The Cross: The Ultimate Expression of God’s Love

“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly… But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:6–8 NIV

Knowing God’s Love

Jesus loves me, this I know. His love for me is clear in the Scriptures, and the Holy Spirit constantly reminds me that I am a beloved and cherished child of the Most High God.

Over the years, I have consistently prayed and asked God to show me how much He loves me. In Ephesians 3:19, Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus—and by extension, for us—that we would know God’s love that surpasses knowledge.

If God’s love surpasses knowledge, then we cannot fully understand it just by reading about it. That’s the work of the Holy Spirit. We ask Him to help us receive an understanding of God’s unconditional, immeasurable love so it transforms us and allows us to experience it daily and share it with others.

The Cross: Love on Display

Recently, the Holy Spirit has directed my attention to the cross as the ultimate expression of God’s love. It’s not that I never knew that Jesus died on the cross as a demonstration of His love for me. I have known this. But this has been different. I have been lingering and meditating slowly on how Jesus used both actions and words to express love to His disciples, betrayer, accusers, opponents, and ultimately the entire human race as He journeyed to the cross and was crucified.

As we read the Scriptures and journey with Jesus to the cross, we witness Him sharing a meal with His betrayer, Judas, on the very night before His crucifixion (Matthew 26:23). He did not deny Judas access, nor did He give him a piece of His mind. Jesus loved Judas to the very end, even though He knew Judas had already conspired with His enemies to take His life. Now, that is love!!

Jesus knew that His disciples would desert Him at His greatest time of need, yet He chose to spend His last hours with them. He did not “cancel” them or turn a cold shoulder toward any of them, not even Peter, who denied Him—not once, not twice, but three times (Matthew 26:34).

As they arrested Jesus, Peter cut the right ear of Malchus, a servant of the high priest (John 18:10). Without missing a beat, Jesus reached out and healed the ear of His captor (Luke 22:51).

Then they subjected Jesus to an unfair and chaotic circus trial—from the chief priests/Sanhedrin (Matthew 26:57–68; Luke 22:66–71) to Pilate (John 18:28–38), then to Herod (Luke 23:6–12), and finally back to Pilate (Luke 23:13–25; John 19:1–16). The guards mocked and insulted Jesus; they blindfolded Him, struck Him, and spat on Him (Matthew 26:67–68; Luke 22:63–65). After this, He was scourged (John 19:1), dressed in a robe, crowned with thorns, and beaten again as they mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” (Matthew 27:27–31; John 19:2–3).

Jesus was handed over to be crucified (John 19:16). As He hung in agony between two criminals, Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him (Luke 23:34). He showed mercy to the repentant criminal (Luke 23:43), and even in His suffering, He entrusted His mother to John’s care (John 19:26–27).

Finally, with His last breath, He said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), declaring that His mission to redeem us from sin, its consequences, and the devil was, is, and will forever be perfectly and completely finished. After His death, a soldier pierced His side, and blood and water flowed out (John 19:34), fulfilling what was spoken: “They will look on Him whom they pierced” (John 19:37).

The Resurrection Reveals God’s Love

If it all ended at the crucifixion, all we would have today would be the story of a prophet who taught with authority, loved people, and performed signs and wonders. But we know that was not the end.

Three days later, Jesus rose from the grave, in keeping with His promise to His disciples (Matthew 16:21). His resurrection proved that He is the Son of God (Romans 1:4) and sealed His authority and victory over death, the devil, sin, and its consequences (1 Corinthians 15:54–57).

After He arose, He appeared to His disciples—talking with them, eating with them, and continuing to minister to those He loved so dearly (Luke 24:36–43). Then, after He ascended, He sent the Holy Spirit to be in us and with us at all times (John 14:16–17).

The resurrection of Jesus demonstrates God’s love for us because Jesus shares His victory with us. Because He rose from the dead, we who have placed our faith in Him share in His victory over death, the devil, sin, and its consequences (Romans 6:4–5).

We who were once dead in sin are made alive and receive eternal life through Jesus Christ (John 11:25–26). We are no longer slaves to sin or under the dominion of the enemy, but have been rescued from the realm of darkness and brought into the Kingdom of His beloved Son (Colossians 1:13–14).

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,”
Ephesians 2:4–6 NIV

Because Jesus lives, we now live in Him—and the same love that raised Him from the dead now empowers us to walk in love daily, reflecting His life to the world around us.

Our Response to His Love

When I reflect on all of this, I am reminded that the cross was not just something Jesus endured—it was love on full display. Love that forgives in the middle of betrayal. Love that heals those who come against it. Love that remains steady when others walk away. Love that sacrifices, not because it is deserved, but because it is who He is. And love that shares its victory freely with others.

I am so grateful to be a recipient of this immeasurable and unconditional love of Christ that has saved me, healed my emotions, and given me a new life and identity.

Romans 5:8 states that “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Jesus died for all of us in our sinful and undeserving state. Therefore, we are called to love in a way that reflects Christ—not selectively, not conveniently, but sacrificially and intentionally.

Living Out the Love of Christ

Below are five additional Bible verses that invite us to love as Jesus loved on the cross.

“For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Corinthians‬ 5‬:14‬-15‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians‬ 5‬:1‬-2‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John‬ 15‬:12‬-13‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John‬ 4‬:10‬-11‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John‬ 3‬:16‬-18‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The question for us is not only whether we have received this love, but also whether we are willing to live it out.

Reflect

• Who is the Holy Spirit prompting me to love—even when it is difficult, uncomfortable, or undeserved?

Prayer

Father, thank You for the gift of Your Son and for the overwhelming, sacrificial love demonstrated on the cross. Thank You that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. 

Teach me to love like Jesus—to forgive quickly, to serve humbly, and to give sacrificially. Strengthen me to walk in love even when it is hard. Let my life reflect the love of Christ in both word and action. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Footnotes

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

©The Cross: The Ultimate Expression of God’s Love. Chizobam Idahosa @Beautiful in Jesus. All Rights Reserved.

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