Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.
— John 15:13 —
Julius Malewezi: Central African Preaching Academy | Malawi
The kind of love that Jesus has for His own is unlike any other. There can be, in fact, no greater love. In this verse, we learn of Jesus’ supreme sacrificial love, for He was willing to lay down His life for His friends. His love led Him to bear our sins. Peter writes, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed” (1 Pet. 2:24). May we rejoice in gratitude and follow our Lord’s example, even if it involves laying down our own lives just as He laid down His for us. We are Jesus’ friends, who have been healed by His wounds and called to follow His example. We are to love one another just as He has loved us. The apostle Paul writes, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Eph. 5:1–2). Jesus Christ suffered for us, shed His blood, and died on the cross to pay the price for our sins. We deserved to die, but He took our place! Instead of us receiving the punishment for our own actions and being sent to hell for all eternity, Jesus sacrificed His life for us so that we might live. What wonderful love! May we rejoice in gratitude and follow our Lord’s example, even if it involves laying down our own lives just as He laid down His for us.
Connect with TMAI on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and increase our schools’ reach by sharing our content with your family and friends.
