Today is Good Friday. This is the day we traditionally remember the
death of our Lord.
I have been reading along in the Gospel of Matthew, leading up to
Easter Sunday. But this morning I woke with some verses from Romans on
my mind.
"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ
died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous
person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still
sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)
It's easier for us to understand Jesus dying for us when we are on our
knees, broken and asking forgiveness. After all, at that time we are
sorry for our sins, easier to love right?
But the Word of God doesn't say that He died for the repentant
sinner. It's very clear, "While we were sinners, Christ died for us."
While we were going our own way, while we were hurting other people,
while we were living selfish lives, while we were destroying
everything around us. Jesus saw all that, yet he still loved us. He
still chose to die for us. All of whether or not we end up on our
knees in repentance.
That is the amazing love of our savior. He has the eyes to see beyond
all we do and are, to love us unconditionally.
And what does he ask us to do in response to this?
"Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with
all your soul and with all your mind.'This is the first and greatest
commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as
yourself.' Matthew 22:37-39 (NIV)
