13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
Have you ever loved someone so deeply that it really didn’t matter the cost to love that person, you loved them no matter what? Siblings fight and argue and at times it can get pretty brutal but pick on just one of them and they are all there standing strong united in love one for the other. When it comes to our family, we have our ups and downs, but we also forgive and love each other no matter what. Would you do the same for a friend? There is one that truly loved us all and knowing the cost He gave all.
Can you imagine your Father coming to you and asking that you give up all that you have for someone who doesn’t even know you? We place a lot of value on the things that belong to us. Truthfully, we wouldn’t be pleased at all to give up any of our personal belongings or comforts. There is one that did. His Father told him that He was our only hope, and his heart broke for us in such a way that He was willing to lay down His very life for us.
He left the very throne room of heaven and gave up all its glory along with his own glory just for us. I cannot imagine what weight he carried with Him upon arrival to this world of ours. This world rejecting Him from the very start. Jesus came with a single purpose in mind. He knew the task at hand and was more than willing to fulfill the prophecy of His Father. He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10). Throughout His journey here, He shared his heart with everyone He met. He healed the blind, raised the dead, helped the brokenhearted and those in despair. Jesus valued people, He loved people, and no one understood the value of what they witnessed.
When the time had come, without pause He made the long treacherous journey up Calvary’s Hill. Old Golgotha (The Place of the Skull). There is where Jesus would pour out the rest of what was left of Him for people who really didn’t know who he was or why He came. Jesus gave. He had already given up the glory of heaven, his royalty, his birthright, immortality, the joy of heaven, his relationship with his Father, and it didn’t stop there. For you and for me He gave up his Life. While hanging on the cross, He gave his clothes as they gambled, his mother to the disciple that she may be cared for, He gave His promise of eternity to the thief at His side. Jesus gave and gave and gave as they cried out Crucify Him! Crucify Him!
Heavens Lamb, the King of Glory a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). All so we could have a relationship with the Father. That we could enjoy the glory of heaven. The right to be called family. There is no Greater love than that shown on the cross of Calvary. He loves you, so much so that He gave his very life for you. Jesus left us with the greatest gift ever given. I hope you have come to the saving knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I hope you know what great sacrifice was given so that you could have the very Hope of eternity.
My salvation is my most valuable possession. If I were to lose everything in this life, I would still have all I ever needed in Him. He came, He Lived, He Died, and He arose again. Jesus left the disciples with a message that only they would understand. In their culture when the master was eating, if he arose and was finished he just threw the napkin into his plate and left the table and if he wasn’t finished he would fold his napkin to let the servants know he was not finished and would return to eat.
Jesus folded the napkin. He was and is and always will be the same yesterday, today, and forever and that my friend is your risen Savior that gave his life that you might have life. He arose and that is why we as Christians celebrate Easter. May we never forget the sacrifice it took for us to have the hope that lives in Him. He will return and my prayer on that great and faithful day is that you are ready.
52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
I Corinthians 15:52
Surrendered Heart 