The Relational & Transactional Models of Our Interaction with God – Part 7
February 23, 2009
Dear Friend,
Last week we spoke about the parable in which the householder sent his son to collect the fruits of his work. He had done just about everything he could do to bring about a harvest. The parable itself does not complete the picture of what God was trying to do with us. It does tell us that this was God’s last great effort. It is only by comparing this passage with others that the true meaning of God sending His son is revealed.
The overwhelming emphasis on God sending His son is on love.
- For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (John 3:16,17)
- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Rom. 5:8)
- Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:38, 39)
- But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us. (Eph. 2:4)
- Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1Jo 3:16)
- Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. (1 Jo 4:11)
In this long, but not exhaustive list, we see the completed picture of exactly what God was trying to accomplish. God wanted us to see that he loved us so much that His son would die for us. Now an inquisitive person might say “I don’t get it. How does Jesus dying show us God’s love?” Excellent question! The answer is found hidden in the following verse.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)
Jesus had just given his disciples a new commandment. He told them to love each other as he had loved them. Under the law, men were to love their neighbor as themselves. This means that under the Law, men were supposed to put other men’s need on par with their own. If I had two apples, I would give you one. This new commandment from Jesus was to love each other as Jesus loved us. This was agape’ or self-sacrificing love. He wanted them to put other people’s need above their own needs. If I had two apples, I would give both of those apples to people who needed them more than me. A man needed to be willing to lay down his life for his friends. This was much more than just dying for our friends, it was living for them in a self-sacrificing manner. This was a dramatic shift in our understanding of love.
This still doesn’t answer our question about how Jesus dying shows God’s love, but now you are ready to understand it. When Jesus says “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends”, he clues us in to the all important lesson. God’s love is greater – far greater — than the self-sacrificing love Jesus expresses.
I would like to think that I am willing to give my life for my friends. I try to give of my time, money and energy to the point that many times I put their needs above my own. I would even like to think that if someone came in the room in which we were together and demanded that one of us needed to die, I would raise my hand and say “take me.” I can tell you this much, though. I have two daughters. If that same person came into the room and demanded that one of us had to die and it was between you and my daughters, well, all I can say is that it was nice knowing you. There is no way - zero chance – that I am going to let my daughters die for you. I love them so much that I am going to do everything in my power to save their lives. If they won’t take me and you have to die, so be it.
God’s is so intent of saving us that despite knowing we were going to brutally murder His son, He sent him anyway. In this fashion, He lets us know just how much He loves us and wants us to be in His family. God traded one son for many sons! It makes perfect sense in that light.
For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.(Heb. 2:10)
He showed us a love which is beyond human comprehension in that He sent His son into the world to be murdered to bring about a transformation in us and adopt us into His family. What more can He do to show us beyond that? What other convincing do we need? What excuse can we give now not to become part of His family and become one of the fruits of the harvest?
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1Jo 3:1)
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1Jo 4:7-10)
Transactions may be a part of God’s plan for us, but they are not THE plan for us. Relationship always trumps the transaction. God is trying to raise a family! You and I have the privilege to be a part of that family if we choose to do so. Make no mistake about it; God has done everything He can to convince us to do so.
Have a great week,
