To Be Loved to the End!
Scripture Reading — John 14:15-24
As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved … put on love.
Colossians 3:12-14
If we are to live lives worthy of Jesus, we must love. Why? Because Jesus loved. When asked what the greatest commandment is, Jesus simply answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ … And … ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’” (Matthew 22:37-39).
The Father loved Jesus (“This is my Son, whom I love”—Matthew 3:17), and Jesus loved his heavenly Father (“I love the Father”—John 14:31). They lived in love with one another, and acted out of their mutual love.
Do you think it might have been harder for Jesus to love us than it was to love his Father? After all, Israel’s leaders wanted him dead; the once adoring crowds turned against him and asked for his crucifixion; even his disciples abandoned him.
Jesus actually became accursed for us, taking on our sin and dying in our place. And by the power of God he rose again from the dead! (See Acts 2:22-32; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13.)
Thankfully, Jesus did not stop loving us, no matter what we did to him. He loved us “to the end” (John 13:1), through his sufferings, through his agonizing death, to the end that was his resurrection.
Praise God! Nothing could stop Jesus from loving us. He is alive, and he loves us still.
Dear Jesus, we cannot understand why you loved us when we did not deserve your love, but we are deeply grateful. Empower us by your Spirit to love deeply, as you love us. Amen.
About the author — Harvey Stob
Rev. Harvey Stob and his wife, Audrey, served as missionaries in Argentina for eleven years. They then served churches in Cincinnati, Ohio; Ridgewood, New Jersey; and Ann Arbor, Michigan. Harvey retired from full-time pastoral work in 2009. He and Audrey have three children and seven grandchildren.
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