Love That Cost Everything: Understanding the Real Price of Jesus’ Sacrifice

When we talk about Jesus’ sacrifice, we often think immediately of the cross. However, Jesus’ sacrifice for us began long before that day at Calvary. Even before being born as a man, Jesus already existed in perfect glory alongside the Father, enjoying all heavenly honor and majesty.

In John 17:5, we see Jesus clearly speaking about the glory He had with the Father before the world existed: “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” Here we realize that Jesus’ first act of sacrifice was precisely giving up this heavenly glory.

But Jesus did not just leave His glory; He truly became human. In John 1:14, the Bible clearly says: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” By becoming flesh, Jesus experienced all human realities—hunger, thirst, pain, fatigue, and sorrow. He lived exactly as one of us.

The author of Hebrews powerfully reinforces this reality, highlighting the humility that Christ took on: “But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). Jesus did not only become a man; He voluntarily accepted a temporarily lower position, suffering death for all of us.

And why did He do this? Because only someone who fully experienced our humanity could be our perfect mediator before God. Hebrews 4:15 states: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Jesus lived our human experience not merely as an observer, but as an active participant.

Finally, when Jesus completed His earthly mission, He did not return to His former form as pure spirit or as God the Son as He was before the incarnation. He rose with a glorified body—similar to what we will one day receive—and sat at the right hand of the Father. Philippians 2:6-11 perfectly summarizes this mystery and glory of Christ’s sacrifice:

“Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Jesus did not need greater glory or a superior name because He was already God. Yet, by voluntarily stepping down and becoming a servant, He received even greater honor after His resurrection.

This is the true meaning of love that cost everything. A love that not only understood our suffering but lived it fully, giving up everything so that we might gain everything.

Now that you understand the depth of Jesus’ love and sacrifice, share this truth with those around you. Celebrate and live out this love daily, honoring the One who gave everything for you.