A Love So Deep
.
John 5:21-24
For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me, has eternal life; he does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
I suppose it’s sacrilegious to say that God became so confounded by man that He sent Jesus to help Him understand how it feels to be confined to flesh and bone. Only through becoming human could he know first hand the glorious scent of fresh bread baking and the sweet, victorious sound of a baby squalling as it gasps its first breath. He wanted to feel a human touch and see with human eyes, think with human comprehension. He desired to comprehend even the dark, sinful places of our souls. How else could the Savior’s death truly redeem us?
Of course God is God and he doesn’t need anything from us. His taking on human form was the ultimate expression of love. More than that, it was the perfect expression of servant hood. His decision to walk among us, to breathe our air and taste our food, speaks volumes about the power of God. He lowered Himself to be like us. He sacrificed Himself to save us. Jesus changed not only human history, but God’s view of us as well.
Yes, God is all knowing, all powerful, all . . . everything. But just as we create a baby and give it birth, we can never know completely what it is like to be that new person. We know a great deal about the baby – the genetic make up, the temperament, the odd little quirks. But we cannot fully and completely know the thoughts of that newly created life form. We don’t know how it feels when the baby’s heart beats in its chest, even though our heart beats within ours.
I am certain I’ve not made a convincing argument here, and I have perhaps confused my point more than I have clarified it. Jesus was God’s way of empathizing with us. The Cross was God’s way of showing us how to move beyond ourselves, to become more like Him with every breath and heartbeat. Jesus was, indeed, divine. He was, though, also human and he had the same free will God gave to each of us. He did not have to die on the Cross. It was His choice to do so.
We owe Jesus, this God/man, everything! Some may diminish His sacrifice, contending that well He was God so it wasn’t really painful or difficult for Him to be crucified. Ah . . . but He was crucified as a human being! He rose as divine to show us the way to heaven. I know I’ll never be that courageous, obedient, loving or strong. But I have a vision of what courage looks like, an example of absolute obedience, a lesson in perfect love and a model of divinely-inspired strength.
That should be enough to keep me busy until I get to heaven!
My prayer today is that you reflect upon a love so deep, so strong, so compelling and pure that God chose to walk among us. And that you will strive to be Jesus to a world in desperate need of a Savior.
Mary
