John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
I've been a Christian my entire life but I haven't always acted how a Christian should. My parents and mentors tried to instill the Christian way of life into me, but I didn't always want to listen or accept the truth. Now that I'm a parent, I see the same pattern of testing and defiance. As parents we sacrifice a lot for our kids: our time, our treasure and talents to teach them what life has to offer. When children become obstinate they blame you for everything. "You don't understand!" and roll their eyes. (smack!) But you still love them and hopefully have patience that one day, they will grow to understand and even appreciate.
Today's reading follows up the very popular and often quoted John 3:16. Until today. in this reading I always thought of Jesus and his payment for our sins so that we could have eternal life. But now I have a new appreciation for the sacrifice God made on our behalf. God is patient and loving. Yet Man was so messed up that God made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his own son, Jesus Christ, to die for us. Not only did he die, but in the most humiliating and painful way: hanging from a cross. Would we offer our children in sacrifice for others, knowing that they would die? (Maybe the closest thing would be military service, but even then most return home). Jesus died for us and we find hope in the Cross, knowing that the instrument of death for Jesus will bring us to a life in Christ for eternity. Say a prayer of thanksgiving to God today for his patience and sacrifice.
