Dear ones in Christ,

“The Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” Isa. 53:4

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord who died on the Cross, rose again and live with us forever !

To know what real love is, one need not necessarily search the definition of love in the dictionary, but can find out the same on the Cross of Calvary. No other definition can give justice to the clear demonstration of the act of love on Calvary. Canon William Vanstone describes that false love can be recognised by three marks: mark of limitation (something being withheld), the mark of control (manipulating people), and the mark of detachment ( remain self-sufficient, unimpaired, unhurt) [ John W.R.Stott, Cross of Christ].

Why should God force His only begotten son to carry the sins of the whole world? The answer is nothing but the love of God ‘that none should perish’. The death of Christ further helps us to see the nature of God’s love in executing His plan to redeem the world. We tend to wait for someone to love us so that we can show the love in return. But God did not wait to show his love rather he showed first and then waited. It looks as if He was forced to perform this task. He was prepared to empty himself of everything. He was abandoned by God the Father to demonstrate His love for the world. Are we not obliged to reciprocate this love of God? The fullness of His love is demonstrated at the Cross of Calvary. It challenges our pride to earn our salvation and creates genuine hope that nothing more to be done to enjoy the benefits of Christ’s passion. The message of salvation can be misunderstood as cheap grace if the purpose of Christ’s death is not given adequate importance. According to His original standard the sin is to be atoned for. In order to satisfy that standard, He sacrificed – indeed substituted Himself for us.

The fullness of His love is demonstrated at the Cross of Calvary. It challenges our pride to earn our salvation and creates genuine hope that nothing more to be done to enjoy the benefits of Christ’s passion. The message of salvation can be misunderstood as cheap grace if the purpose of Christ’s death is not given adequate importance. According to His original standard the sin is to be atoned for. In order to satisfy that standard, He sacrificed – indeed substituted Himself for us. I pray that the Cross of Calvary may still challenge and disturb us until we follow the way of the Cross even unto death. The Cross is not the end of the story but it is a beginning of life in its fullness. The death of Christ culminated in resurrection and life. Jesus said “I have come that they might have life…..abundantly” Jn.10:10. Easter Wishes!

Yours in Him,

Shine Achen.