Spelling the Word CROSS today we take the first letter C. Jesus went to the cross because of Compassion

John 15:13, Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Who would you die for? Most would say my children, my family, my loved ones. John tells us that Jesus' life was not taken from him but that He laid it down of his own accord. It was His desire, although it was hard from a human point of view to want to suffer on the cross.

 

 It is no different with us. There is natural human aversion to suffering, torture, and pain. Our bodies are made to fight for survival. No one looks kindly at anguish, but what parent wouldn't undergo pain, for the safety and protection of their children? It is compassion for which many a parent will sacrifice, suffer and even die.

 

 A soldier going into battle must have mixed emotions. What thoughts and feelings might we see the night before moving to the front? We regularly hear comments from Veterans who were willing to give their lives for love of their country. The purpose of the soldier is to defend his country and other countries of unwanted invasions from terrorist and oppressive power-hungry people. It is compassion for the homeland and their families that most served bravely and most of the military still do.

 

 We observed in Old Testament God's love drawing His people to Himself through a number of ways. It was the voice of God that was searching for the first sinner, calling out in the garden, "Adam, Adam where are you?" Adam was hiding because he was afraid. He had done an offensive thing against his maker. It was God who sought out Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It was God who called Moses and Joshua, Samuel, and David. It was the compassion of God that He heard the cries of people in distress in this fallen world and sought to do something for them.

 

It was compassion that motivated Jesus to come go to the cross that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Jesus said He came to seek and to save that which was lost. So, once again we see God initiating this love contract. While we were at our worst, He shows us His best. The Bible says, John 3:16,17 16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

 

One of my favorite hymn is "Amazing Love, how can it be than thou, my God shouldst die for me?" Why would the God of the universe humble Himself to die for you to die for me? There is no other explanation other than love. God loves you and is seeking you. He died for you. That is the message of the cross. It speaks to us of Christ's compassion.

Application:  As you reflect on Holy Week think about ways God’s love has been shown to you personally and thank Him for His sacrifice for you.

Prayer:  Oh Father God, you have shown your compassionate love for me in so many ways.  Thank you for seeking me out over and over again.   And so we sing, “Amazing Love, how can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?