God is love. Jesus is God. Therefore, love was nailed to the cross. I want to use the characteristics of love found in First Corinthians 13 to prove that love was nailed to the cross.

Love suffereth long. It also endureth all things. Jesus could have called thousands of angels to rescue Him from the agony of the cross. But He didn’t. A verse from the song “He Grew the Tree” expresses His enduring love, “With great love for man, God stayed with His plan.”

Love is kind. Kindness helps others and thinks of their welfare. Jesus died on the cross for us. We are all sinners, and the only way we can be reconciled to God was through Jesus’ substitutionary death. He died so we could have eternal life.

Love envieth not. Envy is a feeling of resentment aroused by the abilities, qualities, or achievements of others. There was no need for Jesus to be envious. Every created being’s abilities, qualities, and achievements pales to His. He is “Far above all principalities, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come.”

Love vaunteth not itself and is not puffed up. Jesus had every reason to be proud. He was God incarnate. He was the Son of God. Yet, humility was His great attribute. He “made himself of no reputation, and took upon the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

Love seeketh not her own. Jesus came to be a servant to man by completely being obedient to His Father. “Father, if you will, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but yours, be done.”

Love is not easily provoked. Jesus was whipped. He was smitten and mocked. He had nails pounded into his hands and feet. A spear pierced His side, and a crown of thorns was pushed around His head. Yet, He was never provoked. In fact, He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Love rejoiceth not in iniquity. Our fleshy natures find pleasure in sin. However, the holy, sinless, Jesus hated sin. The greatest torture Jesus experienced was the bearing of mankind’s filthy sins.

Love rejoiceth in truth. Jesus was truth and died for truth. Through His truth the lies of Satan that brings eternal death brings eternal life to all who will believe.

Love believeth all things. What did Jesus believe? He believed that His work on the cross and His subsequent resurrection would accomplish what it was ordained to do: save sinners from the bondage of sin and ultimate perfection in Heaven.

Love hopeth all things. Hope means to look forward to something with a feeling of expectation and confidence. Jesus had a sure hope of His resurrection. He said about His body, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The angel at the tomb proclaimed, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said…”

God is love. Jesus is God. Jesus is love. Love was nailed to the cross. Let us rejoice this Easter, realizing how much Jesus loves us.

James Kearns is pastor of Bald Knob Church in Kitts Hill.