The Love Jesus Demonstrated

THE LOVE JESUS Demonstrated IN THE MOMENT

TODAY’S READING: LUKE 23:32–46

The ambulance door was about to close—with me on the inside. Outside, my son was on the phone to my wife. From my concussed fog, I called his name. As he recalls the moment, I slowly said, “Tell your mum I love her very much.”

Apparently I thought this might be goodbye, and I wanted those to be my parting words. In the moment, that’s what mattered most to me.

As Jesus endured His darkest moment, He didn’t merely tell us He loved us; He showed it in specific ways. He showed it to the mocking soldiers who had just nailed Him to a cross: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (LUKE 23:34). He gave hope to a criminal crucified with Him: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (V. 43). Nearing the end, He looked at His mother. “Here is your son,” He said to her, and to His close friend John He said, “Here is your mother” (JOHN 19:26–27). Then, as He lay His life down, Jesus’ last act of love was to trust His Father: “Into your hands I commit my spirit”

THE REASON MY FATHER LOVES ME IS THAT I LAY DOWN MY LIFE. . . . NO ONE TAKES IT FROM ME, BUT I LAY IT DOWN OF MY OWN ACCORD.

JOHN 10:17–18

(LUKE 23:46).

Jesus purposefully chose the cross in order to show His obedience to His Father—and the depth of His love for us. To the very end, He showed us His relentless love. o TIM GUSTAFSON

How do love and obedience fit together? Which of Jesus’ acts of love touches you the most?

I praise You, Jesus, that Your every word was spoken in love; and Your every action proved it.

WHY FORGIVE?

TODAY’S READING: LUKE 23:32–34

When a friend betrayed me, I knew I would need to forgive her, but I wasn’t sure that I could. Her words pierced deeply inside me, and I felt stunned with pain and anger. Although we talked about it and I told her I forgave her, for a long time whenever I’d see her I felt tinges of hurt, so I knew I still clung to some resentment. One day, however, God answered my prayers and gave me the ability to let go completely. I was finally free.

Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith, with our Saviour extending forgiveness even when He was dying on the cross. Jesus loved those who had nailed Him there, uttering a prayer asking His Father to forgive them. He didn’t hang on to bitterness or anger, but showed grace and love to those who had wronged Him.

This is a fitting time to consider before the Lord any people we might need to forgive as we follow Jesus’ example in extending His love to those who hurt us. When we ask God through His Spirit to help us forgive, He will come to our aid—even if we take what we think is a long time to forgive. When we do, we are freed from the prison of unforgiveness.

FATHER, FORGIVE THEM, FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

LUKE 23:34

o

AMY BOUCHER PYE

What do you think it means to forgive others as you have been forgiven (COLOSSIANS 3:13)? Ask Jesus to help you to live out that kind of forgiveness.

Lord Jesus Christ, through Your grace and power as You dwell in me, help me to forgive, that Your love will set me free.

ENGRAVED ON HIS HANDS

TODAY’S READING: ISAIAH 49:14–18

In Charles Spurgeon’s many years at his London church during the 1800s, he loved to preach on the riches of Isaiah 49:16, which says that God engraves us on the palms of His hands. He said, “Such a text as this is to be preached hundreds of times!” This thought is so precious that we can run over it in our minds again and again.

Spurgeon makes the wonderful connection between this promise of the Lord to His people, the Israelites, and God’s Son, Jesus, on the cross as He died for us. Spurgeon asked, “What are these wounds in Your hands? . . . The engraver’s tool was the nail, backed by the hammer. He must be fastened to the cross, that His people might be truly engraved on the palms of His hands.” As the Lord promised to engrave His people on His palms, so Jesus stretched out His arms on the cross, receiving the nails in His hands so we could be free of our sins.

If and when we’re tempted to think that God has forgotten us, we only need to look at our palms and remember God’s promise. He has put indelible marks on His hands for us; He loves us that much. o AMY BOUCHER PYE

SEE, I HAVE ENGRAVED YOU ON THE PALMS OF MY HANDS.

ISAIAH 49:16

Are you ever tempted to believe God has forgotten you? How do these words in Isaiah show you that this will never be the case?

Lord God, how vast is Your love for me! You keep me ever before You. I know You’ll never leave me, and I’m grateful.