“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 NKJV
“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.” John 15:9 NLT
This is my commandment: love each other the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:12,13 NLT
A Love Greater Than Life Itself
I wonder how many of you can relate to the following: ‘I repeatedly told my children and grandchildren that “I love you more than life itself.”‘ My mantra is and always has been to “love them to life!” I’m certain that, if you are a parent, you do! I mean oh so sincerely, that we parents would all give our lives for our children and grandchildren, right?
But, how many of us can relate to Jesus Christ and His scripture, which tells us that Jesus gave His life for us (lost flock included), His shepherded flock, His friends, His sisters and brothers, OR His (God’s) adopted, saved children? Great questions, right? Have you ever given that serious thought? Recently, I have.
Easter, Resurrection Day, is quickly approaching. April 9th, 2023. It began in a garden, Gethsemane. It ended in the garden of redemption, The Cross at Calvary. In both gardens, we find God’s demonstration of His unimaginable love – a love greater than life! Because in the two gardens, we find more than expected. We find a portion of love so big that it defies human understanding: Jesus wholeheartedly surrendered Himself under arrest to the Romans, Pharisees, and chief priests.
Jesus willingly said, “I am He, the One you want. Let ALL the others go.” Jesus gave up Himself for ALL OTHERS (for all time) so that they could live and be saved! Now that is an amazing love coming from an intensely passionate and flaming heart! Can we love like that? Can we love ALL OTHERS, even ones we don’t know, with a love that LOVES THEM TO LIFE?
I am still working to give full, real life application to Jesus’s love in my life and to following Jesus all the way to The Cross with a love greater than life itself for ALL OTHERS. I have always known that reality of such burning, fervent love of my children and grandchildren. God give me strength to love like Jesus Christ for all others!
There are many who already have and do daily:
Love of Country: Active Military/Veterans/All First Responders
“By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?” 1 John 3:16-17
Love of Friends and Neighbors: Churches/ Groups/Missions Participants
“Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, “Don’t be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!”” Nehemiah 4:14 NLT
Love of God: Devoted Followers of Jesus Christ
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:10-11 NKJV
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” 1 John 4:7 NKJV
He Loved and Loves Us to Life!
When He rose from the tomb and ascended to heaven, Jesus sent us His Holy Spirit to help us fervently live and love one another with His flaming heart. Let’s make it our goal to love like Him and pray for the wisdom, guidance, and strength to achieve it!
