Last year at UMHB’s Revival, the speaker Tiny Dominguez, told us that he loves love movies. “Not that vampire/werewolf nonsense, because in my day, vampires and werewolves were supposed to be scary. But actual love movies.” He told us that he was man enough to admit it. I then thought, “I’m not the only one.” Think what you will, but I’ll be man enough to admit that I cried when watching The Notebook and The Vow, and I don’t cry often during movies, but these movies brought out the tears in me.

There is a love story, However, that I know outdoes any Hollywood love stories, and that’s the story of what Jesus did for us on the cross. Why? Because He loves us.

Growing up, I have learned many songs as a kid depicting the love Christ has for us. Jesus Loves Me and Jesus Loves the Little Children are probably two of the most taught songs in Sunday school. Now as I am older, the question I have is “Why does Jesus love me!?” Why does He love me so much that He would die for me? Does He not know that I am imperfect? Does He not know that I am a sinner who will only continue to fall short and sin constantly? Why would someone so perfect love someone so imperfect?

The answers to these questions are answers I will never have. I will never understand why He would love such a broken human being like myself.

But here’s the awesome truth behind it all… I don’t have to understand why He loves me. I just have to trust and know that He does love me more than my mind will ever comprehend. And this magnitude of love gives me so much comfort, because I know that no matter what I face in life, no matter if times are good or bad, my Savior will always love me, and He will love me unconditionally.

Last Wednesday, UMHB held its annual Easter Pageant, depicting Christ’s miracles, trial, death, and resurrection. This was the third year I have witnessed this spectacular performance of the greatest love story ever told.

Unlike years past, as my eyes watched underneath my sunshades, I wept as I realized just how much the Father loves me. As I sat outside, listening to “Via Dolorosa,” with the clouds majestically floating by, I witnessed the depiction of guards mocking and crowds shouting at Jesus, I watched as Jesus hung on a cross made for the worst of criminals, and as I watched, I realized that He did this for one major reason, His love for me.

I still remember the first time I watched The Passion of the Christ. I remember trying to hold in my emotions as I watched the scene where He was beaten by Roman soldiers, and I failed miserably. While this movie might be the most gruesome depiction of the pain inflicted on Jesus, it pales in comparison to the suffering He actually endured. Yet, just seeing a small glimpse of what He endured makes me forever grateful that I serve a God who loves me so so much.

I don’t have the answers as to why Christ loves me, yet He does. I don’t deserve His love, yet He loves me anyway. I am so unworthy of His love, yet to Him, I am of infinite worth. I have fallen short so many times because of sin and will only continue to do so as I am imperfect, yet He loved me so much that He was willing to pay the price for my sin. He was willing to be convicted of my own wrongdoings, suffering the consequences of my own actions.

The question of “Why?” still comes to mind. Why? Why? Why?

That is when He tells me, “Because I love you. Do I need any other reason?” That’s the beauty of unconditional love. His love is one that I cannot earn, yet He gives it anyway. His love is one I don’t deserve, yet He gives it anyway.

Watching the Easter Pageant, I cried tears of overwhelming joy as I was reminded that He suffered the cross because He loves me. But you see, this amazing love story doesn’t end there, because after He was buried, He arose three days later and is still alive, watching over us every step of the way. As two students beautifully sang these words, the Pageant’s Jesus walked out of the tomb…

Arise, my love
Arise, my love
The grave no longer has a hold on you.
No more death’s sting
no more suffering
Arise…arise….

My heart was overcome with joy. Yes, I have heard this story countless times. Yes, I have seen this Pageant 5 other times (twice my first year, three times last year), but this time it was as if Jesus wanted to really reassure me that He did all of this for me.

As I was walking to class this morning, I listened to Kari Jobe’s song, “What Love Is This.” Again, I was overwhelmed with emotion as I watched the clouds float by as the birds flew in formation.

What love is this, that you gave your life for me
And made a way for me to know you
And I confess you’re always enough for me you’re all I need

I look to you, I see the scars upon your hands.
And hold the truth, that when I can’t you always can.
I’m standing here, beneath the shadow of the cross. 
I’m overwhelmed that I keep finding open arms.

What love is this that you gave your life for me 
And made a way for me to know you
And I confess, you’re always enough for me
You’re all I need

Jesus in your suffering you were reaching your thought of me
Jesus in your suffering you were reaching your thought of me

I will always be amazed at the love Christ has for me and if you ask me exactly why He loves me, I will not be able to give you a definite answer. What I can tell you is that “He just does.” How amazing is it to know that He loves us so much that He suffered the cross while thinking of us. He loved us so much that He was willing to lay down His life, He was willing to suffer and die, He was willing to endure all of our suffering, take on all of our sin, and defeat death simply because He loves us! And His love is truly all we need.

John 15:13 says, “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”

The awesome truth is that He loves us so much that He endured the cross and defeated the grave just because He loves us, and that to me is the greatest love story ever!

The sad truth is, however, that not everyone has heard this awesome love story. There are so many people all across this world and even on the campus of Mary Hardin-Baylor that have never heard this story. I cannot imagine living life without this blessed assurance that Christ loves me and that as my favorite hymn proclaims, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow!” So as believers, let us not keep this love story to ourselves. Let us proclaim it at the top of our lungs so that the whole world my hear that Jesus left His throne in Heaven, became human, was convicted of our sin so we wouldn’t have to be, rose from the grave, and promised His return just because He loves us.

Because this is the GREATEST LOVE STORY EVER TOLD!

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Jobe, Kari. What Love Is This. By Lincoln Brewster, Mia Fieldes, and Kari Jobe, 2012. MetroLyrics. Web. 6 Apr. 2015.

New King James Version. Bible Gateway. Web. 6 Apr. 2015.

NewSong. Arise My Love. By Eddie Carswell. MetroLyrics. Web. 6 Apr. 2015.

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What Love Is This by Kari Jobe

How Deep The Father’s Love For Us by Selah