FF 2021: Jesus is...

It’s a question we love to ask and always brings such beautiful and diverse answers.... “What does Jesus mean to you?”

(From the July - September 2021 issue of VOX)

SECURITY - Daniel from Dublin

“Especially after the two years we’ve had, Jesus means security. I think of that verse in Psalms that was so prevalent, “the grass withers and flowers fade but the word of God stands forever.” We’ve seen a lot of change but the one thing that is constant is Him. This is not the time to stop; it is the time to go deeper into Him and His word. The church is still blossoming. People are still growing deeper into their relationship with God. I love church. I’ve missed meeting together in person. But it is a beautiful thing that even when everything is stripped away my relationship with Jesus cannot be taken away. It is secure.”

PATIENCE AND GENTLENESS - Dominic from Athlone

“For me, Jesus means patience, gentleness and challenge. They are all wrapped up together. The verse I love to quote is from Matthew 11, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart and you’ll find rest for your souls.” We can mirror that to people who are under so much stress amid so much brokenness. We have an opportunity to show something real... someone real. And that someone is Jesus.”

ASSURANCE - Rob from West Cork

“The first word that comes to me is ‘assurance’. There are so many facets to that. The hope that we have in Jesus is certain and it is sure. David said, ‘my times are in your hands’ and that is a mighty encouragement. No matter what happens, He is certain and sure for this life but also for what’s to come.”

REST - Amy from West Cork

“After everything that has happened in the last couple of years, I know that He is my rest. At this stage of life [as a young mum] you are physically and emotionally tired. 2020 was really hard. We can try to rest in different ways but in the end Jesus is my rest.”

WITH US - Laura from Kilkenny

“I guess He is the answer to all our questions. He is the light in our lives and, for me, He is the one that sticks closer than a brother. He is with us in whatever situations we are facing. He will never leave us nor forsake us. I really have experienced that this year. What concerns us concerns Him. When things are troubling me, I have asked Him and received supernatural answers. He has been so faithful!”

MY HEALER - Richard from Mayo

“In about 2010, I injured my back and I was out of work for a long time. I met a Christian and this man prayed for my back. He asked Jesus to heal my back and within four days the pain was gone. I realised that what this man was saying was true. That is 10 years ago now. Jesus means everything to me. He is my saviour and my healer. I need Him every hour!”

HOPE - David from Sligo

“Jesus means hope. I think obviously of His sacrifice on my behalf so that my sins could be forgiven. As Christians, we are so familiar with it but the fact that we are going to live even though we die is an incredible thing. I was the oldest child in my family and my mum died when I was 22. It was a difficult time but again we experienced that hope. She had faith in Christ and these spiritual realities become very real at a time like that. One of the hospice nurses turned out to be a Christian and she told us, ‘Not many people die like your mum died.’ Although it was not pleasant, she had an inner peace that meant she was not afraid of death.”

ALL IN ALL - Jonny from Galway

“It is not something that I think about because my relationship with Jesus is interwoven with every aspect of my life. He really is everything. There is that sense of Shalom, of peace and contentedness.”

THE REASON - JP from Dublin

“I think about the Lord when I wake up and when I go to bed and when I am pausing in any moment of the day. I hope I live well for Him until the end of my days. I hope I would die for Him. I want to be serving Him for His glory, abiding in Him and experiencing His presence that is the fullness of life. Jesus is the reason I exist.”