TALK
How Much Love Jesus Showed!
There are things in life that hurt deeply. For example, being rejected, being treated with contempt, being humiliated in front of others, or being made to suffer when you have done nothing wrong. No one wants to go through something like that. And if we could avoid it, we surely would. That is why, when we think about what Jesus was willing to endure, we cannot help but ask: what moved him to endure so much? The answer is as simple as it is profound: love. Love for his Father and love for us.
That is today’s theme: “How Much Love Jesus Showed!” And as we examine Isaiah 53, we will see three very clear proofs of that love. First, Jesus would be willing to be despised. Second, he would allow himself to be mistreated without resisting. And third, out of love, he would be willing to suffer in order to do Jehovah’s will and carry our sins.
Let us begin with the first point. Isaiah 53:3 said long in advance: “He was despised and avoided by men, a man who would have to face pain and who was familiar with sickness. It was as if his face were hidden from us. He was despised, and we considered him as of no value.” What a sad description. The Messiah would not be received with honor by most people. He would not be valued as he deserved. Instead, he would be rejected, avoided, and treated as though he did not matter.
And that is exactly what happened. It is true that many people listened to Jesus gladly, and some even became his disciples. But many others despised him. They criticized him, mocked him, and treated him as if he were worth nothing. Think about how painful that must have been. Jesus was perfect. He never harmed anyone. He always spoke the truth. He always acted with love. He healed the sick, comforted the sad, fed the hungry, and taught the best way of life. Even so, many rejected him.
That helps us draw a very practical lesson. No one likes being rejected. It does not matter how old a person is. We all want to feel accepted. A young person may feel a lot of pressure to please others their own age. An adult too may be tempted to adapt to what others expect in order not to look bad or to avoid criticism. But Jesus taught us something important: doing what is right will not always make us popular. He himself always stood up for what was right, and even so he was despised.
That requires courage. And also love. Because Jesus knew that, even if people rejected him, he had to keep going. He did not change his message to please others. He did not lower Jehovah’s standards to be more accepted. He did not let himself be ruled by the desire for human approval. He kept doing what was right. Why? Because he loved his Father and he loved the truth.
So when we feel misunderstood, criticized, or even rejected for wanting to do what is right, let us remember this: Jesus already went through that. He knows what it feels like. And his example teaches us that love for Jehovah must be stronger than the fear of rejection.
Now let us move on to the second point: Jesus would allow himself to be mistreated. Isaiah 53:7 says: “He was oppressed and he let himself be mistreated, but he would not open his mouth. He was brought like a sheep to the slaughter, like a ewe that stays silent before her shearers, and he did not open his mouth.” What an impressive prophecy. Not only was it foretold that the Messiah would suffer, but also the attitude he would have while suffering. He would not respond with violence. He would not rebel. He would not open his mouth to stop God’s will from being fulfilled.
And once again, that was fulfilled exactly. On the last night of his life, Jesus was arrested, insulted, spat on, and beaten. Matthew 26:67, 68 says: “Then they spat in his face and hit him with their fists. Others slapped him on the face and said: ‘Prophesy for us, Christ. Who struck you?’” What a cruel scene. They not only mistreated him physically; they also mocked him. They humiliated him. They treated him with contempt and cruelty.
Now think about this: Jesus was not defenseless because he lacked power. It was not that he could do nothing. He himself said that he could ask his Father for more than twelve legions of angels. In other words, if he had wanted to avoid that suffering, he had the means. But he did not do so. Why? Because, as he himself explained, how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled? Jesus was determined to do Jehovah’s will to the very end.
That makes his attitude even more striking. He allowed them to mistreat him. Not because he was weak, but because he was strong in the best possible way. He had self-control, loyalty, and love. When the chief priests and the elders falsely accused him before Pilate, Jesus did not answer. He did not want to say anything that would interfere with the fulfillment of God’s purpose. As the Lamb of God, he was willing to be led to the sacrifice.
And it is worth pausing here for a moment. In today’s world, quick reactions, forceful answers, and wounded pride that strikes back blow for blow are often admired. But Jesus showed a far higher kind of strength: the strength of someone who knows how to control himself out of love for Jehovah. He did not answer with insults. He did not try to get revenge. He did not use his power to escape suffering. He endured.
