Day 25: PROPELLED BY LOVE
Renee Greenwood (John 20:1–10)
Before the cross ever stood on Calvary, LOVE was already on the move! (John 3:16)
In the days leading up to His crucifixion, Jesus moved through every moment propelled by love. He washed His disciples’ feet in humility. He broke bread with them, offering comfort even while speaking of His departure.
I can imagine the expectations of the disciples growing. Surely the One who raised Lazarus could not Himself be overtaken by death. However, instead of a dramatic rescue, the unthinkable unfolded. Jesus was led away, beaten, mocked, and crucified. And when their expectations collapsed, so did their hope.
“Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.” Matthew 26:56
Love makes the first move even beyond uncertainty!
“Early, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb…” John 20:1
Will you rise early to visit a graveyard? Mary did! Especially when you’ve had so little rest. Because the Sabbath was the day after the crucifixion, she had to wait. I imagine that must have been the longest, sleepless, and hardest wait of her life. So, at the first opportunity, she made her move. I don’t believe she was expecting to receive any ministry from Jesus; rather, she was coming to minister to Him with spices. Her drive was purely motivated by her love for her Saviour!
Will you visit a graveyard while it’s still dark? Mary did! She knew darkness well, not just the darkness of early morning, but the darkness she had once lived in before Jesus delivered her. And now she was facing another kind of darkness: the darkness of confusion and uncertainty. But she refused to let any of that hold her back. She set aside fear and boldly stepped into Easter morning with a heart propelled by love, and her movement stirred others. The very disciples who had forsaken Jesus suddenly found themselves running toward the tomb because of her. Mary’s love lit a spark of hope in them, pushing them to make the same move she did.
The greatest love of all – The Cross!
The cross was a fulfilment of God’s love for us. In Mark 12:30, Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” He demonstrated His love for the Father through His obedience and His love for us through His death, which is the ultimate expression of love.
“Not My will, but Yours be done.” Luke 22:42
So how do we respond? Mary shows us, through her actions, what love looks like, both in intention and in deed. I believe she was simply following Christ’s example, and so can we.
The word propel means to drive, push, or move forward with a powerful inner force. Scripture tells us that God is love (1 John 4:8), which means love is not merely an attribute of God; He is the very force that moves us. If God is love, then when love propels us, God propels us, but this only becomes real in us through surrender (Luke 22:42).
God calls us to let something die in us every day. It may be a habit or a wrong belief. Whatever it may be, the question remains: how do we respond? Easter calls us back to the purest, most powerful motivation of all — to love God with everything and to demonstrate that love through our actions in obedience. Easter always reminds me that whatever God is calling me to die to is nothing compared to the price Jesus paid, and I find that humbling!
Reflection
Prayerfully reflect and consider journaling with the following:
• What propels me? Is it love, or is it fear, routine, and obligation?
• Where is God inviting me to show up out of love, even during times of “darkness” and “uncertainty”?
• What step of love is He asking me to take today, through both intention and action?
Prayer
Father, we thank You for Your incredible love, a love that moved first and pursued us while we were lost. Stir our hearts in areas where our love is growing dull and to be propelled by love, not fear, routine nor obligation, but by deep gratitude for all You have done. Help us to be daily propelled toward You even in the dark and to seek You when hope feels lost.
Amen.