Romans 5:6-8
What more can be said that has not already been said about Easter? Easter is a celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It commemorates not only the selfless sacrifice of the Father in the surrendering of His one and only Son, but also the triumph He won over sin, death, hell, and the grave when He got up. Anyone, including the annual Easter worshiper, knows the rudiments of the story of the resurrection. It is rehearsed annually, immortalized in television shows, movies, dramatic presentations and more. The casual believer knows the tenuous connection between Easter and bunnies, eggs and chocolate. The more sophisticated believer knows the strong connection between Easter and Passover. What more, then, can be said that has not already been said?
Perhaps what can be said is what Easter means personally and what it should mean to you and me. Perhaps a personal word that will propel the casual believer to a different, more committed place in Christ is what is left. Perhaps what this day calls for is a personal testimony from those who have tasted and have seen that the Lord is good. If you were called upon to give such a testimony, what words would you speak? How would you give an account of the hope of glory that you claim is in you? If I were to testify my words would be simple and my testimony uncomplicated: love lifted me. When nothing else could help, love lifted me.
It sounds good, but how can I say such a thing? How do I quantify such a claim? Our text today brings validation to my claim. In our text the Apostle Paul, writing to the Roman church, affirms that in dying for us Jesus demonstrated His love for us. His affirmation echoed the words of Jesus Himself when He declared, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” I can say it for the following reasons.
- He loved me when I didn’t love myself.
- He saw in me greatness, when all I saw was mediocrity.
- He was patient with me when I pursued my own path, and tried to credit it to him.
- He took me back after I had wandered astray.
What kind of love is this that God should love me so much that He would allow his only begotten Son to die for me? What kind of love is this, with all of my rebellion, all of my doubts and fears, that my Savior should love me still? What kind of love is this, when I didn’t love myself, that Jesus could see the potential in me? What kind of love is this, after all the miscues, all the misdirection, all of the sin, my Lord would still accept me and claim me as His own. What kind of love is this that I should be able to stand and declare that Jesus is the lover of my soul even when it wasn’t clear that I loved Him?
It is a different kind of love from that which characterizes so much of our life. It is a special kind of love not founded on my goodness, or my worthiness. It’s a special kind of love not predicated on what I can offer in return. It is a special kind of love not based upon any initiative on my part. It is love in spite of . . . Love in spite of my faults. Love in spite of my sin. Love in spite of my rebellion. Love in spite of my duplicity. Love in spite of . . .
I grieve when I rehear and reread the passion narrative. I grieve when I ponder all He endured for me. I grieve when I think about the whipping, the thorns, the spittle, the nails and the spear. I grieve when I survey the wondrous cross where my Savior suffered, bled and died for me. Why would Jesus die for me? Why would Jesus care? But He did because He loved me. So, it was love that lifted me. In 1912 James Rowe and Howard Smith wrote a hymn by the same name. It lyrics read:
“I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more, But the Master of the sea, heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help Love lifted me!
All my heart to Him I give, ever to Him I’ll cling. In His blessed presence live, ever His praises sing. Love so mighty and so true, merits my soul’s best songs, Faithful, loving service too, to Him belongs.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help Love lifted me!
Souls in danger look above, Jesus completely saves, He will lift you by His love, out of the angry waves. He’s the Master of the sea, billows His will obey, He your Savior wants to be, be saved today.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help Love lifted me!”
© All Rights Reserved 2014 – Dr. James H. Logan, Jr.
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