The Crucified God - Love's Ultimate Expression

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Today is Good Friday – a day which perhaps seemed less than good for those watching Jesus die in the first century, but a day which we know now brought about God's good purpose of salvation for all people.

Amazing Love

I want to quote from two Charles Wesley hymns that speak of the death of Christ. First is the famous hymn "And Can It Be", in which he writes:

"Died He for me, who caused His pain-
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?"

Amazing love indeed, that Jesus would die for the very ones who caused His pain and pursued Him to death. How can it be that a day like today ends up benefitting us? It's because He did it in love.

Washed White as Snow

And then a lesser-known hymn of Wesley's published in the 1745 hymnal "Hymns on the Lord's Supper" says this:

"See from His wounded side
The mingled current flow!
The water and the blood applied
Shall wash us white as snow."

Strong imagery, which comes from the moment the solider plunged his spear into Jesus' side and a mixture of blood and water flowed out, which we read in John 19:34. Wesley says that the water and blood 'applied' washes us white as snow. In other words, if we believe that what Jesus did today is the basis of our forgiveness – not our own religious commitment or our good deeds, but His sacrifice – then our stains and sins are washed away and we stand before God white as snow – our records wiped clean and our sins forgiven.

Making it Personal

Today as you consider the death of Jesus, think about what His death meant for sinners everywhere – restoration and forgiveness based on what He did in love. But don't neglect receiving that love for yourself! This is not just a theory, it can be personally applied to your life if you believe.

John 15:13 says "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." Jesus did this good thing today out of His amazing love, to wash us clean. Bow on your knees and worship Him today for what He has done.