Amazing Easter Love

During my preparations for reading Mark’s gospel I was struck again by the amount of space Mark gives to telling the story of Jesus’ arrest, trial, death and resurrection: about one third of his gospel (chapters 11 to 16). We are given details of all that happened to Jesus in those last few days of His life on earth.

Why does he consider this part of Jesus’ life so important? It seems to me that the other two thirds of Mark’s gospel, whilst telling us of Jesus the healer, Jesus the friend, Jesus the preacher and story teller, is also telling us about Jesus the Redeemer and Saviour, and how Jesus came to Earth for this very purpose.

We are now entering into the time of year when we shall closely examine the gospel accounts of Jesus’ death and resurrection. And what shall we discover? We will discover that Jesus, the Son of God, was innocent of all crime and innocent of all sin. This in itself is amazing - for you and I could not claim either of these things, let alone both! But Jesus was simply not guilty, yet as we read the story we never witness Him pleading innocence, nor claiming that the authorities had arrested the wrong man. He knew exactly what was required of Him by His father and He intended to see it through.

I’ve tried to think what it must have felt like experiencing the false accusations, the trials, beatings and insults, followed by the final humiliation of public execution before the wondering eyes of those He’d taught, healed and blessed. What thoughts entered their heads as they witnessed this travesty of justice?

But then they did not know what He knew, or indeed what we now know. This seeming travesty was a once-for-all act of love for them, for us, for all. A once-for-all sacrifice to redeem mankind from sin. “Amazing love! How can it be, that thou, my God shouldst die for me!”

I will never know, or understand fully, why Jesus died so willingly for me, that I might live eternally with God in heaven. For my part, I must simply believe and trust in Jesus, in what He did for me on the cross, and receive the gift of eternal life. That’s why it’s “Amazing love!”

The Easter story holds for all of us God’s amazing love. I pray that you will accept it and believe it - and then praise God again and again for it.