Love can sometimes feel like a rather abstract concept. We cannot grasp it or take hold of it. We cannot pour it into a measuring flask and weigh it. Yet, we can observe a person’s love by the cumulative measure of the things he does, not just by what he says. A father shows he loves his little girl when he holds onto her hands when walking along the road, to prevent her from dashing into traffic. A mother shows she loves her little boy when she stays up late at night to sponge him down when he has a fever. Spouses show they love each other when they show respect, care and concern for each other, not just in words, but in deeds as well. As the apostle John put it:
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (1 John 3:18)
How, then, do we know that Jesus loves us? We can look not only to what He said, but what He did for us. Here is a list of 5 things that Jesus did, that shows He Loves Us.
#1 - He knew even from the beginning of time that He would eventually be offered up like a Lamb as a sacrifice for humanity’s sins – yet He came to Earth anyway.
…the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8b)
Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:18-19)
#2 – He prayed three times to the Father for His imminent suffering to be taken away from Him – but specified that He would submit to the Father’s will regardless.
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. (Matthew 26:39)
He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. (Matthew 26:42)
And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words. (Matthew 26:44)
#3 – He could have asked the Father for “more than twelve legions of angels” (i.e. more than 72,000 angels) to prevent His arrest – but He submitted to that unjust arrest and crucifixion anyway.
Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? (Matthew 26:52-54)
#4 – He could have cursed and raged at His adversaries while He was hanging on the cross – but He prayed to the Father that they would be forgiven.
And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:33-34)
#5 – He continues to be our Mediator and Advocate on our behalf in front of the Father – though we have sinned, we receive mercy and pardon through submission to Jesus Christ.
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. (1 Timothy 2:5-6)
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:1-2)
All praise and glory be to our great Saviour, Jesus Christ, who loves us not only in word and tongue, but in deed and truth as well! He Loves Us.
Comments