Previous Reflections
REFLECTIONS
March 27th, 2022“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.”
Ephesians 2:4-5Unconditional Love
Jesus on the cross. Most of us have seen artists’ depictions of the scene. Spikes driven through his wrists, blood dripping from his forehead, lips parched by the sun, and his cries. Oh! his agonizing cries, “I thirst.” (John 19:28 NKJV) Forsaken cries, “‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” (Matthew 27:46) And His final cry, “‘It is finished!’” (John 19:30)
Jesus on the cross, the sins of the world borne for all who placed something worldly ahead of their love for God; who abused God’s holy name; who worked on the Sabbath day, for those with shortened lives for dishonoring their mothers and fathers. And for everyone who murdered someone in form or fact; violated the sacred vows of marriage; who took something that belonged to someone else, intentionally led anyone away from the truth, or who coveted their neighbors’ life. (See Exodus 20:3-17)
In short, Jesus carried to the cross the unfathomable burden of all who did not love the Lord with all their heart, soul, and strength, and who failed to love their neighbor as themselves. And with his final spirit yielding cry, “‘It is finished,’” Jesus wiped our reprehensible records clean. (See John 19:30)
Surely God, standing behind his unconditional love for us, must have wept for his Son while He watched the scene unfold.
For God so lived the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believed in him would have everlasting life.
“You are the light of the world,”
Richard +
Click here for Printer Friendly Version