Loved, and gave Himself

To wrap up this little trilogy on the love of our Lord (see posts one and two), consider the only three times in the NT that we read of His love linked to the phrase “and gave Himself”:

• In Ephesians 5:25 we read that He “loved the Church, and gave Himself for it”. His Bride and Body, bought with His life.
• But His love was not just toward a collective entity; He also loved the individual believers that make up that Church. In v. 2 of the same chapter we read: “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us”.
• Ah, but read this: “The Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20)! Can you get closer to the heart of God than that? Can you find a more amazing truth in the whole Universe?

It is glorious to think of His sacrificial love for His Bride, and precious to think that that love reached out to each individual in that Church. But my heart thrills with these precious, powerful, and personal words: He (the Son of God) loved me (poor, worthless me), and gave Himself for me!

The old hymn captures the sentiment beautifully:

Was it for me, for me alone,
The Saviour left His glorious throne,
The dazzling splendours of the sky?
Was it for me He came to die?

It was for me, yes, all for me,
O love of God, so great, so free,
O wondrous love, I'll shout and sing,
He died for me, my Lord and King!

Was it for me, sweet angel strains
Came floating o'er Judea's plains
That starlit night so long ago?
Was it for me God planned it so?

Was it for me the Saviour said:
"Pillow thy weary, aching head
Trustingly on thy Saviour's breast"?
Was it for me? Can I thus rest?

Was it for me He wept and prayed,
My load of sin before Him laid,
That night within Gethsemane?
Was it for me, that agony?

Was it for me He bowed His head
Upon the cross and freely shed
His precious blood, that crimson tide?
Was it for me the Saviour died?