by Hannah Rice Myers

Created on: April 01, 2009

God sent His perfect, sinless Son to earth in the form of a man to be scorned, beaten, stoned, and then hung on a cross with nails driven into His hands and feet to die for our sins. Why? Because God loves us unconditionally, and He knew the only way to save us from sin was to sacrafice His own Son; lay all of our sins upon Him, so that we may know everlasting life. This is the meaning of unconditional love.

If this example is not enough, let's give another. As Jesus was being crucified, as they were driving the nails into his hands and feet and hanging Him to die on Calvary, He did not look upon these people with anger. Instead He prayed, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." Would you have the ability to do this while someone was crucifying you? Most of the time people are ready to seek revenge if even a negative word is spoken against them.

If we still don't have a clear understanding of unconditional love, then let's take a look at this scenario. Jesus is hanging between two thieves; one on His left and one on His right. Jesus knew they were sinners. One of the thieves insulted Jesus by saying, " Aren't You the Christ? Save us and Yourself!" The thief on the other side rebuked the first, telling him that they deserved to hang there, but Jesus did nothing wrong and did not. He then turned his head to look at Jesus and said, " Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom." Jesus could have ignored his request, knowing this man was a sinner. But in an act of His unconditional love he responded by saying to the man, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise."

There are literal definitions for "unconditional love" but the only meaning that matters is God's definition. God does not just show love, God IS love. He gave His only Son because He loves us, His earthly children so much that He wanted to make a way for us to all be with Him for eternity. While some may debate that God's love is conditional because we must first accept Jesus as the Lord of our lives, I will debate that God still loves us, saved or not. He cannot do anymore to insure our path to Heaven than sacraficing His only child for us. Are you still not convinced?

Let's take a trip back to the Old Testament and the days of Abraham. God blessed Him with a son named Isaac, and oh how Abraham loved His son. But then came the day that God told Abraham that he needed to sacrafice HIS only son. Abraham obeyed God, taking Isaac to the mountain God had instructed. He

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