but because of the people

Spent some time with some brothers this morning, and one of them mentioned the song "Above All Else". The chorus expresses a particular theology: that on the Cross of Calvary, Lord's thoughts were about us, dying for us.

Wonderful, Hallmark-y concept, but theologically correct? No, expressed a brother. Only thought had by Christ heading to Calvary was obedience to the Father. In the Garden, Christ agonizes over bearing the cup of wrath and facing separation from the Father. And what Christ finally decides is "yet not My will, but Thine be done." Christ heads to the Cross because He desires perfect obedience.

My counter was that the decision to go to the Cross was not necessarily tied to a singular reason. Obedience was definitely part of the equation, no doubt. But to say that love for the world did not play a part of the decision takes away from the sacrificial act. John3:16 reminds us that the Father gave His only begotten Son because He loved the world. And considering the Father and the Son are of the same mind, Christ shared that love for sinners. In John10, Christ compares Himself to a Good Shepherd and states that the Shepherd would lay down His life for the sheep. Jesus makes it clear that one of the reasons He will lay down His life is because He cares for the sheep.

The song says He thought of us "above all". I think we can dispute that point, since it is not a doubt that Christ loved the Father more than anyone else. I don't presume to think that His love for us is anywhere near His love for the Father. But the clear understanding to take from this discussion is that removing love from the Cross is not an option. The Gospel, the Good news of God is love, always has been.