The Chosen and Friends: God With UsNäide

No Greater Greater Love
From Come and See

I want to be really clear about something right at the start: any time you and I see someone lay down their life for others, it should take our breath away. Any time. Because that’s a much greater love that we’re accustomed to seeing, isn’t it?

But.

I have to be clear about this, too: there is no greater greater love than what we see in Jesus laying down his life for his friends.

First, let’s acknowledge the magnitude of Jesus laying down his life.

No one will ever be more unworthy of death than Jesus. And I’ll say this, too: Death was not worthy of him. Jesus lived a spotless life. Never sinned. If anyone could have raised a victorious hand in Death’s face and pointedly said, “Not me; this is undeserved; look elsewhere,” it was him.

There is no greater greater love than Jesus laying down his life.

And now to who he did it for—those “friends.”

There in the Upper Room of John’s gospel, Jesus offers his definition of the greatest kind of love to a ragtag circle of folks: A hot-headed fisherman. A skeptical doubter. A political zealot. Two brothers who had once asked Jesus to send fire down on a whole town. A tax collector. A traitor who will swap a Savior for silver.

And think about his friends outside of the Upper Room: the prostitutes and centurions, the diseased and unclean.

And I’ve not even gotten to me or to you.

If anyone could have raised a voluntary hand in Death’s face and dejectedly said, “It’s me; I deserve this; look nowhere else,” it’s us.

But in Jesus swoops to say, “Me; have me; that in me this is undeserved by them; I’ll have it no other way.”

There is no greater greater love than Jesus laying down his life for everyone, that anyone might be called friend of him and his Father.

And just think about what all of this reveals about that Father.

There is no greater greater love than a Father calling on his Son to lay down his life that anyone in the world might be called a Son or a Daughter.

Great indeed.

In fact, the greatest.

So, today of all days, let’s give thanks.

About The Author
Come and See is a faith-based nonprofit that exists to share the authentic Jesus with at least one billion people worldwide. Because of the generosity of supporters around the world, Come and See is able to ensure that all seven seasons of “The Chosen” are produced, translated into 600 languages, made globally accessible, and free to all. Learn more at comeandsee.net.