Even Jesus Had Boundaries

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Even Jesus Had Boundaries

Last week, we explored “love and boundaries,” and this week, I wish to further develop that discourse by examining how Jesus approached boundaries. Ready?

If you missed last week’s article, you can read it HERE.

Love doesn’t mean losing yourself. No, it doesn’t. Jesus is the embodiment of perfect love, yet He lived with boundaries while on earth.

He didn’t attend to every request. He didn’t go where everyone wanted Him to go. He didn’t let people define His purpose or dictate His pace.

That’s not pride. That’s wisdom.

Take a moment and imagine this: if Jesus, who could heal, raise the dead, and preach better than anyone, said “no” sometimes and walked away sometimes, then why do we think love means saying yes to everything and everyone?

Let’s see a few instances of how Jesus handled pressure:

1. He said “No” to people’s demands.

When a crowd begged Him to stay and keep performing miracles, He told them no.

“I must go and preach elsewhere,” He said in Luke 4:42-43.

Love isn’t always staying. Sometimes it’s knowing when to move.

2. He walked away to rest.

Jesus often left the crowd — even needy, desperate crowds — to pray and recharge (Mark 1:35).

Love isn’t burnout. You can care deeply and still take time to breathe.

3. He guarded His mission.

When Peter tried to talk Him out of the cross, Jesus didn’t sugarcoat it: “Get behind me, Satan.”

That wasn’t rudeness. That was clarity. Boundaries protect purpose.

So here’s the lesson:

You can love someone and still set limits.

You can serve others and still guard your peace.

You can give generously without giving away your values.

Boundaries aren’t unloving.

They’re how we love well — with wisdom, not exhaustion.

And if Jesus had them, so should we.

Do you have boundaries in your life—both your love life and generally? Work out something today.