The resolute love of Jesus
‘As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.’ — Luke 9:51
‘Even the excruciating pain could not silence his repeated entreaties: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”’ — John Stott
It wasn’t exactly the Bank Holiday weekend I had been planning.
After the months of glorious sunshine we’ve enjoyed, I thought I’d make the most of the final weekend of summer with a trip to the beach.
I took an extra day off work, packed my swimsuit and suncream, and headed to Bournemouth.
Sadly, the weather had other plans.
As I prepared to take my dog out for a sunny seaside walk, I was instead met by torrential rain and huge gusts of wind.
Everything in me wanted to turn back and take shelter inside. But I love my dog—and I know he loves the sea.
So, I resolutely set out for the beach—and even though I ended up soaked and covered in sand, it was worth it because I knew my dog was having the best time.
When we love someone, we are prepared to sacrifice our comfort for their joy. We are ready to lay ourselves down for their benefit—even when it feels costly.
But the love we show others—whether that’s towards our pets or our fellow image-bearers—is just a dim reflection of the costly, selfless, unwavering love of Christ, demonstrated to us most fully on the cross.
This love is an unfaltering, unmatched, undeserved love—a love that is resolute.
An expectation of suffering
Unlike me getting caught out by the rain, Jesus wasn’t surprised by what He faced on the cross.
The cross didn’t catch Him off-guard. It wasn’t some trap or accident that He didn’t see coming.
Jesus knew what His love for us would cost Him. He knew the price He would pay for our forgiveness. He knew exactly what awaited Him in Jerusalem—rejection, torture, crucifixion.
He knew what was about to happen to Him in fulfilment of hundreds of years of prophecy—that He would be ‘pierced for our rebellion’ and ‘crushed for our sins’, all so that we could be forgiven and made whole (Isaiah 53:5).
Knowing all this, still He set His face towards Jerusalem. Not unwillingly, not begrudgingly, but resolutely (Luke 9:51).
In the Garden of Gethsemane, His sweat fell like drops of blood in anticipation of what He was about to suffer (Luke 22:44)—not just the horror of crucifixion, but bearing the weight of our sin and the punishment we deserved for our rebellion (see Isaiah 53:10–11 and 1 John 4:9–10).
Still, He didn’t turn back. Still, He willingly went to the cross for us.
A resolution motivated by love
What motivated Him to do it?
It was love—love for us (Ephesians 5:2) and for His Father’s glory (John 17:1–5).
Every false accusation, every wound, every dying breath—Jesus went through it out of love for us and for the glory of His Father, who has loved Him for all eternity.
He did it so that all who trust in Him would never have to experience the punishment we deserve for rejecting Him.
He did it so that we could enjoy eternal life—life in communion with the Father, Son and Spirit.
By His wounds, we are healed. By His blood, our sin and guilt are washed away. By His love, we live.
We did nothing to deserve this love, and, wonderfully, if we are in Christ, nothing can separate us from it (Romans 8:38–39). Unlike human love, His love is unchanging and unwavering.
Jesus’ love is resolute—no matter how far we think we’ve run or how far we feel we’ve fallen.
He loved you so much that He willingly went to the cross for you. He won’t turn His back on you now.
Today, look to Him. Lay before Him your sin and shame, and receive His forgiveness and life. Meditate on His love for you—a love that endured the horror of the cross to bring you home to the Father.
Rejoice in it. Thank Him for it. Rest in it. And go and tell the world about it.
‘Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied;
For ev’ry sin on him was laid—
Here in the death of Christ I live.’ — In Christ Alone
With love,
Ruth