A Bloody Love Letter
Note to self: if you ever feel unloved, remember there is a Man whose back was scourged, hands and feet pierced, and humiliated just so He could save you.
My standards are high, and it’s not only because of Kdramas or Wattpad novels. The man, Jesus taught me what real love should look like. The world is full of self-proclaimed lovers who swear they’d do anything for the one they love but it turns out a toothpaste tube is enough to make them change grounds. But there is a lover who doesn’t love in words alone. He loves in action as well. He doesn’t just speak love, He is love (1 Jn. 4:8)
We often gloss over the gruesome death Jesus endured, simply because we don’t fully grasp what crucifixion really means.When I finally understood what crucifixion truly involved, I saw just how deep the wickedness in the human heart can go. Still, even more, I saw the greater depths of Jesus’ love.
Crucifixion was one of the most brutal Roman punishments, reserved for the worst criminals in Jesus’ time. The condemned were made to lie on a wooden cross, nailed through their hands and feet. Unfortunately, that was only the beginning. The real torture began when the cross was lifted upright. Typically, a crucified person doesn’t die immediately. The punishment was deliberately designed to keep the victim barely alive, prolonging their suffering. After days of painfully lifting themselves just to breathe, the crucified person eventually dies—not just from wounds, but from exhaustion and suffocation. How sad. How cruel.
Although Jesus didn’t hang for days, He still endured the full agony of crucifixion. He was flogged, mocked, shamed, and crucified amongst truly wicked men. After all of prophecy was fulfilled, He willingly gave up His spirit (Jn. 10:18; 19:20). I kept asking myself, what could make an innocent man endure all of this till the end. Even in the midst of all that suffering, He remembered to say a prayer for us (Lk. 23:34). Then the answer came to me; love. The night before His crucifixion, Jesus said “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn. 15:13 NIV). If there were a list of the “craziest things people have done for love,” this would top it by far.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 NIV
The proof of God’s love for you and me is found in the death of Jesus Christ (1 Jn. 3:16). God wanted so badly for us to turn back from our path to destruction that He was willing to do whatever it took (Jn. 3:16). And what it took was Jesus on a cross. You know how in those romantic movies, someone shoots at the female lead and then the male lead jumps in to take the bullet for her? That’s exactly what Jesus did for us on the cross. He took the penalty for our sins and carried the burden of our shame. Not wanting us to suffer to get saved, He suffered instead. He died in the most excruciating way imaginable to save us from the far greater pain of eternal separation from God. (1 Pet. 2:24)
The very people who were alive when Jesus was crucified were the same ones He had healed, brought joy to, rescued from oppressive religious leaders, and fed. The people He loved were the same ones who turned against Him. Now think of that. He loved these people, yet they returned His love with hatred. If He hadn’t known these things would happen, one might assume that’s why He chose to go to the cross. But the thing is, He knew. Jesus knew exactly how things would play out. In fact, in the days leading up to His death, He spoke of it at any opportunity He got. Yet He still chose to die for the very people who had hurt Him.
It’s easy to become numb to the weight of that sacrifice, even to feel entitled to it. But let’s remember: we never deserved it. And there’s no guarantee that if Jesus came today, we would treat Him any better. History shows us—and Scripture confirms—that human nature hasn’t changed much.
If you take a slap for your lover, people might say you’re trying to play the hero. Take a bullet instead, and suddenly, you look cool. And if you survive it, your whole personality shifts — now you’re walking around feeling like a hero. Sometimes people do these “sacrificial” thing for others to feed their hero complex. However, when we are talking about crucifixion, it’s a whole different ball game. You simply cannot fake it. No matter how strong your desire to be a hero is, you can’t just will yourself through that kind of torture—especially when you’re innocent. What motivated Jesus wasn’t a hero complex. It wasn’t the need to look cool or holy. It was love.
Note to you: if you ever feel unloved, remember the Man with holes in His palms and a pierced side who endured the torture of it all just for you. Remember that Jesus Christ was crucified for your sake. Remember that He loves you more than you can ever know.
Faith+blog 