A Look of Love

Luke 23:32–46 “There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God.” The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, “If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself.” And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’ ” Having said this, He breathed His last.”

(softly) Have you ever wondered… why of all the symbols in the world, we as Christians chose the cross?

Think about that for a moment. We could have chosen a dove to represent peace. We could have chosen a crown to symbolize victory. We could have chosen a manger — a picture of humility and hope. We could have even chosen the empty tomb — a powerful symbol of resurrection.

But instead, we chose the cross.

A cross — a brutal instrument of death. A tool of torture. Something so cruel and painful that even the Romans wouldn’t use it on their own citizens.

And yet… we cling to it. Some wear it around their necks. We hang it on our walls. We lift it high in our songs.

Why?

Because for us, the cross is not about death — it’s about love. It’s not about pain — it’s about purpose. It’s not about tragedy — it’s about triumph.

The cross is our look of love. When we look at the cross, we see how far God was willing to go to win our hearts. We see His love stretched wide — one nail at a time.

A Modern Story of Sacrifice

(gentle tone) A few years ago, a young mother named Angela was driving home from work with her little boy asleep in the back seat. It had been raining hard that day, one of those storms where the roads glisten and the world feels heavy.

As she came around a curve near a bridge, another car hydroplaned, sliding into her lane. In that split second, everything slowed down — headlights, rain, time itself.

Angela’s instincts as a mother kicked in. She didn’t think — she acted. She turned the wheel hard to protect her son from the oncoming car. Her vehicle hit the guardrail, flipped, and landed in the shallow water below.

When rescuers arrived, they found the car submerged halfway. Inside, the little boy was still buckled safely in his car seat — scared, but alive. Angela’s body, however, was pinned. Her last act was shielding her son from the impact.

Later, one of the first responders said quietly, “Her body took the full force of what was meant for her child.”

And that… that is love.

That’s the kind of love that doesn’t calculate or hesitate — it sacrifices. That’s the kind of love that doesn’t ask, “What will this cost me?” It simply says, “Whatever it takes.”

That’s the kind of love we see when we look at the cross.

God’s Great Sacrifice

(pause) At Calvary, the Father faced the same unthinkable choice. He saw a world broken by sin — a world that had chosen its own path, a world that kept turning away from Him.

And yet… He loved us still.

When Jesus hung on that cross, the Father looked on in grief — not because He had lost control, but because He had given everything.

The cross was not an accident. It was an act of love.

John 3:16 says it so simply — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” And we sometimes rush through that verse like it’s just a slogan. But pause there — He gave His only Son.

He didn’t loan Him. He didn’t send an angel. He didn’t send a prophet. He sent His Son.

And when Jesus carried that cross up the hill of Golgotha, He carried every sin, every mistake, every failure — yours, mine, and the world’s — upon His shoulders.

That’s love — God’s great sacrifice.

God’s Holy Substitute

(softly) There on the cross hung three men: two thieves, and the Son of God between them.

One mocked Him. The other whispered, “Lord, remember me.” And in that moment, Jesus did what He had come to do — He took our place.

He became our substitute.

We deserved the cross. But love said, “No… let Me take it.”

Just like that mother who took the impact for her child, Jesus absorbed what was meant for us. Every lash of the whip, every thorn that pierced His brow, every drop of blood — He bore it willingly.

The innocent for the guilty. The perfect for the broken. The pure for the stained.

And as He hung there, He whispered words that still shake the heavens today: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

That’s not weakness — That’s love, that’s holy love, that’s God’s l0ve. That’s not defeat — that’s redemption in motion.

God’s Pathway to Salvation

(pause, reflective tone) Then came that final moment. Luke says, “The sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.”

That curtain represented separation — the barrier between man and God. But when Jesus died, the curtain tore from top to bottom. Heaven reached down. The barrier fell. And the way back to God was opened forever.

The cross became the bridge — stretching from sin to salvation, from death to life. That’s what love does — it builds bridges where none existed.

And when Jesus said, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit,” He wasn’t giving up. He was giving over. He was handing His life back to the One who gave it — for us.

The Appeal – Look Again at the Cross

(softly, with feeling) When you look at the cross today… what do you see?

Do you see nails, or do you see mercy? Do you see pain, or do you see promise? Do you see death, or do you see love?

The cross is God’s open invitation — not just to believe, but to come closer.

Because at the foot of the cross, there are no titles. No ranks. No shame too heavy. No sin too deep.

Just love… and grace enough for everyone.

So today, I invite you to look again — really look — at that rugged cross. See not the wood or the nails, but the eyes of a Savior who still says, “I did this for you.”

He took your place. He bridged your distance. He gave His life — not to condemn you, but to redeem you.

And if you’re listening today and your heart feels far from God, if you’ve been carrying guilt or pain, the cross is still open. The arms of Christ are still wide. All you have to do is say, “Lord, I’m coming home.”

(pause)

Closing Prayer

(gentle, prayerful tone) Heavenly Father… Today we’ve looked once more at the cross — not as a symbol, but as a story of love. A story of You — a Father who gave His Son, and a Son who gave His life, so that we could live.

Lord, help us to never look at the cross the same way again. When life feels heavy, remind us of Your great sacrifice. When we feel unworthy, remind us of our holy substitute. And when we lose our way, remind us of the pathway You opened — straight to Your heart.

May we walk from this place with gratitude, with humility, and with a renewed desire to live lives worthy of the love we’ve been shown.

We thank You, Jesus… for the look of love that saved us all. In Your precious name we pray — amen.