Jesus offered up His entire life as a sacrifice of perfect love and obedience to God, submitting Himself ultimately to death on the cross in accordance with the Father’s will. Through His crucifixion, Jesus also demonstrated His perfect love for the world, not only laying down His life for His friends, but praying forgiveness over those who crucified Him.

It is in the cross of Jesus that we find the perfect example of keeping the great commandments: to love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves. The crucified Christ is the perfect image of love—indeed, the perfect image of God—in our fallen world. If we would more resemble Christ and keep the commandments of love, we have His example. If we would be faithful image bearers of God, we too, must be cross bearers.

What will that look like for you this week?