The Truth Sacrifices

What is love?

It’s one of the deepest questions of the human experience. And the world’s answers can be confusing. Is it a feeling? An obligation? How much is enough? With so many opinions, where do we find the truth about love?

1 John 3:16 gives us a clear answer: “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” This verse doesn’t just define real love, it gives us the ultimate example of it: Love is sacrifice. And God showed the full expression of that love when Jesus died on the cross to atone for our sins.

Easter Saturday adds weight to this truth. It’s a day that sits in the quiet between Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday. On this day, the tomb was still sealed. There was no celebration yet. Just silence, waiting, and the cost of the cross still hanging in the air.

This gave the disciples time to sit in the reality of what had happened. It wasn’t a close call. It wasn’t an almost-sacrifice. Jesus truly died. He truly gave everything. And this emphasizes a powerful truth: Love costs something. Love is sacrifice.

Then John turns the spotlight onto us: “And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” Most of us won’t be asked to die for someone. But we all face everyday moments where choosing to love like Jesus could cost us something. Showing up for someone in crisis when you’re already stretched. Covering someone’s need when it hits your budget. Sharing Jesus when it could cost you your comfort or reputation.

This is the truth of God’s love for us: Christ poured Himself out for us first, and from that love, we’re moved to love others the same way. And when you love like that, people don’t just hear about God’s love, they experience it for themselves.

JoJo The Mystical Monk - JJtMM

The Cross - In Our Living Room

This is a crack in the wood of our living room ceiling. I thought it made for a right fine cross!

From Google:

In Christianity, the cross symbolizes the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, representing God's love, sacrifice, and redemption of humanity from sin. It transforms a historical instrument of death into a symbol of victory, hope, and eternal life. It also signifies faith, obedience, and the call to take up one's own cross. 

Key symbolic meanings of the cross include:

Sacrifice and Redemption: It represents Jesus willingly dying to pay for humanity's sins, offering salvation to believers.

God’s Love and Grace: It is the ultimate demonstration of God's love, bridging the gap between God and humanity

Victory over Death: It symbolizes Christ's triumph over sin, darkness, and death through his resurrection.

Christian Identity and Faith: It serves as the primary emblem of the Christian faith, representing the believer's commitment and devotion.

Discipleship and Self-denial: It reminds believers to live humbly and follow Jesus, often referred to as "taking up your cross". 

The cross is used in various ways, including in churches, on jewelry, and in the "sign of the cross" gesture, which represents a prayer, blessing, or profession of faith. 

The Cross In Christianity

Here is a close-up

The Cross In Christianity

JJtMM - JoJo The Mystical Monk