I have been reading out of Billy Graham's book, Unto the Hills, for my devotional lately. I was so moved by what he had to say on April 9th, that I just have to share it. It made me think deeply all over again why I choose to celebrate Easter. It's titled simply, It was love...
"Yea, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee." Jeremiah 31:3
It was love, the love of God, that put words such as these into the mouths and hearts of the prophets: "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:6.
It was love, the unerring love of God, that brought these prophecies into precise fulfillment. On a specific day marked on earth's calendar and in a specific place marked on earth's map, the Son of God came to this planet.
It was love that prompted the Son of God to reflect the same affection for the world as did God the Father, and to show a selfless compassion to the sick, the distressed, and the sin-burdened.
It was love that enabled Jesus Christ to become poor that we through His poverty might be rich.
It was love, divine love, that made Him endure the cross, despising the shame, and made Him endure the contradictions of sinners against Himself.
It was love that restrained Him when He was falsely accused of blasphemy and was led to Golgotha to die with common thieves; He raised not a hand against His enemies.
It was nothing but love that kept Him from calling twelve legions of angels to come to His defense.
It was love that made Him, in a moment of agonizing pain, pause and give life to a repentant sinner who cried, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into they kingdom!"
It was love that, after every known torture devised by degerate man had been heaped upon Him, caused Jesus to lift His voice and pray, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34
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