Today is ‘Good Friday’, the Friday before Easter. The church traditionally sets aside this day to commemorate the Crucifixion of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Some make it a day of fasting, penance, and meditation, yet there is no right or wrong way of observing this day. Today and this weekend are a celebration of the definitive message within God’s Word – our Salvation through the death and resurrection of Christ. It seems fitting, and fair enough, to just repost the ‘Salvation’ post from a few months back (if you haven’t read that post already, do check it out). However, this weekend is more than just a celebration of our salvation and redemption. It is a celebration of Love.

Do we truly know what love is? Have you witnessed love here on earth? Some have, some think they have, some have not. However, there’s really no love like the love shown by our Lord. The greatest example known to humanity was observed on the cross. A man willing to die for a world that would not receive Him. If we could only comprehend just how much He truly loves us…enough to set aside all authority, honor, and glory at that one moment – to die and accept the penalties of our sin. Doing this allows us to be cleaned and renewed by His majesty, grace, and wonder. The very things he bestowed upon us with his actions were the very things we could not obtain on our own. They were gifts of Love from the Father passed down to us through the Son and reside in us through the Spirit.

This week’s post is another song from ‘The Last Temptation‘ album. We will most likely cover every song on this album at some point. Alice has spoken fondly about this album – claiming it was driven by a Christian-based theme. One that has the character Steven ultimately damning Satan back to the pits of hell – where he belongs. While the rest of the album focuses on Steven’s plight, the song ‘It’s Me‘ might seem a little out of place. However, this love song definitely plays a part in the story. It affectionately paints a picture of Steven’s emotional fondness for Mercy, another character in the story. But It also parallels the Love of our Lord for humanity – His creation. With lines like, ‘It’s Me, It’s Me, What are you searching for, I know you can find my door’ (Matthew 7:7-8), ‘When you need something more, Something you’re dying for, It’s Me, It’s Me’ (Romans 6:6), and ‘I know you’ve sinned every sin, But I’ll still take you in, it’s Me’ (Romans 8:1), this song shows us how Christ throughout the Word shows His Love for us. He yearns for us all to embrace Him the sacrifice He made on that cross.

While the cross is the ultimate example of His Love – his willingness to lay down His life for us (John 15:13), He left us other examples of that Love as well. The rest of this post will focus on a few of those.

Jesus Feeds The Hungry.

Matthew 15:32 reads, “Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” Jesus goes on to feed the 4,000 people referred to in this passage (keep in mind this was a separate event from the feeding of the 5,000). But notice something. It states that he does so out of compassion for these people. He was motivated by Love.

The Little Children And Jesus.

Matthew 19:13-14 reads, “Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.” Jesus was showing us and His disciples what it means to follow Him. This story parallels the life of Christ. We, as God’s children, must come to Him. Willing to accept His forgiveness through His righteousness which leaves us cleansed and renewed. He was motivated by Love.

Jesus Prays In The Garden.

Matthew 26:39 reads, “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” This verse shows the agony of Christ, and how intense His struggle was with what was yet to come. The weight of all humanity’s sins would soon crush His earthly body. Yet notice – He remains true and accepts the task. He willingly agrees to save us from suffering and separation. He was motivated by Love.

Jesus Is Betrayed And Arrested.

Luke 22:49-51 reads, “When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.” We learn in John’s account that Peter is the attacker and Malchus is the servant of the high priest (John 18:10-11). Jesus could have commanded His disciples to fight. He could have struck these aggressors down. Instead, He heals Malchus. Imagine the impact this must have had on all of them. His disciples and His assailants both witnessed His commitment to the Great Commandment found in Matthew 22:37-39. He was motivated by Love.

Jesus and The Cross.

There are so many more examples of Love pertaining to the actions and words of Christ. He was a walking embodiment of God’s Love. His time and travels on this earth leave us with a direct illustration of what the Father’s adoration for His creation looks like. Christ’s Passion was to bridge all humanity to the Father. His devotion and obedience on the cross bridges us to Him. Making us rightful, worthy heirs (through Christ) – brothers and sisters in the Kindgom (Romans 8:17). The cross was his final act of admiration. His last, final mortal accomplishment motivated by Love.

In conclusion, it truly is Him we should search for…if we knock, He will answer (Matthew 7:7-8), if we lay down our lives, He will set us free (Romans 6:6), and if we confess our sins, He will take us in (Romans 8:1). Such beautiful and elegant words. I can’t help but believe Alice knew what he was doing when he wrote this song. It wasn’t just a love song between a man and a woman, but it was also a song about our Lord and His unconditional affection, passion, adoration – LOVE – for His creation. I hope you all come to know and understand that His Love is absolute and unrestricted. He only asks that we accept it. Accept Him. Accept the sacrifice that was made – knowing it to be a completion of our hearts, minds, and souls. That acceptance makes us righteous, holy, and received by His Love. The Love of a man that was fully human and fully God – willing to give His life, so we might obtain it. That man was Jesus Christ. Enjoy your weekend with family and friends! And REJOICE! For He IS Risen! Amen.