Christ's Love Demonstrated Through Sacrifice and Suffering

"Behold how He loved him." Christ's love to mankind is revealed through seven dimensions:

First, in His original covenant engagement—to live with us, die for us, and secure our happiness. Second, in His assumption of human nature: He passed by the higher nature of angels and took our nature with all its poverty and trial. Third, in the tenor of His lips and conversation. His inspiration was mercy. When disciples would have called down fire from heaven, He refused, saying that was not His spirit. This mercy was not mere sentiment but a vigorous active principle: "He went about doing good."

Fourth, in the sources of His joy and grief. Christ's joys were not connected with Himself but with the happiness of men. His griefs arose not from His own poverty but from our misery: "Ye will not come unto Me."

Fifth, in His ministry's character—its subject salvation, its invitations tender and winning ("Come unto Me"), and its threatenings as hedges against danger.

Sixth, in His death. He died for us, died when He had no need to die, died as no other could die.

Finally, in His departure: expedient for us, not Him. He establishes reconciliation as He leaves and now governs all things for our good. The Jews exclaimed at seeing Him weep at Lazarus's tomb; how much more should we exclaim seeing Him at Bethlehem, Gethsemane, and Calvary—the full measure of Adonai's sacrificial love.