love for them.

B. GREATLY LONGING FOR THEM

He cultivated his love for the Philippians until it was deep affection. He loved them with the deep affection of the Lord Jesus. So much so that Paul was missing them when he was in prison. He greatly longed to be with them that they may grow further (Philippians 1:24-25). Young people, let’s learn to cultivate this deep sense of longing and love for each other.

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