Yesterday, a newly released bishopric counselor recounted his service and shared his testimony that he had always known that God loved His children but as he had been set apart and served in his ward he had felt that love. He bore his witness that God loves His children.
This morning I attended the celebration of life of a young wife and mother who died just a week short of her 23rd birthday. I arrived a few minutes early and watched as her young husband was given last minute instructions by the funeral director. Her father held her little girl and her friend behind me whispered, “This can’t be real.” Their grief reflected their love.
A similar pain was spoken by Mary, “Lord if thou had been here, my brother had not died….Lord, come and see. [And] Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!” (John 11:32-36). His tears were not the beginning or the end of the Savior’s love. He lived His love. For Lazarus and the rest of humankind, He willingly suffered humiliation, false accusations, scourging, pressure so intense blood came from every pore and in the end, He was nailed to a cross and gave His life for His friends. On the third day, He rose promising that with His power we will all rise from the grave. Still, His love did not end there. From that day to this, He lives to bring hope to the hopeless, light in our darkness, mercy for our weakness and joy even in our sorrow.
The life of Jesus Christ is a testament of His love and the love of our Father, a love we can only begin to comprehend. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (John 3:16) “God be thanked for the matchless gift of His divine Son.” (The Living Christ-The Testimony of the Apostles)
