“Greater love has no-one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13 NIV).

From what the Bible says about Jesus’ sacrifice, I see that Jesus died for us even when we were his enemies. Let me expound on my inadequate understanding of this: Christ died for us when we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8). Sinners and God cannot be “friends” because God is holy and cannot look at sin. That is why Heavenly Father had to turn His face away from Jesus on the cross; hence Jesus’ cry about being forsaken.

When I was explaining the amazing sacrifice of Jesus, I told the juvenile girls that I would only consider dying for my husband and daughter, and no one else. I asked them if they would consider laying their lives for their enemies. Of course not! In view of this, how incredible is the cross for us?

God came down as an infant. He lived to proclaim the Good News and went to the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of the world. And on the third day, He rose from the dead and gave us the promise of eternal life in His presence.

No wonder this message is “foolishness to those who are perishing” (1 Cor. 1:18). The only response as followers of Christ is to accept the gift of grace humbly and give thanks to Him who loved us immensely.

God bless you and your loved ones!

Meryem Kennedy