He Did it Because He Loves You

We love stories of someone who gives up his or her life for others. A soldier falls on a grenade for his buddies; a mother dies giving birth; the hero holds off the monster all alone so others can escape. We consider them courageous, and so we should! Yet the sacrifice
of one person or several, for the sake of a few or a thousand others, is only a tiny flawed picture of the greatest sacrifice of all -- that of Jesus Christ.

Jesus' words in John 12:32 tell us what he already knew: "When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” His description "lifted up from the earth" describes the cruel torture of crucifixion that was set out for him. Some think Jesus was merely a victim, helpless before the envy and hatred of the political and religious leaders of his day. They interpret his prayer in Gethsemane, "Let this cup pass from me" as a last-minute attempt to chicken out of his assigned duty. But Jesus knew exactly what he was doing, precisely what awaited him -- he had seen other victims of the Roman death penalty as he walked along the roads of Judea and Galilee. He was determined to go through with it no matter the cost, and he remained in charge of the whole operation, because that was his destiny. Nobody did anything to him that was not already determined to happen.

His words "I will draw everyone to myself” describe the massive result of his self-giving. Jesus wasn't falling on a grenade to save the lives of two or three soldiers. He wasn't crucified so that the Romans would leave the other 50,000 inhabitants of Jerusalem alone. He didn't die just to save his entire nation, or even the whole region.

Jesus' death saved everyone. Every person who has ever lived. Billions!

(And before you argue with me that some people are not being saved, let me point you back to Jesus' word: everyone. I looked it up, and the Greek says "everyone." Many other scriptures back up his statement. So if we don't believe that from our limited perspective, it's our problem, not his.)

That includes you. And me. With all our sins and problems.

He did it because he loves you. And always will. But do you love him? What part of your life do you still need to give up for him, as he gave up all of his for you?