That the love of God was manifest on the cross of Calvary some 2,000 years ago is beyond dispute. And this morning, as I read the crucifixion account in Mark, I am again impressed that the love of God as manifest in Christ is beyond fully taking in. This morning, I see that love displayed as Jesus determines to love the world that was rejecting Him to the very end . . . to the uttermost.

John writes in His gospel, “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.” (John 13:1) As the final countdown began that night, Jesus’ determination was to love to the end . . . or, as could be translated, to the uttermost. It’s the same word used in speaking of Jesus eternal ministry: “But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost [i.e. save to the end] those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Heb. 7:24-25) Get that? Jesus ministry as priest was to make intercession . . . to mediate on behalf of any and all who would come to God . . . to save to the uttermost . . . to intercede to the end. And that’s what He did on the cross.

What caught my attention this morning was that when they brought Jesus to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull, they gave Him wine mingled with myrrh to drink, but He did not take it. That’s what arrested me this morning . . . .He did not take it. Why?

After having flogged Him . . . after having beaten Him . . . after having inflicted such suffering that He was incapable of carrying His own cross . . . they offered Him a bit of escape. They offered Him a drink to suppress the senses . . . to anesthetize the soul. They knew that what He had been through was nothing compared to what He was about to endure physically on the cross (they had no clue what He would endure spiritually). So, they offered Him a drink which would cloud the mind and deaden the awareness. But Jesus refused . . . Because He had determined to love this own and to love this lost world to the end. As long as He lived, He would make intercession for those He came to save. He couldn’t do that in a drunken stupor. His has a 24/7 unchangeable priesthood . . . and He would discharge His heavenly duties even on the cross.

Proverbs 31 says, ” . . . it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to take strong drink, lest they drink and forget what has been decreed and pervert the rights of all the afflicted. Give strong drink to the one who is perishing, and wine to those in bitter distress.” (Prov. 31:4-6) Jesus qualified for strong drink . . . He was going through the pain of death . . . He was in bitter distress . . . but He would not relinquish His Kingly duties . . . He would not abdicate His throne though it was shaped like a cross. He would care for the afflicted . . . He would promote justice . . . He would lead His people to victory . . . until the end . . . unto the uttermost.

No, a drunken Christ, could not have loved to the end. So, my Lord, refused anything that would prevent Him from interceding to the end . . . He said, “No” to that which would cloud His ability to lead His people to victory. He refused the drug spiked wine . . . and instead, in clarity of mind, continued to minister from the cross. He interceded for those who abused Him, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” . . . He saved those who turned to Him, even at that last hour, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in paradise” . . . He even cared for the needs of His mother from the cross, “He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ ” . . . and, as King fully in charge, He led the way to victory as the Lamb of God declaring with all authority and clarity, “It is finished!”

Oh, the love of God! Oh, the degree to which the Son was determined to fulfill the Father’s will and to love His own to the end. I will praise Him . . . I will praise Him . . . praise the Lamb for sinners slain. Give Him glory all you people . . . for His blood can wash away each stain. Give Him glory all you people . . . to the end . . . to the uttermost . . . amen!