John 19:28 Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

This indicates that Jesus knew full well that He was operating by a script, written before the world was created. Part of that script had been recorded in human language through prophets, and Jesus wasn’t going to miss any of His lines. To me that deepens the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice for us, because it’s hard enough to grasp that He could have died for us in the first place, without His knowing, even as a human being, what was going to happen next. The love that was expressed on Calvary is far more than merely human words can express. That’s why Jesus acted it out for us, so that we would have some chance of grasping it.

Even though I was raised in a Christian environment, that doesn’t give me any significant advantage in grasping God’s love. Sometimes people who are saved out of the depths of depravity have the strongest grasp of it, because they know better than many others that we are hopeless without it. I can use the words I have, in English and Japanese, to express this love to people, but it takes the help of the Holy Spirit for them to believe what they are hearing. Little children have less trouble believing it, because they are used to receiving love, but adults generally let their past experiences of human, conditional love get in the way. That’s why everything I say to people needs to be on a firm bed of prayer to God, because only God can get it through to them. Likewise, to be effective at the task, my life has to be a demonstration of God’s love, for me and for those around me. As John said very clearly, if I claim to love God and yet hate my brother, I am a liar. (1 John 4:20) If I want people to believe and receive God’s love for them, I’ve got to be a living expression of that love myself.

Father, we are in the middle of celebrating the ultimate expression of Your love, and tomorrow morning is the climax. I pray that across this city and across this nation, multitudes will receive a fresh revelation of Your love. May they open their hearts to receive it and be transformed by it, so that non-believers may become believers and pew-warmers become disciples, for their blessing and Your glory. Thank You. Hallelujah!