That teaches us a great deal. We may never have to endure something as extreme as what Jesus experienced. But we may face injustices, criticism, hurtful words, or situations in which we are provoked. What will we do then? Will we answer right away? Will we let anger take over? Or will we imitate Jesus and show self-control? Of course, this does not mean remaining passive in every situation without using good judgment. But it does mean that we must not react the way the world does. Jesus taught us that love and loyalty to Jehovah are worth more than the desire to defend our own pride.
We now come to the third point, and it is the deepest of all: out of love, Jesus was willing to suffer in order to do Jehovah’s will and carry our sins. Let us read the central idea of Isaiah 53:10-12. There it is shown that it was Jehovah’s will for the Messiah to give his life as a guilt offering, that he would carry the errors of many people, that he would pour out his life even to death, and that through him many would be considered righteous.
What a moving truth. Jesus did not suffer simply because others were cruel to him. His suffering had a purpose. He was giving his life as a sacrifice. He was carrying our sins. He was making it possible for imperfect people, like us, to have a clean relationship with Jehovah and a real hope of everlasting life.
And think about the love that required. Jesus knew perfectly well what coming to earth would mean. He knew what he would suffer. He knew that he would be despised, mistreated, and finally executed. Yet he still came. He did not do it under compulsion. He did not do it reluctantly. He did it out of love.
John 14:31 lets us see Jesus’ heart. There he said: “So that the world may know that I love the Father, I am doing exactly what the Father has commanded me to do.” What a beautiful statement. Jesus obeyed Jehovah not out of mere duty, but out of love. He wanted the world to know that he loved his Father. His obedience was an expression of deep, complete, and perfect love.
But he did not love only his Father. He also loved us. John 15:13 says: “No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his life in behalf of his friends.” Jesus did exactly that. He gave his life for his friends. And he did it when we could not even do anything to deserve it. He left his heavenly position, lived among imperfect humans, endured constant opposition, and finally died a painful death, all for our benefit.
Perhaps at this point it is good for us to ask ourselves a personal question: Do I truly value what Jesus did for me? Because it is easy to know these texts for years and still run the risk of becoming too used to them. We may hear about the ransom many times and lose a little of our sense of wonder. But if we really meditate on Isaiah 53, our heart is moved. Jesus was despised for me. He allowed himself to be mistreated for me. He carried the sins of many, and I am among those many.
That should have an effect on our life. If Jesus showed such great love, how should we respond? First, with gratitude. Not a gratitude expressed only in words, but a gratitude that is seen in our obedience. If Jesus did exactly what the Father commanded him out of love, we too should want to do Jehovah’s will willingly.
Second, Jesus’ love should move us to be more loyal. When we feel tired in Jehovah’s service, when a trial seems heavy, or when pressure from those around us makes us doubt, remembering Jesus’ example gives us strength. He did not give up. He did not turn back. He did not stop doing Jehovah’s will no matter how difficult it was. His love remained steadfast to the end.
And third, Jesus’ love should move us to treat others better. If he was able to respond with dignity, patience, and compassion even in the midst of suffering, should we not strive to be kinder, more understanding, and more willing to forgive? A person who truly values Christ’s love cannot go on treating others harshly or selfishly as though nothing had happened.
So, after reviewing these three points, the conclusion is clear. How Much Love Jesus Showed! He showed it by being willing to be despised. He showed it by allowing himself to be mistreated without resisting. And above all, he showed it by suffering and dying in order to do Jehovah’s will and carry our sins.
So when we think about Jesus, let us not see him only as a great teacher or an admirable figure from the past. Let us see him for what he truly is: someone who loved us in an immense and personal way. His love was not superficial. It cost him tears, pain, humiliation, and his very life. But he did it willingly, because he loved his Father and because he loved us.
May we never lose our ability to be deeply moved when we think about that. And as we meditate on Isaiah 53, may each one of us feel the desire to respond in a worthy way. How? By loving Jehovah more, by following Jesus’ example more closely, and by living each day in a way that shows that Christ’s sacrifice did not go to waste. Yes, without a doubt, when we look closely at what he endured and why he endured it, we can only say from the heart: How Much Love Jesus Showed!
