Jessica Thompson - He Loved Them: Discovering Jesus Heart for Seekers, Sinners, Doubters, and the Discouraged (and Other People Like Us)

This book does its job to overwhelm you with the love of Jesus. Every single chapter was Holy Spirit ministry. Jessica has a way of ushering her readers to look at Christ from a new perspective that engages the heart. I came away reading this book so encouraged, comforted, and restored. My soul needed it.

FINA OEI

Singer-songwriter and cofounder of Ladies Discipleship Ministry (LADIMI)

You wont be able to get through the first chapter without being in awe of how much Jesus loves you. Honestly, this book feels like the warmest, most welcoming hug in a prickly and hardened world weve been living in. Jess has a powerful way of helping us remember how tender Jesus is when we consistently fail. I love God so much more after reading this!

JAMI NATO

Author and entrepreneur

How we approach human beings portrayed in the Bible matters. Whenever we speak on biblical narratives, it is a retelling of another image bearers story who is not here to fill in the details. It is easy to snatch a hot take from their stories without dipping a toe into their real human experiencethe emotional, mental, social, cultural, and systemic nuances of it all. In He Loved Them, Jessica invites us to immerse ourselves into the humanity displayed in the gospel narrativesthe complex, soil-soaked, screaming hot mess of life. She magnifies for us the posture of Christs unashamed love for needy humans while spurring us on to love and action as Christ Himself displayswith tenderness, patience, and generosity. Anyone who feels inadequate or unseen in the trials of life will find solace in these pages. Anyone who struggles to see themselves in the gospel narratives will find their perspective broadened. Like your favorite gift-bearing auntie, Jessica guides readers through hard stories with wit and expertly placed superhero references, all the while wrapping the reader in kindness that leads to conviction, compassion, and comfort.

JENNIFER JI-HYE KO

Author of A Lamenters Pathway to Joy

Every page of this read clarifies the good news of Jesus, that He is a Savior like no other. It will leave you feeling sought after, pursued, seen for who you are, and still loved. If you are needing a guide to help you remember that Jesus actually calls sinners to Himself, the run-down and wayward, this book will offer you hope.

HALEY MONTGOMERY

Musician, artist, author

2023 by
JESSICA THOMPSON

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible, Copyright 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible and CSB are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Edited by Annette LaPlaca

Interior design: Brandi Davis

Cover designer: Erik M. Peterson

Cover illustrations from the drawings of Rembrandt van Rijn (public domain)

Author photo: Jessica Delgado Photography

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Thompson, Jessica, 1975- author.

Title: He loved them : discovering Jesus heart for seekers, sinners, doubters, and the discouraged (and other people like us) / Jessica Thompson.

Description: Chicago : Moody Publishers, [2023] | Includes bibliographical references. | Summary: Who exactly did Jesus love? As we contemplate Jesus heart and actions toward the lost and brokenhearted characters in the Bible, we begin to know more fully how God feels toward us- we experience how Jesus come alongside and love us in our own doubt, fears, and need for healing-- Provided by publisher.

Identifiers: LCCN 2022033279 (print) | LCCN 2022033280 (ebook) | ISBN 9780802424389 (paperback) | ISBN 9780802499981 (ebk)

Subjects: LCSH: Bible stories, English--New Testament. | Jesus Christ. | Christian life. | Change (Psychology)--Religious aspects--Christianity.

Classification: LCC BS2400 .T46 2023 (print) | LCC BS2400 (ebook) | DDC 225.5/209--dc23/eng/20220928

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022033279

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022033280

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To the burdened, the broken, the doubter, the depressed, and the disillusioned. May you find Jesus in these pages and see that you were never lost to Him at all.

Friend,

Thank you for choosing to read this Moody Publishers title. It is our hope and prayer that this book will help you to know Jesus Christ more personally and love Him more deeply.

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Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.