Have you ever sacrificed something for a person who didn’t deserve it? Jesus did this during his time on Earth. He sacrificed his life to pay for our sins—something we didn’t deserve, and he sacrificed his life for the Father, so that he could have a relationship with us.

‍

When I first read this verse, I was immediately confused. “The reason my father loves me is that I lay down my life” caught me off guard, because I was thinking “The only reason God loves Jesus is because he gave up his life?” But then I read the second part—“only to take it up again.” The main purpose of Jesus coming to Earth was to sacrifice himself on the cross to have a relationship with us, even though we don’t deserve it, and to take up life again, just like how we lay down our old lives and take up new ones when we become Christians.  

‍

In the verse, Jesus says “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” meaning he chose to have a relationship with us. In this way, he sacrificed something for a person who didn’t deserve it.  

‍

It took me a long time to understand the gravity of Jesus’ actions, and to grasp how much love he had to have for everyone to go through with the crucifixion. When I was younger, I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. When I find myself watering down the importance of what Jesus did, I just try to think of my mood after someone has irritated me—if I feel wronged by someone, I definitely don’t want to do them a favor! But Jesus was wronged by thousands of people, repeatedly. Even when he was on Earth and performing miracles, he was still shunned and tortured, and he chose to die on the cross so that those people could have a relationship with him.  

‍

I believe that the most amazing part of salvation is that Jesus died for the same people that betrayed him. Walking through trials is all about getting to the other side—getting to the better part. But Jesus walked through 33 years of difficulty to die for the very same people that caused him strife, because he loved them. For me, that really puts into perspective how great his sacrifice is, and how much he really cares about people.

‍

The good news is, because Jesus sacrificed himself, and because he loves us so much, we can also “lay down our lives, only to take it up again” like in the verse for today. Laying down our lives doesn’t necessarily mean literally dying, but rather giving up our old lives, repenting and becoming a new creation. In 2nd Corinthians 5:17 we read: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Realizing the importance of what Jesus did for us makes salvation that much more significant.

Jesus, Thank you for laying down your life and doing something so monumental two thousand years ago, that it still saves people today. Thank you for saving the people who scorned you, loving those that hate you, and continuing to chase the people that run from you, all so you can have a relationship with us. Please help me not to water down the gospel, and to be thankful for everything that you’ve done for me. Amen.