Johan “Joop” Westerwell was a man who lived during the 1940s.  

Joop was a husband and father of four.

Joop was a Dutchman, a teacher in Rotterdam.

Joop was a Christian. 

Joop served as a leader in the Dutch resistance against the Nazis, during the Holocaust.

Joop and his wife Wil hid and helped save so many Jews’ lives, the lives of those who (without Joop and Wil’s efforts) would have died.

Joop saw a need and put himself out there to meet that need, living during a time when his world was suffering.

Joop met that need (even) when his own life was compromised and eventually taken.

Joop was tortured, beaten unmercifully by the Nazis for his efforts to help the Jews, to help those who were suffering during the Holocaust.

Joop lost his home, his income, his time to grow old with his wife and children.

Joop never lived to see his small children grow up to become teens or young adults. No, Joop never lived to grow old Joop never lived long here on this earth, but because Joop believed in Jesus and because Joop accepted Jesus as Savior, Joop still lives today, even after his death.

Yes, Joop lives today (seventy-seven years after his death) in the presence of his Savior and LORD.

Some claim that Joop’s short life was a tragedy, and maybe it is tragic in that he never got to kiss his children goodnight as they grew up or hold his wife Wil’s hand as they grew old.  Others would share that Joop’s life was one lived with purpose, that in his walk to do God’s  will, Joop really lived.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke to the multitude (including his disciples), giving us such direction.    Allow me to share a small part of Jesus’ words.

**May we read and carefully listen and see how we are to live.

**May we read and see Jesus teaching (in our mind) as we read.

**May we also read to see Joop’s actions to save the lives of so many who faced oppression, just as Jesus taught Joop to do through the Bible.

**May we read and see our place in helping others who need us.

**May we read and see Joop and Wil’s faith in God.

**May we read and be reminded of our faith in God.

In March 1944, Joop was arrested for helping two Jewish women try to escape across the Belgian border. Not long after, Joop was executed for his actions. (International Fellowship of Christians and Jews 2021)

**May we read and see Jesus Christ—-the Savior of the world.

**May we read and see Jesus—-the Master Teacher.

**May we read and see Jesus—-God, who came to earth (and God, who lived human, in the flesh).

**May we read and see Jesus—-the Son of God & the Son of Man.

**May we read and see Jesus—-the Savior and LORD of Joop, a Dutchman from the Netherlands, who believed and followed and served God.

**May we read the words of Jesus, and may we see how Jesus still changes lives today in 2021—-Centuries after the Sermon on the Mount & Seventy-Seven Years after the Holocaust.

*****May We Read Jesus’ Words & May We See Jesus—The Master Teacher.

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,  bless those who curse you,  pray for those who mistreat you.   Whoever hits you on the cheek, offer him the other also; and whoever takes away your coat, do not withhold your shirt from him either.    Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever  takes away what is yours, do not demand it back.   Treat others the same way you want them to treat you.    If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners love those who love them.   If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you?  For even sinners do the same.    If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you?  Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount.    But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return;  and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High;  for He Himself [God] is kind to ungrateful and evil men.    Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful”   (Luke 6: 27-36).

YES, Jesus’ words were clear to His disciples and to the multitude listening to Him teach that day on the mountaintop.

AND YES, Jesus’ words were CLEAR to Johan “Joop” Westerwell and his wife Wil during the terror of the Holocaust. 

AND YES, Jesus’ words are STILL CLEAR to us today living in the 21st Century, during the time of a global pandemic. Jesus’ Words—the words spoken to us by the Master Teacher.

Love All.

Bless All Others.

Even When Beaten, Tortured in the Name of Jesus, Do Not Withhold God’s Love.

Give to All People When Asked.

Treat Others Well.

Love Those Who Curse & Hate You.

Love All, Even Our Enemies.

Jesus’ words—the very words of THE MASTER TEACHER.

Jesus taught Joop (a Christian) how to live for Him, even as Joop was tortured, even as Joop executed, and even while his wife Wil was made to watch. Jesus taught His disciples and the multitude upon the mountaintop how to serve and love others. Jesus’ words STILL Teach us (Christians) through His Word, through His Spirit, & through His life-examples we can read within the Bible every day.

We remember how Jesus was tortured and was crucified upon the cross. Soon, we will celebrate Easter Sunday. Yes, Easter Sunday is coming soon!!!

****May we rise to our feet and exclaim, “But Jesus rose three days later from the grave, and Jesus lives today, and some day (SOON) the Messiah will come again.”

****May we read Jesus’ words found in the Bible, His Word.

****May we (today) read the words of Jesus, and may we see how we are to live.
And when some may ask—-“WHY?” May we show them Verse 36 that explains the reason why.

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful [to each one of us].” On this day, let us Read & Let us See the Words of Jesus, the Master Teacher.