"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father's hand. I and the Father are one." John 10:28-30
Years ago, a little boy in south Florida went for a swim in the large pond behind his house. His mother saw what his young eyes had missed: an alligator swimming on an intersecting course with her son. She ran toward him screaming. Quickly, he started to swim back. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. The mother lunged and grabbed her son’s arms as the gator grabbed his legs—the gator’s strength was met by a mother who would not let go.
A reporter covering the story visited the boy in the hospital and asked to see his scars. The lad lifted the sheets to give him a glimpse of his legs. Then he asked, “Would you like to look at my arms? I have scars on my arms, too. I’ve got these because my mother wouldn’t let me go.”
That, my friends, is what a mother’s love can do. Everyone understands the strength of a mother’s love for her child. Perhaps that is why, when we talk of love’s power and purity, selflessness, and surety, we do speak of a mother’s love. There is, we imagine, no love better or stronger.
If that is what we imagine, we imagine wrongly. Please, please, do not be offended. It is not my intent to question or minimize the intensity of the mother-child bond. All I would like you to remember is this: The love shown to us by our dear Lord Jesus is infinitely greater than anything we will encounter in this world. If you will, allow me to explain. While a mother’s love is directed toward her own children, Jesus’ love reaches out to everyone, no matter who they are or how unlovable they might be. A mother’s love is limited by her life span, while Jesus’ love went to the cross, into His grave, and continues—even now—to reach out to all the world. It even reaches out to you. Absolutely.
Of course you may doubt me. That is your choice. But if you would like proof of His love, I encourage you to look at the scars on His hands and feet. He got those on His cross, because He wouldn’t let you go.
Excerpt from The Lutheran Hour sermon preached on May 2, 2004
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, Your love for me went to the cross, into Your grave, and remains strong to this day. Thank you for never letting me go. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
Today's Bible Readings: Proverbs 22-24 Acts 4:1-22
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