No Greater Love
“Ya see, God loves this world so much, that He gave His one and only Son to die, so that every man, woman, boy and girl who believes in Him will not die, but will be a-livin’ forever” John 3:16 (“The Gospel of John Cowboy Style”).
It’s one thing for a man to offer up his life on behalf of others. Some through history have done that. Given the right circumstance, you or I might be willing. In fact, Jesus at one point told His disciples “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).
But, to give up one’s own son? Now that’s an altogether different thing. I might be willing to lay down my life, but to voluntarily lay down the life of my son for the sake of others, even perhaps for my enemies; that would be a difficult, maybe even an impossible choice.
There is one who from ancient Biblical history knew about such a choice. On Mt. Moriah, Abraham placed his son on an altar, his son of promise. And within a millisecond of fatally plunging a knife into Issac, God stayed his hand and offered-up a substitute instead.
Years later, on another mount, outside the city of Jerusalem, A Father stood by as His only Son was nailed to a cross as a sacrifice for all mankind. This time the sacrificial hand was not stayed. But sin, death and Satan were allowed to do their worst to the Son of God so that the best might be done for us.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16).