Leap Year

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. [John 3.16]

It's Leap Year.

What better passage of scripture to discuss than John 3.16?

I just wonder if we really ever stop and ponder the depths of this verse. 

God gave His only Son. But this really wasn't like a baby dedication at church... God offered His only Son and we killed Him. It was necessary, just like the sacrifices required in the Old Testament, but it was in fact our fault.

Salvation comes when we own up to Jesus' death. It was indeed my fault. My filthy life alone was enough to warrant all the punishment Jesus endured. 

Jesus' death could have been avoided if only I was perfect - but that is impossible, I am broken.

But that is where God's love is so profound and determined for my good. Even though nothing in me deserved to live, God loved me anyway.

God held the only solution for my sin. And He gave it - He gave Jesus. Because His love for me was so great, He gave His Son to die... after all, He knew His Son could take it - He could not only take death, but He could defeat it. But it would cost something - it would cost the punishment due for the sin of the world. It would cost humiliation. It would cost descending from the highest throne to the lowest grave. It would cost more however than just the grave, it would cost Hell. But Jesus defeated death, hell and the grave.

He did it for me. I did not deserve it, but He did it anyway - He did it by the faith which He demonstrated with His life. He did it in faith that I would take advantage of it. He did it so I could become a Kingdom heir along with Him - on His shoulders, so to speak. And He did it motivated by love. Faith works by love.

Jesus performed the greatest act of faith ever in giving up His life on behalf of mine. His faith was that I would believe and have eternal life. That's a lot of faith when considering the whole world!

I suppose what might have been the most painful thing about Jesus' death was the knowledge that not all would receive His gift. But He believed anyway.

Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus. Thank You for Your plan to save the world - to save me. Thank You for believing in me even when You knew me... yes, the real me - the me that deserves nothing good - the me that deserves nothing but hell. The me that cost Jesus' His life ...albeit willingly... Oh, thank You Father!