Did Jesus Like Everyone?

My Pastor has been going through the book of I John on Sunday mornings. John is a big believer and teacher of loving God by loving others. That if you say you love God, and have hate in your heart, you are a liar. (I John 4:20) His message on Sunday March 13, 2022, made me think about how I say I love everyone, but I don't like everyone. 

So, my question:

"Did/Does Jesus like everyone?"

I suppose it has a lot to do with the words, like and love; and how they are applied in relationship. The definitions of the words.

Webster says Love is:

"1a (1): strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties
     (2): attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers

     (3): affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests

            b: an assurance of affection

2: warm attachment, enthusiasm, or devotion

3 a: the object of attachment, devotion, or admiration
   b (1): a beloved person : —often used as a term of endearment

      (2)British —used as an informal term of address

4 a: unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another:   

        such as

       (1): the fatherly concern of God for humankind

       (2): brotherly concern for others

              b: a person's adoration of God" 

Webster says like is:

"1: to feel attraction toward or take pleasure in

b: to feel toward 

2: to wish to have 

3: to do well "

These seem similar in definition according to Webster but of course love is deeper. 

The Bible speaks of 3 kinds of love. Agape is unconditional love, the kind of love a mother or father should have for their child or the love God has for the world. Philo is the love we should have for one another, brotherly kinship love. Eros the love shared with a partner, physical love. In the English Standard Version of the Bible, love is used 684 times in its various forms. 

Like is used in the Bible to show resemblance or equal in quantity, quality, or degree. So technically the word like is not used in the Bible the way we use it today. "I like you" or "I don't like you."

But does this mean that Jesus "liked" everyone he came/meets? 

What did Jesus do when He found the money changers corrupting the temple? How did He react to the Sadducees and the Pharisees?  Did He like the soldiers or what they did to Him in the crucifixion? Do you think He liked Saul when He met Him on the road to Damascus? 

Jesus loved the whole world and gave His live so that all the world "could" have eternal life. But I don't think he always liked people he met in His life on Earth or even now.

He loved the disciples with all His heart, did He like Judas? I don't think so, He knew what Judas would do, but He loved him. Dis He like James, John, or their mother when she asked if they could sit at His right and left hand? (Matthew 20:20-28) Did He like the Peter, James, and John when He asked them to please wait and pray with Him in the garden and they fell asleep. (Mark 14:32-42)

He loved Peter, he one of Jesus' closest friends and yet Peter denied Him. At the time Peter denies Him the third time Jesus turns and looks at Peter, and I am sure Peter thought he was not liked by the Lord. (Luke 22: 54-62) But the Lord doesn't leave Peter hanging out feeling he isn't liked. He and all of the disciples are told to meet Him in Galilee. He has fixed the disciples breakfast and he asks Peter, "do you love me?". Three times he asks to help Peter see that he was still loved even though he had denied his Lord. (John 21:15-19)

Here is the real question; if I am supposed to be like Christ by loving my neighbor and those who persecute me is it okay if I dislike someone? My answer is yes! It isn't really disliking the person; it is more like disliking their actions. Jesus didn't like Peter's denial; He didn't like the money changers corrupting the temple. He didn't like the people who called Him names and killed Him. He didn't like the way the soldiers who beat Him, spit on Him, mocked Him, and crucified Him. He still loved each and every one of these people and the whole world!

I suppose I can dislike a person and still love them. What would that look like?

I don't have to be around them when they are acting some way I don't like, or they are doing things I don't like. I should pray for them and do everything in my power to show them the love God has for them and help them in any way I can. I need to love them because them because He first loved me!

Thanks for reading this Blog Post.

God bless you all!