The executioner seized Jesus’ right arm and dragged it to the place prepared for the nail, and having tied it tightly down with a cord, they knelt upon our Lords chest, taking a long thick nail, pressed it into His loving hand, which had always been open to give blessings and favors to the ungrateful Jews, and with a great iron hammer drove it through the flesh, and far into the wood of the cross.
Jesus uttered one deep but suppressed groan, and his blood gushed out and sprinkled the arms of the executioners. The nails were very large, the heads about one inch, and the thickness of a man’s thumb. So, was it those nails that held Jesus to the cross – NO!
“For God SO LOVED the world that HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
It was 1 LOVE that held Jesus to the cross! Love, is the only attribute that God has demonstrated to the utmost. We have never seen the full greatness of his power, but WE HAVE SEEN THE FULLEST EXPRESSION OF HIS LOVE FOR US. This love is 1 agapaō love which is unconditional love. It’s a choice made to love another person whether they love back or not. It means to love someone even if they are an enemy! Agape love is not based on emotion, in fact, it may be contrary to every emotion. It is an ACT OF THE WILL.
“…let us love [agapaō] one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been BORN OF GOD and KNOWS GOD. Whoever does not love does not know God, because GOD IS LOVE.” (1 John 4:7-8)
So, again, I say “let us love one another” …Bill Stockham
Jesus uttered one deep but suppressed groan, and his blood gushed out and sprinkled the arms of the executioners. The nails were very large, the heads about one inch, and the thickness of a man’s thumb. So, was it those nails that held Jesus to the cross – NO!
“For God SO LOVED the world that HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
It was 1 LOVE that held Jesus to the cross! Love, is the only attribute that God has demonstrated to the utmost. We have never seen the full greatness of his power, but WE HAVE SEEN THE FULLEST EXPRESSION OF HIS LOVE FOR US. This love is 1 agapaō love which is unconditional love. It’s a choice made to love another person whether they love back or not. It means to love someone even if they are an enemy! Agape love is not based on emotion, in fact, it may be contrary to every emotion. It is an ACT OF THE WILL.
“…let us love [agapaō] one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been BORN OF GOD and KNOWS GOD. Whoever does not love does not know God, because GOD IS LOVE.” (1 John 4:7-8)
So, again, I say “let us love one another” …Bill Stockham