Our Daily Bread: A New Life Easter EditionSample

No Greater Love

Bill and his wife were driving through the Rocky Mountains when a near miss with a truck caused their car to swerve off the road and plunge into the Colorado River. After scrambling out of their sinking vehicle, they frantically treaded water in the swift current. A truck driver, who had seen the accident, ran ahead along the shore and threw a rope to them. Bill swam behind his wife and pushed her to where she could grab the rope—and the man pulled her out. Bill, however, was carried downstream and didn’t survive. He had given his life for the woman he loved.

To give your life so another person can live is the ultimate proof of love. During the night that Jesus was betrayed, He told His disciples of His intention to give His life in exchange for mankind. He told them: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). And then He set the ultimate example of self-sacrifice by going to the cross. Have you ever given any thought to the fact that Jesus did that for you—that He died in your place? In so doing, He not only proved His love for you, but He also made it possible for you to be forgiven of your sins and to have an eternal home in heaven. —Dennis Fisher

Christ’s sacrifice was what God desired and our sin required.