How Is Christ Different?
Description
“The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.” (John 10:17 )
Expanded Passage: John 10:16-18
I never thought I could die for another person—make the decision to jump in front of a bullet or to push them off train tracks—until I had children. Suddenly, I felt an almost bodily need to protect these tiny humans. I couldn’t stop giving myself to my kids, sacrificing time and comfort to make them happy. I felt almost like I understood Christ’s sacrifice—that he would die even for disobedient kids.
Yet, my mother failed me, and I too will fail my sons. Despite our desire to love our children perfectly, we never can enact that perfect love. We inevitably pick up kids late from practice, lose our temper with them, or fail to provide the perfect home and school experience.
But Christ is different—not only because he desires and enacts perfect love, but because he exercises authority over his own sacrifice. Jesus not only laid down his life for his children, the ultimate sacrifice, but he also took that life back up, and invites us to do the same.
Even if I could love my kids perfectly, I could never save them from death itself—which is exactly what Christ does for us. The question is, how should we children respond to such perfect, infinite love?
Write down ways you can respond to Christ’s perfect love.
Lindsey Priest is an Indiana Wesleyan University graduate. She likes to read to her kids, play video games with her husband, and refurbish furniture.
© 2025 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.