New hope (Part 2) – Day 10
New hope … with the greatest gift of love
Um(Imi)bhalo weBhayibheli
NgokukaJohane 3
KwabaseRoma 8
Come back with me in time. It’s Friday afternoon just before 15:00. On the hill of Calvary, fresh blood drips from the wounds of the man hanging on the cross in the middle. Hours before, a crown of thorns was pushed into his head before his body was mutilated beyond recognition. You want to scream and shout at the soldiers standing and mocking him underneath the cross. They are making a mistake. Do they not realise who this man is?
Suddenly, darkness falls around you. A strong wind pulls at your clothes while the ground starts to shake underneath your feet. “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?), the man on the cross cries. You run to the foot of the cross. You want to be close to him. The man’s head slowly moves to his chest. Your eyes meet for a moment. Yours filled with shock, disbelief and pain. His, only with love. It lasts for a brief moment before he breathes out his last breath.
Tears stream down your face. One look was enough to make you realise that Jesus hung on the cross for you. He gave up his life for you. And if he could turn back time to the Garden of Gethsemane, he would choose to die in your place, again!
Jesus knew that we, as sinners, would never be able to enter God’s holy presence. For this reason, he voluntarily gave up his life. Yet, I wonder, have you become so caught up in the cards, flowers or gifts of celebrating days like Valentine’s Day, that you have forgotten about the greatest act of love of all time?
God desires a relationship with each of us. That is why he took the risk, more than 2 000 years ago, to send his Son to earth. In John 3:16 we read: God so loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have everlasting life. And in Romans 8:38-39, this love for us is confirmed: I am convinced: neither death nor life, nor angels nor powers, nor present, nor future things or forces or height or depth or anything else in creation will separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
God sent Jesus, knowing that he created us with a free will. We, therefore, can still choose to serve him or reject him. What is your choice? In addition, when last have you thanked him for sending his Son to die for you? God bless.
