Choosing Love Over Being Right

Good Friday

Beaten, mocked, scorned, rejected…

Jesus – the only one in human history to live a perfect, sinless life – was nailed to a cross. Given a criminal’s death.

He could have saved himself, just as those around him contemptuously told him to do if he truly was the Christ. In a moment he could have proved everyone wrong and himself right.

But they knew not what they were doing.

Jesus could have shown himself to be right in that moment, but instead of elevating “being right” he elevated love. He knew what needed to be done to bring us – to bring you and me – back to him; back into relationship with God.

How often are we so fixated on being right that we fail to seize the opportunity to love? Judging by the political and religious arguments I see everyday that aim to tear down those on the opposing side of the debate I would say we are failing miserably. The ironic thing about this is that those blasting and hurling the cruelest remarks are those who often claim to be fighting for respect and love.

Somewhere, even in our desire for acceptance and love, we have distanced ourselves from a loving stance.

But Jesus stood firm in love. He had everything he needed to silence the ridicule of those around him, but he instead chose the avenue that would provide deeper and eternal relationship with the very people who rejected him. “You did not choose me, but I chose you” (John 15:16).

How often do I choose love over proving myself right with those who are difficult in my life? For those who criticize and reject me am I standing firm in love or am I seeking to prove myself while proving them to be in the wrong? For those who disagree with what I believe am I approaching conversation ready to listen and understand or am I entrenched in being right? I’m not under the impression I regularly handle these things well, but I have Jesus as my example and help.

As I read through the Gospels and the accounts of Jesus’ ministry I am caught by the intentionality of Jesus in showing compassion and even weeping with those who question him, such as in the story of Lazarus. And even as Jesus hung on the cross, with nails in his wrists and pierced through the bones of his ankles, he cried out to God asking for Him to forgive those who did this to him because they did not understand what they were doing (Luke 23:34) – that they were murdering the Messiah; the Son of God. If you read the Gospels and are not compelled by the love Jesus showed and emphasized in his teachings you have completely missed the point.

“A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 

– John 13:34

One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” 

– Mark 12:29-31

“This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends.” 

– John 15:12-13

Peter, who walked closely with Jesus, stressed the importance of love as exemplified by Jesus. “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Love covers wrongs.

He stood firm in love as he was flogged, his flesh torn to the bone. He stood firm in love as they pressed a crown of thorns into his scalp. He stood firm in love as he bore the cross to Calvary on his beaten back. He stood firm in love as one of the criminals hanging beside him heaved insults. He stood firm in love as he breathed his last breath.

The only human to have lived a life deserving of rightness with God chose love over defending himself right so he could defend us before sin and death. The One who was right with God took the punishment of all of us who are wrong so we can be right too. Jesus elevated love to make us, who are by nature wrong, right with God. Because Jesus extended the ultimate grace and mercy to us, because he loves us, let’s strive to follow this example with those around us.