“ I love you.”
“How much?”
“SO much.”
“How much is so?”
“Way, Way more than you know.”
This comes from a book I used to read to my young son entitled, “I Love You So...” by Marianne Richmond. It’s a beautiful story about the unconditional and never ending love a parent feels for a child. This book has always been one of my favorites. It perfectly expresses the height and the depth of the love I have for my son, and reminds me of that same love Jesus has for each and every one of us.
No matter how many times I read the story of the Crucifixion, and what Christ endured on our behalf, I can never get through it with a dry eye. His entire life here on earth from birth to death, was a perfect shining testimony to the unconditional and selfless love He so freely offers to all. Even while hanging on a Cross in excruciating pain, and until He breathed His last, He continued His ministry; demonstrating grace, mercy, and love until the end.
“They took Jesus therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called Golgotha. There they crucified Him, and with Him two other men, one on either side, and Jesus in between.” (vs. 19:17-18) Jesus, innocent and blameless, was made to be degraded by hanging the “King of the Jews”, between two common thieves. While one of the men joined in the crowd, mocking Jesus and hurling insults at Him, the other admitted his guilt and professed faith, asking the Lord to remember Him when He entered into His kingdom. Even with the physical pain He was experiencing, Jesus didn’t hesitate to give this man His unmerited grace saying, “Today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
“Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His outer garments and made four parts, a part to every soldier and also the tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece. So they said to one another, ‘Let us not tear it but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be.” (vs. 19:23-24) Imagine Jesus looking down from His Cross and seeing the angry mob crying out for His death, the mocking religious leaders, and the soldiers who had beat, ridiculed, spat on, and crowned Him with thorns now gambling for pieces of His clothing as a souvenir. Filled with agony, Jesus looked upon them not with admonishment, but with mercy praying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:24)
“When Jesus then saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, Behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ “ (vs.19-26:27) Bruised, battered, and nearing His death, Jesus wasn’t concerned with His own needs, but with those of His loved ones. Knowing that He would soon leave them, and that His mother and His dearest friend would each need the other, Jesus told them to take care of and love each other as family. He wanted them both to receive the comfort they would soon need and, “From that hour, the disciple took her into his own household.” (vs. 19:27)
Tortured and nailed to a cross, no one would blame Jesus for being so overwhelmed by His pain and suffering, that He could think of nothing else. Yet instead He repeatedly demonstrated His incredible, selfless love for others; never wavering in His grace and mercy. Hebrews 12:2 tells us that Christ endured all of this; the wounds, humiliation, and shame for the “joy set before Him.” What is this joy? It’s you, it’s me, and all who would be saved through His death and resurrection. With His never ending love He gave His life, and with His dying breath He gave us life. Never again will we find condemnation, for as Jesus cried, “It is finished!” (vs. 19:30)
