Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13 KJV

This is one of those scriptures that can leave you thinking after you read it. I know the first time I read this the immediate thought that crossed my mind was that of a soldier that fights for his country. He is surrounded by friends that are going in to battle with him and he or his friends could die at a moments notice from a stray bullet or simply being on the battle field.

When a soldier goes in to battle and one of his friends gets shot down, needs assistance or needs to be rescued the greatest love a soldier can show is risking his own life for his comrade or friend. When you compare that to God’s word it is very powerful. It is a selfless love meaning the person did not think about the consequences of them going to save their  friend. They merely acted on saving the person not thinking about what negative event could happen next. In God’s eyes that is love!

In the scripture above, Jesus knew what was lying ahead of him. He knew he would be beaten, spit on, whipped severely, and then be killed through crucifixion on the cross. But that did not stop Him. He had one focus and that was seeing you and I reunited with the Father. In the next verse he said:

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. John 15:14

It is an honor to be called a “friend” of God. Rejoice because you are no longer a servant but a friend and a family member of God. He loves you so much! He sacrificed His own son to see you free from the captivity of sin and the devil. It doesn’t matter what you say or do because God the Father and our Lord Jesus love you. Your actions don’t change how God feels about you. On the contrary, they affect how you think God sees you.

Always remember that Jesus made a choice and He did it out of love. He chose to lay down His life for you! Jesus told Pontius Pilate that he could have no power at all over Him and what he did have was given to him from above:

Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? Knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee? Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin. John 19:10-11

So if you ever feel down or sad remember that He was the first to ever love you and He showed it through His own sacrifice. God bless you!