By Online Author
As I hang on this wooden cross, my body battered and bruised, my heart aches for my disciples, mother, brothers, and sisters who gather below. Though the pain is immense, I am filled with a love that surpasses all understanding. My love for them, and for you, is the very reason I am here, enduring this sacrifice.
I look down at my beloved disciple John, standing alongside my dear mother Mary. Their tear-filled eyes meet mine, and I feel the weight of their grief. In this moment of anguish, I make arrangements for my mother's care, entrusting her to John, saying, "Woman, here is your son," and to John, "Here is your mother." (John 19:26-27) I am reminded that love is not only boundless, but it also seeks to provide and protect those it cherishes.
As I observe my other disciples and followers, scattered and disheartened, I know that my sacrifice will ultimately bring them hope and healing. I am filled with compassion for them, as I see their hearts breaking, their dreams of a triumphant kingdom shattered. Yet, I am also filled with anticipation, knowing that in just a few days, they will witness the greatest display of love and victory the world has ever known.
In the midst of the darkness that surrounds me, I also see you - the generations to come, those who will hear my story and choose to believe in my name. You, whom I have loved from the beginning of time, are the reason I willingly offer myself as a sacrifice. My love for you knows no bounds, and my desire is to reconcile you to the Father, to restore the relationship that sin has broken.
As I gasp for breath, I cry out, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) This plea is for those who have condemned and crucified me, but it also echoes across the ages to reach you. My love for you is so vast that I long to forgive every sin, every mistake, and every failing you have ever known.
In my final moments on this cross, I want you to understand that my love for you is the driving force behind my sacrifice. Through my death and resurrection, I offer you redemption, hope, and eternal life. I have borne your sins, your pain, and your shame so that you might experience the fullness of my love.
As I prepare to breathe my last, remember that my love for you is stronger than death, and that it was my love for you that held me to the cross. Let my boundless love be the foundation of your faith and the guiding light in your life. And when you face your own trials and tribulations, remember that I, Jesus, am with you, loving you and walking alongside you every step of the way.
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