The earth shook.  The sky darkened.  The curtain in the temple split. Jesus had just declared, “It is finished.”  And breathed his last breath.

What brought him to the point of death?

You could say it was the Romans.  They crucified him, after all.  Pontius Pilate held court, such as it was.  The Romans had conquered Israel and it was they who dispensed justice.

You could say it was the Sanhedrin (the Jewish leaders).  They saw the danger Jesus posed to the delicate balance of rights, power, and religious freedom they had under the Romans.  Upsetting that balance could result in further crackdowns.  Better to get rid of him than risk everything.

You could say it was the crowd.  Looking for easy answers.  A political solution.  Someone to give them back what had been taken.  Their freedom.  Their land.  When this Jesus didn’t deliver what they were looking for, it was time to move on.

But it wasn’t the Romans.  It wasn’t the Sanhedrin.  It wasn’t the crowd that brought Jesus to the point of death.  It was love.  Love and the knowledge he was fulfilling his purpose, no matter what the cost.  And it was the highest price anyone could pay – his life.

It was love that understood the Romans.  How the Republic had turned into an Empire.  How many were trapped serving a government that was rotting from within.

Love that understood the Sanhedrin.  Men afraid for their lives, trying to keep God’s people separate and pure so the Messiah could come.

Love that understood the crowds.  Used and manipulated by political and religious leaders.  Without hope for a brighter future.

Love that saw, understood, and hurt for them all.  And love that fueled his purpose.  Kept him moving forward when he so wanted to take another path.

Only a love that deep and purpose so compelling could keep Jesus walking resolutely to the cross.  Have him enter Jerusalem in a public way – on a donkey, no less.  Have him right where the leaders could watch his every move.  Only love could do that.

We’re meant to have love like that too.  Love that is willing to walk a difficult path.  Help people who don’t necessarily love us.  Head into trouble instead of away.  Do things that haven’t been done before.  Love that holds nothing back.  Leaves nothing undone.

Have we settled for safe and made ourselves small?  Have we let fear keep us grounded?  Our lives are part of the great epic that is God’s story.  And the story of humankind. Each chapter, though short, adds to the story we have told for countless millennia.

Jesus came to change the story.  Especially to change the ending.  To a story where his love triumphs over death.  To be part of the new story, tell it with your love.  With your commitment to hold nothing back.  Leave nothing undone.

Jesus’ ministry lasted only 3 years.  Not much time.  He knew he had to make every moment count.

How much time do you have?  You don’t know.  So make every moment count.

Your life will someday end.  Your story won’t.  What story do you want people to tell about your life?  How about a love story?

If there’s someone you know whose life tells a love story, share their name in the comments.  And, if you want, share something about them.