On the day of love, how can we not study the love of the Cross?
Most everyone knows John 3:16, or has at least knows it’s a very popular scripture in the Bible. It is often called, “the Gospel in a Nutshell”. To paraphrase is so as to emphasize its deep meaning, “God loved every soul He ever made so much that He was willing to let His One and only Son die in our place. And everyone who puts their faith and trust in Him will be saved from an eternity in hell and will be given the gift of eternal life.”
No thought has ever been more meaningful to us. No gift ever greater. No hope more true and penetrating.
But do you know what I John 3:16 is? “By this we know what love is, that Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” Jesus shows us God’s love by willingly walking that road to the cross, by willfully taking OUR cross, the cross we deserve for our sins, and humbly dying the death that we deserve to die. By this He demonstrates God’s love to us.
And since we know what this love is through this demonstration, now we know how to love others in the same way. Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” John says that since we know what true love is through the gift of Jesus, we now know how to truly love others, laying our lives down for them.
Do you see that as a part of carrying your cross? We are told to “deny ourselves, and take up our cross, and follow Him.” I deny myself and I exalt others, I put them and their needs first.
May we make that a part of our daily walk during this journey to the cross: as Jesus took up the cross for you, you should take up the cross for others.
Following Jesus, my friends, always onward. Face to the cross, our back to the world.
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