Incomprehensible love

Christ suffered for you (1 Peter 2:21).

Bob and Jim were brothers who liked to horse around. They were always running, playing catch, or wrestling with each other. Frequently their mother had to shoo them out of the house so that their antics would not result in something getting broken.

One day the boys were chasing each other around the house. Suddenly there was a loud crash—then silence. Alarmed, their mom rushed into the living room, where she found her sons chalk white and glass all over the floor. Looking behind them, she saw the source of the shattered glass—the new large screen TV would never play again.

Seeing no cuts or other signs of injury on the boys, her face turned red with anger. Barely in control of herself, she demanded "who did this?" Jim shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other; just when it seemed as if he was going to open his mouth, his older brother looked their mom straight in the eyes and said, "it’s my fault."

That evening was an unpleasant one for everyone in the family, and Bob received more than just a lecture from his parents when Dad got home from work. Bob’s punishment was carefully thought out and lasted a long time; his parents wanted to impress on both boys how important it is to be careful and responsible, even when playing.

Several years went by; Jim entered high school while Bob left for college. One evening, while the younger son and his mother were working in the garden, their conversation drifted back to the day the television set was broken. After some hesitation, Jim said softly, "You know, Bob didn’t break that TV—I did." Astonished, his mother asked, "Why did Bob take the blame for you? You know the punishment he got as a result!" Jim replied, "that night when we went to bed, I asked Bob the same thing. He told me that he knew you and Dad would be really, really mad, and he just didn’t want me to have to face all that anger. He said that he was older, and he could handle it better than me."

When we sin, we make God our Father very angry, angry enough to punish us in hell. But Jesus cares for us like an older brother, and He accepted His Father’s punishment in our place. When He suffered on the cross, He endured the hell your actions deserved. Jesus did this because He loves us—loves us with such complete devotion that we can scarcely understand it.