What comes to mind when you hear that He gave it all?

Is it the selfless sacrifice of our lord, Jesus Christ?

Today, we mark the remembrance of the greatest sacrifice ever known to mankind; one man who took on the burden of sin of the whole world; past, present, and even ones to come. What a heavy burden on the shoulders that carried it.

I picture a man on the cross, betrayed, bruised, battered, and in pain; a man who in his life, had thousands flocking around him, awaiting the miracles he'd perform next, yet in his moment of affliction, forsaken by all until it was just him; alone on the cross and dying for the same people that had condemned him to death.

He went through the greatest pain, facing the wrath of his father - his God- for wickedness that was not his, but became his through his act of selfless sacrifice. He endured all and resolutely went through indescribable anguish and pain.

Why?

To gift me life and righteousness.

Who is man that you are mindful of him?

Who am I that he is so intentional about me?

Jesus went through everything he did for me.

What greater pain could there be that Jesus did not go through? A man nailed to a cross with a crown of thorns on his head.

He suffered the worst humiliations at the hands of men; men who were ordinarily beneath him and who he could have shut up in a millisecond. He could have made everything go away in the blink of an eye if he'd wanted to - he had that much power - but he didn't, because he knew that would be the end for me.

If he had decided he'd had enough, it would have been nothing for him, but everything for me. There would have been no hope of reconciliation for me. I would have been resigned to the worst fate - permanent and eternal separation from the Father; a bleak and hopeless future that would have held only destruction in its wake.

Jesus loves me.

He loves me, and so the one who had all the power in the world and beyond willingly became the most powerless just so I could have the hope of wielding that power, just so I could boldly - often too carelessly - declare that I have been redeemed and am a child of God.

He endured the worst of humiliations so I would never have to suffer humiliation at the hands of the devil.

He was afflicted so that I can be set free.

He was battered so that through his stripes, I access healing.

He became helpless so I could be helped.

He was forsaken so that I can be reconciled to God.

He died so I can be dead to sin.

He rose again so that I can be alive to righteousness.

He conquered sin and death so I can share in that victory and declare that sin and death no longer have power over me!

On this great day, I celebrate the depth of that sacrifice to the extent to which I understand it, as I pray for the grace to understand it more.

I hope you do the same as well, and spare a few minutes - or the whole day - thanking Jesus for the sacrifice he made for you on that day many many years ago.

May I never forget the depth of his love and sacrifice for me.

May I receive the strength and grace to love him with everything in me.

Amen.