John 3:16–18
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
It is not a myth or a fairy tale. It is not a story made up in the minds of some Hollywood writer. It is the story of love. God loved us so much that we could not just have eternal life, but so we could have life in abundance. People work hard to have the best in this world. They die and leave all they worked for behind. Others benefit from their labor.
Many misunderstand Jesus’s death. How could a Holy God come to this earth and die for such sinful people? We look at people through the eyes of the world and see evil. God looks at people through the eyes of love and sees redemption. God loves. God loves every person, not just the righteous. Not just the good. We should be thankful. There was a time when we fell into that category. Jesus gave his life for those who were caught up in the sin of this world.
John 12:24–25 (NKJV)
24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.
Jesus spoke of dying to His disciples. We are the disciples of Christ today. We must be willing to die for the world. We must be willing to give up everything to follow Christ. Jesus told His followers, “He who truly loves will give up his life. This world is not our home. It is a journey to our eternal home, Heaven.
Jesus speaks of a grain of wheat. I have packets of seeds. They were purchased to plant and produce fruit. If they stay in the packs they will decay, rot, and be of no benefit to anyone. But, if they are taken from the package, planted in the ground, and nourished they will produce fruit that is beneficial for life. Not only will they produce fruit, but they will also produce seeds that can be planted and produce more fruit.
“For God so loved…He gave.” Do we love so others can live? Are we willing to die to ourselves so God can live through us? Jesus died so we could live! Jesus lives in the life of the believer. Are we willing to allow the living Savior to use us, to plant us, to produce His fruit through us?
Easter is about life and having it more abundantly and sharing that life with others.