The Sacrificial Love of Jesus

Written by Abby Caymol | Feb 22, 2025

Jesus said to him, “I am the [only] Way [to God] and the [real] Truth and the [real] Life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had [really] known Me, you would also have known My Father. From now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” –John 14:6-7 AMP

If there is anyone in this world I know to be truly popular, it is Jesus. From the beginning, He has been the central figure in my life. My childhood memories are vivid regarding everything He taught and did in the Bible. I have always known Him as a “life transformer,” but my biggest question has been, “What is it that Jesus does to change millions of lives in such unique ways, and how do these people truly abide in Him?” This wide range of questions ultimately led me to one word—love.

But [in fact] He has borne our griefs, And He has carried our sorrows and pains; Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken, Struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him]. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our wickedness [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]; The punishment [required] for our well-being fell on Him, And by His stripes (wounds) we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, We have turned, each one, to his own way; But the LORD has caused the wickedness of us all [our sin, our injustice, our wrongdoing]To fall on Him [instead of us]. –Isaiah 53:4-6 AMP

In the Old Testament, there are numerous prophecies about Jesus as the Messiah who will save the world. Notably, all of God’s prophets, including Isaiah, prophesied with great accuracy. This is unquestionable, as God carefully selected His prophets to deliver His messages. Isaiah is one of these prophets (Isaiah 6:1-3).

But [in fact] He has borne our griefs, And He has carried our sorrows and pains; Yet we [ignorantly] assumed that He was stricken, Struck down by God and degraded and humiliated [by Him]. -verse 4 AMP

He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth [to complain or defend Himself]; Like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before her shearers, So He did not open His mouth. -verse 7 AMP

His grave was assigned with the wicked, But He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. Yet the LORD was willing to crush Him, causing Him to suffer; If He would give Himself as a guilt offering [an atonement for sin], He shall see His [spiritual] offspring, He shall prolong His days, And the will (good pleasure) of the LORD shall succeed and prosper in His hand. -verse 9 & 10 AMP

The book of Isaiah contains many fulfilled prophecies, including references to Jesus as the Messiah (61:1-7), as the bearer of the world’s sins (53:12), and his birth from a virgin (7:14-15), among others. All of these prophecies have unfolded over time.

and walk continually in love [that is, value one another–practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance. -Ephesians 5:2 AMP

Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for our sins, not for His honor, but because of His everlasting love for us. We learn how to love from Jesus and the Father, as it is written in scripture: “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Just as humans strive to imitate God, husbands are called to give their all to their wives when they become one. He envelops her in love and protects her heart. This reflects the selfless love that Jesus demonstrated by giving Himself for us. We will never fully understand the true meaning of “Real Love” until we contemplate the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath]. -1 John 4:9-10 AMP

Nothing hurts more than seeing your child suffer, especially when you know they are innocent. The Father God felt deep pain in His heart when Jesus had to endure all the physical, mental, and emotional suffering. However, God loves His creation, which includes all of us. Jesus demonstrated His love for us by sacrificing His life to free us from sin and hell. This love from the Father and His only Son is faithful through all ages and has withstood the test of time. God’s love allows our hearts to abide in Him, and because of this, His Holy Spirit is given to us (1 John 4:13).

But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace–His undeserved favor and mercy–you have been saved from God’s judgment). -Ephesians 2:4-5 AMP

From the beginning, God knew that we would be separated from Him because of the incident in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:22). He already had a backup plan to fulfill His purpose, though it started in chaos. Everything must unfold according to prophecy, step by step. God could have removed the Garden of Eden, but He loved Adam and Eve. From the outset, God’s grace has led us to His heart. We are God’s creation; through His grace, we are spiritually transformed and renewed, created in Christ Jesus (verse 10). We have been delivered from sin; this salvation is a gift from God, not something we can boast about or claim credit for (verse 8b).

I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing. -John 15:9-11 AMP

The love that Jesus has for us is genuinely contagious. This love was established in the heart of the Father during creation. The Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of remaining in Jesus’ love and abiding in Him. Jesus constantly reassures us of His love, which is unwavering. Unlike human relationships, where love can be inconsistent and subject to change based on feelings, Jesus’ love is sacrificial and steadfast. It never falters and welcomes everyone, regardless of our flaws.

Jesus’ love is kind and not self-seeking; it keeps no record of wrongs and always perseveres. God’s love endures even in trials, as beautifully explained in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. Jesus is worth everything, even the relationship you may lose in your life. People may ultimately hurt you, but with God, you will find a love that continues to embrace and pursue you. His love never fails.

But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. -Romans 5:8 AMP

Before we look at verse 5:8, let’s read and study verses 1-5 in the Amplified (AMP) version:

“Therefore, since we have been justified—acquitted of sin and declared blameless before God—by faith, we let us grasp the fact that we have peace with God and the joy of reconciliation with Him through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed). Through Him, we also have access by faith into this remarkable state of grace in which we firmly, safely, and securely stand. Let us rejoice in our hope and the confident assurance of experiencing and enjoying the glory of our great God, which is the manifestation of His excellence and power. And not only this, but with joy, let us exult in our sufferings and rejoice in our hardships, knowing that hardship (distress, pressure, trouble) produces patient endurance; and endurance produces proven character (spiritual maturity); and proven character produces hope and confident assurance of eternal salvation. Such hope in God’s promises never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

This passage explains that through Jesus, we have access by faith to a grace that is firm and secure, lasting until the end of this age. Verse 8 emphasizes that during this time, Christ died for us. Jesus bore the weight of sin in this world to provide us with salvation. He understood that sin would become increasingly evident in our present age. He is the only Redeemer for the sins that Satan has scattered since the beginning.

Redeeming us from hell came at a significant cost to Jesus, but did He mind how immense that cost was? No. Why? Because He loved us. We may struggle with various sins that are difficult to let go of, such as lust, pride, anger, and adultery. We often see the sins we grapple with when we open the Bible. However, Christ provided complete deliverance through His death on the cross because of the Father’s and Jesus’ great love for us. This sacrifice involved humiliation, suffering, and the deprivation of privileges. 

Indeed, it is not easy to let go of the sins we face. Still, we can take comfort in knowing that abiding in God and engraving His word in our hearts will give us the endurance needed for character growth, especially in spiritual maturity. Although it is easier said than done, Jesus’ greatest love allows us to receive the full benefits of reconciliation with the Father and to enjoy those benefits.

While we may have different perspectives on love, God clearly illustrates what true love is meant to be. His love is unconditional, a profound gift that only He can provide. No one can match the faithful, enduring, and sacrificial love that Jesus offers. So, when the devil tries to distract you or make you doubt God’s love for you, firmly redirect your focus to the cross.

I hope you find the love you have been searching for. Remember, Jesus loves you deeply.