God’s Great Love

John 3:16,17 ESV
For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  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.”

An illustration of this passage can be seen in the book written by Louisa May Alcott called “Little Men.” In this story a little boy was brought into a private Orphanage and was learning to fit in. He had been living on the streets so he was not accustomed to rules and regulations. When he was caught breaking one of the rules of the house. The man in charge took the boy into a room and picked up a large stick. The boy assumed he was going to be punished, braced himself for the punishment.

The gentleman gave the boy the stick and said, “you don’t understand, it is not I that will strike you, you will strike me. You will be learning the pain you cause by breaking the rules.” The boy tried to refuse but the master insisted and each time the boy struck the master the boy cried deeply for the pain he caused.

It doesn’t make sense that God loves us so much that He gave His Son to suffer and die for us, but that is what He did and that is who He is, the God who will punish Himself to bring us back to Him. Our sin is what nailed Jesus to the cross.

“…God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.” God’s love just astounds me. Why would He do that for us? Why would He punish Himself to set us free.

Prayer:
Lord apart from You I am not worthy of such a great love that You have shown me by suffering and dying to set me free. I owe You my life.