No Greater Love!

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." John 15:13.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." John 3:16, 17.

Jesus was sent from heaven to share with us the love of God, to dispel the darkness of this world, to share with mankind the light of life, and to reconcile us with the Creator of the Universe. "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:12. "Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ… For He (God) made Him (Jesus) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:18, 21.

"Nature and revelation alike testify of God's love. Our Father in heaven is the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy. Look at the wonderful and beautiful things of nature. Think of their marvelous adaptation to the needs and happiness, not only of man, but of all living creatures. The sunshine and the rain, that gladden and refresh the earth, the hills and seas and plains, all speak to us of the Creator's love. It is God who supplies the daily needs of all His creatures." Steps to Christ, p. 9.

Christ's life was the living representation of the Father. During the last meal with His disciples, Philip, said to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father". Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves." John 14:8-11.

"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." Col. 1:19.

Christ's life was a life of ministry and service to all with whom He came in contact. His love was so great that He gave His life for all who would put their faith and trust in God. "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep… I am the good shepherd and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd." John 10:11, 14-16.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed." Luke 4:18. This was Christ's statement of His earthly mission. He quoted it from Isaiah 61:1. Christ's life was a life of compassion, service, healing and preaching the message of the kingdom of God, which Christ Himself has made available to us through His sacrifice on Calvary. "God demonstrated His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8. "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." John 3:14, 15.

"The price paid for our redemption, the infinite sacrifice of our heavenly Father in giving His Son to die for us, should give us exalted conceptions of what we may become through Christ. As the inspired apostle John beheld the height, the depth, the breadth of the Father's love toward the perishing race, he was filled with adoration and reverence; and, failing to find suitable language in which to express the greatness and tenderness of this love, he called upon the world to behold it. 'Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!' 1 John 3:1." Steps to Christ, pp. 14-15.