This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. (1 John 4:9-10; NIV)
I love this verse and it seems so appropriate during Christmas. It’s a precious summation of how God saw His creation—which he loved—and knew they were entangled in sin. God understood this sin meant His creation—which he loved—could never exist in His presence in their current situation. God knew He was the only one that could rectify the condition of His creation—which He loved. So God did what had to be done. He sent His Son—which He loved.
Sometimes the phrase “sent his one and only Son” comes across as very simple, like sending your son to the grocery store, to his room, to school, etc. But as simple as it might seem, God’s “sending” of His Son was NOT simple. When God “sent” Jesus, He knew everything Jesus would endure. He knew Jesus would be rejected by His own people. He knew that Jesus would be questioned by those that should have embraced his appearance. He knew Jesus would be arrested, beaten, mocked, and spit upon. And He knew Jesus would die a very cruel criminal’s death.
We obviously love our children. But do we love anyone else to the point that would cause us to send our child to their certain death if it would save the other loved one? God’s answer was, “Yes!”
My prayer this Christmas season is that we thank God for his “yes” in our lives.
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