Thoughts for the Day

No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And the Son of Man must be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

‘Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

There is an old saying that runs: "The love in your heart wasn't put there to stay. Love isn't love till you give it away." If this is true of men and women, then it is just as true of God who gave up His Son Jesus for our sake, so that we wouldn't be destined for eternal darkness. God loved us so much - not just us, but the whole world - that he sent His Son to rescue us and to die for us. That is true love!

Today is 'Holy Cross Day' in the lectionary of readings, so perhaps we can think about what it might mean for a son to be crucified and to suffer for another. When the Jews lost their freedom forever and the temple was finally destroyed in 70 CE, it was said that Titus crucified so many men “that there was no space left for crosses, and no crosses for the bodies”. It was the most shameful of deaths. It was the penalty of slaves and non citizens. There was no one kind of cross. There was the cross in the form of an X often called Saint Andrew's Cross, because it was believed to die on such a cross. There was the cross in the shape of a letter T, often called St Anthony's cross, and lastly there is the cross that we believe our Lord died upon, and which has become a symbol for all Christianity.

The idea behind our rescue from sin was God's, and when we believe in the work of His Son, Jesus, we are offered not judgement and punishment, but eternal life.

Father-God,
sometimes we think of You
as a God of judgement,
but You sent Your beloved Son
to our aid,
who chose to die on a cross
and accept our punishment
because of His love for You
and for humanity.
May we never forget this action
but do our best to be worthy of it,
and learn in turn to give love away.
Amen.