God called Israel his "treasured possession".  It broke God's heart when they turned away. God remembered how he "taught them to walk, taking them by the arms."  He would forgive if they would come back.  God said, "Even if a mother might forget her nursing child, I will never forget you."  Jesus chose not to call his disciples servants but friends.  He included them in what he was doing.  Jesus knew that in their weakness the disciples would desert or deny him in a few hours.  Yet he said, "I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."  After the resurrection he cooked breakfast for them on the lakeshore and gently restored their relationship.  They were his treasure.

Jesus compared God to the father of a straying son.  The father watched the road every day until he saw the boy coming back and ran to meet him.  Christ sent the apostles to preach, "Come and be reconciled to God."  Jesus said, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."  "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone...opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."  If you think you are worthless, you are wrong.  Nothing you have done can change Christ's love for you.  Come home.

1 John 4:8,16;  John 3:16;  Genesis 3:8,9;  5:24;  Isaiah 41:8;  Genesis 18:16-19;  1 Samuel 13:14;  Exodus 19:5;  Hosea 11:3;  Isaiah 49:15;  John 15:15;  Luke 22:15;  John 21;  Luke 15:11-32;  2 Corinthians 5:18-21;  John 14:23;  Revelation 3:20;  Isaiah 1:18

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