We are moved by great love stories. We suck in our breath and revel in the demonstration of passionate pursuit, by the one who is willing to abandon their own comfort— even dabble in danger if it means they might possibly be rewarded with the heart of the one they desire. Worthy is the one who pursues our hearts with such relentlessness. Worthy is the one who comes after us.
And we want this, don’t we? To be loved absent of condition. To be desired and invited to offer quite simply ourselves, nothing more. It’s a showing of strength, that we long for. And there was a love that was birthed with you, that a long time ago was destined to show it’s strength. Gargantuan pains were allowed on the off chance your love might be returned.
“They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him… they led him away to crucify him.” — Matthew 27:30-31
“I have loved you with an everlasting love…” — Jeremiah 31:3
Today marks the single most gut-wrenching and glorious demonstrations of devastation and deliverance the world has ever witnessed. It’s good Friday. And this marks the day when Jesus acted in full submission to the plan he had been part of concocting centuries before.
It moves me because I love him. I love him. I love that to him, I was worth it. I love that he comes after me in everyday moment from the mundane to the majestic. I love that he is big enough for my hard days, that he delights in my heart being fully satisfied in him in ways that mean he will never stop molding me. I love that he is without flaw, that he is intentional, and just. That he offers mercy. I love that someday I will see his face and feel more at home than ever before. I love that the greatest of all demonstrations of love was one that was offered for me. In all of my faults and all of my flaws, he came for me, just as he came for you. There is nowhere I am more secure than in the presence of the one who saved me, because he loved me first. His love is anchor worthy.
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” — Hebrews 6:10
It is my hope, that you would live with an overshadowing awareness of the truth about this love story which includes you as the beloved. That you would regularly realize there is one who is great and mighty and strong, who desires you in such a way that he would allow those who are less than worthy to take his life in order to have your heart. I love how Cory Asbury puts it in his song, “Reckless Love.”
Before I spoke a word, you were singing over me.
Before I took a breath, you breathed your life in me.
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God,
Oh, it chases me down, fights till I’m found, leave the 99.
I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still you give yourself away.
There’s no wall you won’t kick down, lie you won’t tear down, coming after me.
There’s no shadow you won’t light up, mountain you won’t climb up, coming after me.
The overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God.
He goes on to say this:
God himself is not reckless, he is not crazy. We are however saying that the way he loves in many regards, is quite so. He is utterly unconcerned with the consequences of his actions with regard to his own safety, comfort and well-being… He does not consider himself first, he doesn’t wonder what he’ll gain or lose by putting himself on the line. — Cory Asbury
So let’s not forget to revel in the glory of this good day. Because on this day, so many years ago, He came for us. He comes for us still. And he will come again.