Jesus suffered and died...To Show His Own Love For Us (by John Piper)
The death of Christ is not only the demonstration of God’s love (John 3:16), it is also the supreme expression of Christ’s own love for all who receive it as their treasure.
The early witnesses...were captured by this fact: Christ “
loved me and gave Himself for me”(1). They took the self-giving act of Christ’s sacrifice very personally. They said, “He loved
me. He gave Himself for
me.”
Surely this is the way we should understand the sufferings and death of Christ. They have to do with me. They are about Christ’s love for me personally. It is
my sin that cuts me off from God, not sin in general. It is my hard–heartedness and spiritual numbness that demean the worth of Christ. I am lost and perishing. When it comes to salvation, I have forfeited all claim on justice. All I can do is plead for mercy.
Then I see Christ suffering and dying. For whom?
It says,
“Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her”(2). “Greater love has no one than this that someone lays down his life for his friends”(3). “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many”(4).And I ask, Am I among the “many”?
Can I be one of His “friends”?
....
And I hear the answer:
“Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name”(5).“To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God”(6). “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”(7).
[Will] I embrace the beauty and bounty of Christ as my treasure…and...say ”
He loved me and gave Himself for me”?
...He paid the highest price possible to give me the greatest gift possible:...the gift He prayed for at the end of His life:
“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory” (8).
In His suffering and death
“we saw His glory...glory that the Father shares with His only Son, a glory full of grace and truth”(9)
....But the best is yet to come [in heaven]. He died to secure this for us. That is the love of Christ.
Excerpts from
The Passion of Jesus Christ (now Fifty Reasons Why Jesus Came to Die), John Piper, 2004. (Crossway Books, IL) Ch.6, p.30-31.
www.desiringGod.org
References from the Holy Bible (English Standard Version).
1. Galatians 2:20
2. Ephesians 5:25
3. John 15:13
4. Matthew 20:20
5. Acts 10:43
6.John 1:12
7. John 3:16
8. John 17:24
9. John 1:14 (GOD’S WORD Translation)
If you can't say that for yourself, ask to God to show you your need for a Saviour and His amazing love for you. And we'd be thrilled to help if you contact us!
Little Mr. Independance was really proud of himself for walking the whole way by himself, and keeping up with us, too. Once in a while he took a wrong turn and strode purposefully onward, not caring whether or not we were following. Oh, the joy of being out in the sun after a long winter! To be able to freely swing one's arms and legs, unhindered by bulky coats and snowpants!
I did not realize how wet Anneke and Joseph were were getting as I happily photographed them running through the puddles. Perhaps it's just as well that they could enjoy some spring fun without their mother nagging them for a change!
And here's Willie and Maurice settling down for a nap in the sunshine together Sunday afternoon. Pure bliss :).
