Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe and went up to him again and again, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” And they slapped him in the face.
John 19:1-3
This passage is hard to read. This is what happened to our Savior. This is what dying for our sins looks like. When Jesus said yes to God, when he was in the garden and said “your will be done,” this is what that will was. Jesus took on flogging, a crown of thorns, relentless teasing, slapping him in the face. Jesus said yes to all of that so that I could live today.
It’s hard to imagine giving up your life for someone, but in this torturous and humiliating way, it’s even harder. Why would Jesus do this for us?
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8
That’s the reason: love.
So why is it so hard to accept this love? Sit with that a moment.
God loves you so much, and only wants your heart in return.
Pray that you would surrender your whole heart to the God who loves you this much.
For Kids:
Sing “Jesus Loves Me,” all together.
Ask the kiddos to make a list, or draw pictures of all the people who love them.
Explain to them that Jesus loves them more than all of these people put together.
Read John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son that whomever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
What did God do because he loved us? What does this mean for us?
Listen to: “God so Loved” by We The Kingdom
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