He First Loved Us

In reflecting on the Easter story-- the story of Jesus' death and resurrection-- this year I was struck by His love...


Love brought him to one last meal with them; Love sent him to his knees to wash their feet; Love drove him to surrender though the plan was more than he could bear; Love kept him in the garden when the mob arrived; Love sustained him through an unjust trial and beatings beyond our imagination...


Love sent him up the hill; Love kept him on the cross through excruciating pain; Love allowed him to promise Paradise to the thief; Love led him to forgive the ones who knew not what they did; Love brought him to the moment when he could declare, "It is finished!"


Love took him to hell where he defeated it once for all... and then Love waited in eager anticipation...


Love rolled back the stone and burst forth in triumph; sin, death, hell-- all defeated! HE IS ALIVE, and WE 
ARE FREE! "Love came down and hope was found; now we're waking up to a brighter day."


That last quote is from a song by Gungor (my current favorite band), but the rest of it comes from my thoughts on how Jesus' death is the greatest demonstration of God's love for us.  This is love that I can't even begin to fathom or understand, love that put my life (both physical and spiritual) above His own.  When I think about how it was His love that motivated every moment from the last supper with His disciples to His last breath on the cross, I can't help but love Him in return.  I understand anew that "we love because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).