March 5, 2021
John 15:12-14, ““This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you.”
Here Jesus hints at his ultimate purpose in coming to Earth. He will lay down his life for his friends, those who follow the commands of God. They would not be able to grasp what impact these words would have on the disciples of Christ later, but Jesus is filling out a picture of God’s real love for his church. He would give his life so that we could have salvation, to be with God forever, and they in turn, would be called to give of their lives for him. Many of the followers of Christ in the first centuries after his death and resurrection would actually be killed themselves as a result of their Christian faith, a testament to their devotion to the Lord. But this message is for all believers - as Jesus repeats elsewhere, you must give up of your own self-determination and fully trust the Lord - you’re giving your life to him (Matt. 10:39; John 12:25). Cryptic were the words at the time that each must “carry his cross” and follow Jesus (Matt. 16:24; Luke 9:23), but powerful they are in light of Christ’s death on a cross.
There was a popular Bruno Mars song several years ago called “Grenade,” where the singer said about a girl, “I would jump on a grenade for you - step in front of a train for you,” and this was just someone he was dating apparently. This is dramatic pop sentimentality at its finest - it’s not really true. At least, it shouldn’t be. When the girl dumps you in three weeks, you’d say, “Boy, I’m glad I didn’t jump on that grenade for you.” By contrast, real unconditional love - the parent/child, spousal, best friend, fellow soldier love - that’s the good stuff, the thing that makes the world go round, and you know, if you’ve had that kind of love, how absolutely incomparable it can be. This is the kind of love God has for you - that he would go to the ends of the earth for you - go to the grave for you, yes, jump on a grenade for you. And this makes our Savior, Jesus Christ, worthy of worship and honor.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to understand the cost of your love for me. You didn’t just love me abstractly or theoretically, you came and showed that love at the cross. It’s a love that we are called to remember, and I need help remembering that love and then showing even a portion of that love in return. Holy Spirit, convict my heart and guide me to further understanding, and then guide into bold opportunities to love my neighbor with this same kind of selflessness. Amen.
40 Days of Joy: The Velveteen Rabbit - if you haven’t checked out this book in a while, give it a read. A tremendous classic story of true love.
