Devotionals from my Bible app: No Greater Love (John 15:13)

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

No Greater Love


There is no greater love than the love Jesus showed when He laid down His life—for His friends. For us.


Jesus wasn’t just a good man who died an unjust death. He was the spotless Son of God—sinless, blameless, holy. Death had no rightful claim on Him. And yet, He willingly embraced it. He gave up His life so that others might have eternal life.


That alone would be enough to leave us in awe. But what makes His sacrifice even more astounding are the people He died for.


When Jesus spoke these words in John 15, He was talking to a group of His friends who were far from perfect. A hot-headed fisherman. A skeptical doubter. A tax collector. A political zealot. Brothers who once wanted to call down fire on a village. And beyond that room? Prostitutes. Outcasts. The unclean. Sinners.


And for us, too.


Jesus laid down His life so that anyone might become His friend. So that everyone might receive His love. So that we might know—deep in our hearts—that we are not rejected or forgotten, but known and embraced.


So, take a moment today and rest in this truth: There is no greater love than the love Jesus has for you. He proved it on the cross.

Note after sharing the devotional: this is the Good Friday devotional. I've stated on here a few times before about how the Romans didn't succeed at killing Jesus; Jesus simply laid His life down when it was time.

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 1 John 3:16, NKJV

Jesus even promised this ahead of time:

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. John 10:11, NKJV

But as we know, this is hard to do. It is hard-wired into us to live for ourselves and not to voluntarily give up any parts of our lives, let alone our whole selves, for any cause. And the Bible acknowledges as much:

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8, NKJV

At the same time, Jesus is contrasted against the rest of humanity. Human nature simply does not voluntarily die to self for others, but Jesus did. Human nature simply does not volunteer to be an example, but Jesus Himself did just that. He is our example.

Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23, NKJV

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 1 Peter 2:21, NKJV

Prayer: Father God, please teach me how to be kind and selfless. Help me to show how much I love You by loving others the way You've asked me to. Remove bitterness, pettiness, and selfishness from me. Root my life in Your love so that only loving actions become the fruit of my life. In Jesus's name, Amen.