It’s the time of year when being a mum of two young girls, I embrace cuddling on the sofa, hot chocolates in hand, watching wintery movies such as Home Alone, Elf and of course, Frozen. It was only the other day that the Frozen story stood out to me in a way I hadn’t seen it before. The younger sister Anna sacrifices her own life for Elsa, her older sister, turning to ice as she shields the sword. When Elsa realises her younger sister has stood in her place and breathed her last, she weeps over the statue of her now frozen sister. The ultimate act of love was for Anna to sacrifice her own life to save that of her sister.
As I thought about this I then began to reflect on the ultimate act of love Jesus made for us – it was the sacrifice of a brutal death on a cross just so that we might be saved. WOW! Could we ever love someone that much we would sacrifice our own lives? Could we give the ultimate act of love? Death? John 3 v 16 (The Message) says “This is how much God loved the world: He gave [sacrificed] his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.”
What must have been going through Jesus’ mind when he knew he was going to die. In Matthew 26 v 38 Jesus tells his disciples “…my soul is deeply grieved…”. He knew what was coming, what pain he would have to suffer, yet it had to happen as God intended and he let the Roman soldiers take him under arrest without a struggle. How can we not be stirred by this ultimate act of love?
If you are sat reading this in your warm, cosy home today, you may have questions, difficulties or sadness, you may be comfortable and happy in your life. Whatever situation you may be in, why not think about that sacrifice Christ made for you. The ultimate act of love. If you choose to believe in him, asking forgiveness for the things you’ve done wrong in the past, you too can have wholeness, unfailing love and an unlimited peace. Who wouldn’t want that?
Amy Jeffery
King’s Lynn Christian Fellowship